Jordan Henderson, Phil Jones, Thiago Alcantara and the stars to watch at the European Under-21 championship!
Not everyone that shines in the under-21 tournament moves onto bigger and better things, though many do. With that in mind, we cast our eyes over the starlets we think will set the continent alight
TOMAS PEKHART: CZECH REPUBLIC
His nine goals in qualifying meant he topped the scoring charts and his exploits in front of goal since leaving Tottenham last year – with Baumit Jablonec and Sparta Prague – has earned him a move to Nuremberg. In all, his country scored 30 goals in the qualifying stages – the second highest – and conceded the fewest with just four slipping through.
GYLFI SIGURDSSON: ICELAND
His two spectacular goals against Scotland in the second leg of the play-offs helped his country reach the finals in a game that also saw Chris Maguire score directly from kick-off for the Tartan Army. Reading recently sold him for more than £6.5m to German side Hoffenheim but just take a look at his magnificent double...
Jordan Henderson AND Phil Jones: ENGLAND
All eyes will be on the pair following their multi-million pound moves to Liverpool and Man United. Henderson, the midfielder Liverpool felt necessary to spend £20m on, already has an England senior cap, while central defender Jones had the country's top club vying for his signature. In the end Man United won the race and he could be lining up against another Fergie target, David de Gea when England play Spain in their first match.
XHERDAN SHAQIRI: SWITZERLAND
England will know all about him after his long range beauty in the senior 3-1 defeat in Euro 2012 qualifying in September. He again gave the national team's back four the run around in the recent 2-2 draw at Wembley and the Basel winger has also been linked to Bayern Munich.
THIAGO ALCANTARA: SPAIN
Spain is littered with the continents top young talent and include David de Gea, Bojan Krkic and Italian-born Alcantara, whose father is former Brazil international Mazinho. The midfielder scored three times for the Barcelona first team last season in 17 games and it is rumoured he, along with Krkic, are heading to Arsenal as part of the deal taking Cesc Fabregas back to Spain.
KOLBEINN SIGTHORSSON: ICELAND
Iceland topped the scoring charts with an incredible 33 goals in qualifying, helped by 8-0 and 6-0 thrashings of San Marino and a 4-1 hammering of 2009 winners Germany. The 21-year-old forward scored three along the way and while playing for AZ Alkmaar in February, netted five times in a 6-1 win against VVV Venlo in the Dutch Eredivisie. A golden boot front runner, perhaps?