5 youngsters who can impress in the UEFA Euro 2016
Paul Pogba, Cristiano Ronaldo, Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale are all in action for their respective countries in the UEFA European Championships this summer and while they might often decide their team's fortunes in the competition, there are a bunch of players in the shadows who might have the bigger tournament than the aforementioned ones.
Fans love to see their young stars do well in tournaments. When you follow the growth curve of a young footballer rise through the ranks, there's instantaneously a bond with the player. You want him to succeed. You want him to win and when he does something worth praising, you make sure your voice is heard. After all, he's your boy.
Here's looking at five youngsters in the UEFA European Championships who could really excite and bring the fans to the edge of their seats:
#5 Julian Weigl
A lot of credit for Julian Weigl's season has to go to Borussia Dortmund. The 20-year-old signed from 1860 Munich for around €2.5 million and has since gone on to cement his place in the BVB first team under Thomas Tuchel.
His passing range, ability to make himself free to receive the ball anytime and his vision to continuously find him teammates with long balls soften's Borussia Dortmund's sale of Ilkay Gundagon. He's German, quick on his feet and understands how Borussia Dortmund play – which is not too far from how Die Mannschaft play.
His inclusion in the German national team was not a surprise considering he made 51 appearances in club level this season. For a 20-year-old, that is some feat and for someone who could genuinely improve Germany's midfield, he's but a natural choice on this list.
With Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Joshua Kimmich and Sami Khedira as contenders for two to three starting spots, Weigl has the upper hand as someone who could open up defenses with quick passes. Keep an eye on the youngster throughout the tourney.