UEFA European Under-17 Championship: Top six rising stars to watch

The UEFA European Under-17 Championship gets underway in Bulgaria on Wednesday, with Spain taking on Austria in Burgas to get the continent’s premier annual youth tournament underway.

- VIDEO: Maradona feels ENG 1966 WC goal was 'outrageous'
- Phil Ball: The strange moments that could alter La Liga's outcome
- Off The Bar: Chelsea-Mayweather Twins, Indiana Newcastle

With places at October’s Under-17 World Cup at stake, as well as the potential prestige of being crowned continental champions, there’s all to play for as the tournament increases to 16 sides for the first time in over a decade.

England are the reigning champions at this level, with the likes of Dom Solanke, Adam Armstrong and Patrick Roberts already building upon success last year with progress for their respective Premier League clubs this season.

Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabregas, Toni Kroos and Mario Gotze, meanwhile, are among those who have previously won the tournament’s prestigious Golden Player award.

Ahead of this year’s competition, Sport360 takes a look at six contenders to claim this year’s prize.

Johannes Eggestein (Forward, Germany)

Described to Bild as a “once in a century talent” when joining Werder Bremen in the summer of 2013, Eggestein has been progressing quickly at the Green and Whites. After scoring 19 goals in his first campaign for the club’s Under-17 side, Eggestein began life at Under-19 level in January with five goals on his debut at that level.

His goal-scoring record across the youth levels in Germany is astounding and, while such figures have not always translated into success at senior level, he is surely a strong candidate to claim the tournament’s top-scorer crown in what is a predictably strong German squad.

The younger brother of another highly-rated talent - attacking midfielder Maximilian - Johannes is an unashamed predator in the box. He displays intelligence in his movement to get ahead of his markers, good footwork when required and finishes well. He is, though, also capable of dropping deep and linking play as and when he must do so.

For his country, he could be supported by a familiar face in club colleague Niklas Schmidt - a tall and technically gifted attacking midfielder. The two have developed a good understanding of each others’ games, interchanging positions at times, while Schmidt has shown a useful ability to score from range for this Germany side over the past year.

Elsewhere in the side, defenders Erdinc Karacas and Felix Passlack - a particularly highly-rated and attack-minded right-back - are also worthy of close observation.

Jay Dasilva (Left-back, England)

Chelsea’s record at youth record in recent seasons is simply exceptional and current Under-19 squad member Jay Dasilva is one of the youngest members of a side that have won both the FA Youth Cup and UEFA Youth League this campaign.

The left-back’s performance in the Youth League final was enough for Ian Wright to deliver glowing praise of his abilities and Dasilva’s consistency has been particularly impressive for a player of his age.

His arrival at Chelsea from Luton in 2012, alongside his two brothers Rio and Cole, created headlines at the time with BBC Sport reporting that the eventual fee could top a combined £1 million. For boys of just 12 and 13, it was a major transaction. Yet, the Blues will be confident at this stage in his development that it was a wise decision on their part.

While Dasilva, like nearly all modern full-backs, is an attack-minded player also capable of playing as a left winger, his commitment to the defensive side of his game is noteworthy. On Chelsea’s route to success in Europe, he negated some of the continent’s finest young attacking talents including Roma’s Daniele Verde

There is some way to go before Ian Wright’s hyperbole proves correct and Dasilva still has plenty to work on, including his final ball into the box. He could also benefit from a late growth spurt. Yet, in spite of those deficiencies, he is an outstanding prospect who has already proven himself at a higher level than most at the tournament and could be a real standout performer.

Mamadou Doucoure (Centre-back, France)

For most observers, a Paris Saint-Germain defensive prospect called Mamadou instantly brings to mind Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho - once considered a prodigious talent at the club. And, indeed, with Doucoure possessing similar traits to the Premier League star in the fact that he is naturally left-footed and able to operate at either left or centre-back, comparisons are natural.

Doucoure has also previously cited his fellow Parisien as his role-model in the game, with the youngster also having taking a fast-tracked route through the club’s youth system since arriving from Paris FC in 2012. This season, while just 16, he featured twice at Under-19 level in the UEFA Youth League competition.

