Manchester United legend names the 3 rising stars of Euro 2024
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has named his compatriot Kobbie Mainoo, Arda Guler and Lamine Yamal as the three standout stars of Euro 2024. Among the trio, Guler is out of the tournament after Turkey lost 2-1 to the Netherlands in the quarter-final.
All three players have played key roles in their respective team's passage to the last-eight of the European Championship. Among them, Mainoo has helped England to the last-four following a shootout win over Switzerland, while Mainoo's Spain eliminated hosts 2-1 in extra time to move within two wins of the title.
Mainoo, 19 - having made his international debut this year - has played four times in the competition. Guler, also 19, contributed a goal and two assists in four games as Turkey reached the quarter-finals. Last but not least, the youngest of them all - Mainoo - 16 - has bagged three assists in five games.
Meanwhile, Ferdinand said on FIVE about the three aforementioned breakout stars at Euro 2024:
"Kobie Mainoo for starters, Arda Guler, the Turkish boy who's carried the Turkish team on his back almost in the last game especially was magnificent and then Yamal.
"Them three have been like super outstanding. I don't think I've ever seen three teengers in a tournament come to the fore like this."
Mainoo's England take on the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday (July 10), while Yamal's Spain lock horns with France a day earlier in Munich.
How many Manchester United players are still involved in Euro 2024?
With Euro 2024 heading into its last three games in Germany before the latest European champions are crowned, only two Manchester United players are still alive in the competition.
They are Kobbie Mainoo and left-back Luke Shaw - who made his first competitive appearance in five months in the shootout win over Switzerland in the Round of 16 after a 1-1 draw following 120 minutes.
Interestingly, there were three other Manchester United players involved in quarter-final action: Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes of Portugal - who lost on penalties (5-3) to France - and Altay Bayindir of Turkey - who lost to the Netherlands.