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Aron Wright - July 1, 2024
The UEFA Euro 2024 has been a thrilling showcase of talent, drama, and unforgettable moments. While established stars have shone brightly, the tournament has also served as a breakthrough stage for emerging talents. Over the years, the likes of Wayne Rooney and Andrei Arshavin have announced themselves to the rest of the world as potential superstars, and the summer of 2024 is no different. Here are the four players that have shone brightest at Euro 2024 so far this summer.
In years gone by, Rolls Royce-like Italian defenders with flowing long locks were a mainstay of the beautiful game. Names such as Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini immediately spring to mind. Throughout Euro 2024, another has emerged in the form of talented young Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori.
The reigning champions Azzurri were recently eliminated with a whimper in the second round against Switzerland, handing over the crown they won so impressively three years ago without much of a fight. Much of that could be down to the fact that the one player who has shone brightest for them this summer was serving a one-match suspension and missed the clash altogether.
The 22-year-old defender had been a revelation throughout the tournament up until that point. With an exceptional balance of defensive solidity and offensive flair, he was integral to Italy’s campaign. His ability to break up opposition attacks as well as marauding from defense and into midfield was crucial to how Luciano Spalletti attempted to get the reigning champions playing. His assist for Mattia Zaccagni’s 98th-minute winner against Croatia – a goal that sent the Italians through to the knockout stages and eliminated the Croatians – will live long in the memory.
Now, a big money move is expected to be in the offing. Calafiori recently helped Bologna qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in history and he is thought to have a buyout clause as low as €30m at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium. It will be interesting to see where he ends up next.
Georgia headed to Germany this summer without many people giving them hope of progressing from Group F. They surely were just happy to be at a first-ever major tournament, a tournament they qualified for with a shocking penalty shootout victory against 2004 champions Greece in Tbilisi just months before Euro 2024 kicked off. However, they have surprised everyone and progressed to the knockout stages, and much of that is down to the brilliance of their man between the sticks, Giorgi Mamardashvili.
The young goalkeeper previously caught the eye at Valencia and has displayed incredible reflexes and shot-stopping abilities in Georgia’s maiden bow on the continental stage. He has made pivotal saves that have kept his team competitive against Europe’s elite, especially in the 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic, where he pulled off a whopping 11 saves, the most of any goalkeeper since Euro 2016. His commanding presence in the box and leadership qualities have drawn comparisons to some of the glove-wearing greats and his brilliance was on full display once more as he helped his side pick up one of the biggest upset victories of all time as they knocked off former champions Portugal to reach the last 16.
Another Georgian sensation who has burst onto the scene is young striker Georges Mikautadze. Heading into the knockout stage, the Metz man is the surprising top scorer at the tournament, netting three goals in as many games and attracting the interest of Europe’s elite. While much of the spotlight has been shone on the aforementioned Mamardashvili, as well as Napoli superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, it has been the 23-year-old France-born striker who has scored crucial goals to secure his side’s progression.
He first scored a crucial equalizer in Georgia’s tournament opener against Turkey, a clash that the underdogs very nearly nicked a point from. He has since scored twice from the penalty spot, firstly in the 1-1 draw against the Czech Republic and then again in that stunning 2-0 win against Portugal. Premier League outfit West Ham United is thought to now be interested in his signature; the first task at hand is seeing how far he can take his side at the Euros. The latest odds from websites that allow you to place a soccer bet online make the Georgians the rank +30000 outsiders and for good reason, but should they shock the world once more against Spain, those odds will surely shorten.
Switzerland defied the odds when they eliminated the reigning champions Italy, and they did so in a convincing fashion. Household names such as Grant Xhaka and Manuel Akanji are the ones that have taken all the plaudits, but another that has shone brightly is attacker Dan Ndoye. The winger’s pace, skill, and creativity have lit up the tournament so far, causing chaos for highly regarded defenses in the form of hosts Germany and the aforementioned Azzurri.
Operating primarily on the wing, Ndoye has been a constant threat to defenders, combining well with his teammates and cutting inside with devastating effect. His goal against the Germans was a moment of individual brilliance, showcasing his ability to change the course of a game single-handedly, and he was unlucky to not get a second with a narrow offside call ruling out his would-be-winner against Scotland.