Born in Senegal, the versatile defender is still to fill out physically and can be expected to become a more dominant marker in the years ahead. Yet, Doucoure is not dependent on physical strength alone to succeed, with his abilities on the ball and vision when distributing from the back strong aspects of his game.

His exposure to high level competition will undoubtably stand him in good stead for what is to come, having also been an ever-present for his club at the Al Kass competition this February. And, while it is difficult for defenders to steal the limelight at youth competitions, Doucoure has a strong chance of doing so in the weeks ahead.

He is just one of an impressive five players from PSG in the squad for the tournament, with right-back Alec Georgen, winger Jonathan Ikone and centre-forward Odsonne Edouard leading what appears to be a strong crop for the Parisien side. Both Ikone and Edouard were regular scorers for Les Bleus in qualification.

Kuki Zalazar (Forward, Spain)

The son of 29-cap Uruguay international Jose Luis Zalazar, “Kuki” Zalazar moved to Spain at the age of two and has chosen to represent his adopted nation at the upcoming championships.

A left-footed striker who can also play wide, the 16-year-old was his nation’s top-scorer in qualification and has also already featured in Malaga’s first-team squad in friendly fixtures.

Despite signing a new three-year contract with the Andalusian club last summer, he has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool in the second half of this current campaign. With a reported £4.3 million release clause, he could be prized away easily should other sides so wish.

Kuki’s game relies principally upon his ability to find space in the area from which he can let fly using either foot. Lacking obvious physical strengths, it is upon his intelligent movement and speed which he relies to bring himself goalscoring opportunities.

Quick off the mark and able to turn sharply at a moment’s notice, he is a real handful for defenders and possesses the technical ability to convert opportunities more often than not.

He will, as is to be expected, be well supported in the Spanish ranks. Barcelona prospect Carles Perez is a winger well capable of turning games with his direct dribbling abilities, while fellow striker Dani Olmo is on the fringes of the first-team at Dinamo Zagreb.

This may not be the most talented Spain squad of recent years, but certainly not one worth discounting.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah (Versatile defender, Netherlands)

When Timothy Fosu-Mensah joined Manchester United from Ajax last summer, few knew what to expect from the Dutchman who had impressed Red Devils’ scouts at the AEGON Future Cup earlier in 2014.

The 17-year-old has been a regular standout performer at Under-18 level for United this campaign and recently moved up to begin his integration at Under-21 level—where he will undoubtedly play next season.

Signed as a central defender, Fosu-Mensah has spent large chunks of the season playing and excelling in defensive midfield for his new side and is regarded as one of the Red Devils’ most promising youngsters.

Having trained with the first-team on occasion in recent months, he is seen as an having a strong chance of going on the club’s pre-season tour this summer ahead of more senior defensive options.

He will be an integral member of the Dutch defence at the tournament, with his height and physicality, when combined with fine technical abilities, set to make him one of the tournament’s standout defenders.

Alper Ademoglu (Attacking midfielder, Belgium)

One of five members of the Belgian squad from Anderlecht - a number which could be greater were it not for selection technicalities - tall playmaker Alper Ademoglu is seen as one of the brightest prospects at the club.

He will partner club colleague Orel Mangala in midfield for his country, playing a slightly deeper role than the powerful but creative No. 10 while seeking to orchestrate his side’s attacking play.

Born in Turkey, Ademoglu moved to Belgium at the age of six and, despite representing both sides at youth level, has opted for the Red Devils at Under-17 level. For the time being, it is looking as though this is where his long-term allegiance now lies.

Ademoglu’s grace on the ball is his standout quality at this point, with the youngster able to drift past opponents with almost effortless ease. He has outstanding technical abilities and, at youth level, shows an intelligence in his decision making rare for one so young.

Up against the best defenders Europe has to offer, it will be interesting to watch his performances over the weeks ahead. They may offer the best indication yet of his potential.

Also worth watching from Belgium is much sought-after centre-back Woet Faes, a member of the the same club’s impressive Youth League squad this season. Faes is perhaps the Belgian talent furthest along in his development at present, regularly playing above his age group for club and country.

Share your views on who you think will be the standout performers on our twitter page - #360fans

Related Links