Euro 2016: Top 10 U21 players featuring in the tournament
International tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Euro provide a perfect platform for young players to gain worldwide recognition and raise their stocks in the transfer market. Look at how Thomas Muller became a sensation after his brilliant show during the FIFA World Cup 2010.
Like in every other major tournament, the upcoming edition of Euro also features many promising youngsters from across Europe. Many of them are familiar names to avid football fans as they play for some of the top European clubs and are regulars for their teams.
So here is a look at the top 10 U21 players travelling to France for Euro 2016 and can send the football world into a frenzy with their dazzling performance.
#10 Joshua Kimmich
Age: 21
Country: Germany
Club: Bayern Munich
Kimmich, who is a midfielder by trade found chances hard to come by at Bayern due to the presence of players like Arturo Vidal, Thiago Alcantara and Xabi Alonso in the Bayern Munich midfield. Midway through the 2015/16 season, Bayern endured an injury crisis as their recognised centre-backs Jerome Boateng, Mehdi Benatia, Holger Badstuber and Javi Martinez were all injured.
Desperate times call for desperate measures and Guardiola put Kimmich in central defence and much to the surprise of everyone, the youngster excelled in his new role and even put in a man of the match performance against Borussia Dortmund in a game that was crucial in the title race.
Kimmich adapted to his new role brilliantly and did well despite his small stature for a centre back. His performance in defence didn’t go unrewarded as he was given a berth in Germany’s squad for the upcoming Euro. With Rudiger pulling out of the squad because of an injury, Kimmich might get his chance to shine in France.