20 Unknown Footballers Whose Names You'll Know After Euro 2012

The countdown to Euro 2012 is on, and you already know the big names.

But what about the rest?

That's what this list is for. This is a list of 20 "unknown" footballers you'll probably get to know this summer during Euro 2012. We know you're already steaming about a few of them.

Hear us out, though.

In modern football, nobody's really a nobody. With the Internet and the 24-hour news cycle, every footballer spends his entire career in the spotlight. That means none of these guys are actually unknown. Instead, it's a question of degree.

For the most part, these "unknown" internationals are younger players who are on the verge of making their breakthroughs into the big time. But not all of them fit that description.

You've probably heard of Alan Dzagoev, especially since you're a reader of this site. And there's a good chance you've heard of a few more of the guys on this list. We included them because they're not household names. Yet.

But you won't find Germany's Mario Götze or Denmark's Christian Eriksen on this list. And had Belgium qualified, we wouldn't have included Eden Hazard either. Those guys are young up-and-comers, but they're already crossed into the mainstream.

The 20 names on this list aren't quite there, for whatever reason. But after this summer, they might be known to millions.

Tomas Pekhart, Czech Republic

Club: FC Nuremberg

Position: Forward

Age: 22

You might remember Pekhart from his spell with Tottenham's youth and reserve teams, or his loan spell with Southampton (pictured) in 2008.

What you might not know is that Pekhart was the Czech young footballer of the year for 2005. He scored 17 goals in 26 matches with the Under-21 squad and 27 goals in 62 games with the various Czech youth teams.

Still only 22, Pekhart is now playing in Germany and has made eight appearances with the Czech Republic's senior team. The Czech frontline features a 31-year-old Milan Baros and, well, not much else.

Look for Pekhart to make a push for a starting spot next summer.

Alan Dzagoev, Russia

Club: CSKA Moscow

Position: Midfielder

Age: 21

Dzagoev was a borderline choice for this slideshow.

On the one hand, he's only 21 and not well known outside dedicated football fans. On the other hand, he's already been dubbed the "Russian Messi," has been linked with a big-money move abroad and has scored four goals for Russia's senior team. And he's been on the international scene since 2008, when he became the youngest non-goalie ever to represent Russia.

Anyway, we think he'll become a household name at Euro 2012 and secure a blockbuster move to an elite European club afterwards.

Pawel Brozek, Poland

Club: Trabzonspor

Position: Forward

Age: 28

Brozek has been around forever. He represented Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland at the Under-15, -16, -17, -18, -19, -20 and -21 levels. He spent a decade at Wisla Krakow. He'll be 29 when the tournament begins.

At the international level, Brozek has produced a strike ration of one goal every four matches. And he's had a few good games for Poland here and there.

With a little luck, Brozek could become a cult hero this summer thanks to that awesome last name and his status as a member of the co-hosts. Just you wait, bro.

Kostas Mitroglou, Greece

Club: Atromitos (on loan from Olympiacos)

Position: Forward

Age: 23

The Greeks always seem to have at least one striker that scores all the time without ever really impressing anyone. Along those lines, you're familiar with Angelos Charisteas, Theofanis Gekas and even Giorgos Samaras.

Well, get ready to know Kostas Mitroglou.

He fits the profile. He fell out of favor at his club, Olympiacos, and subsequently went out on loan. But as you can see from the video, he knows how to score goals.

Kevin Strootman, Netherlands

Club: PSV Eindhoven

Position: Central midfielder

Age: 21

Kevin Strootman, on the other hand, has earned himself some impressive credentials already.

FourFourTwo.com has called him "the future of Holland's midfield." He has earned praise from Dutch coach Bert Van Marwijk and superstar midfielder Wesley Sneijder.

He’s drawing attention from foreign clubs for his performances in the Eredivisie, and he has shined at the international level, scoring once in 10 senior caps.

Strootman could—maybe should—break into the mainstream at Euro 2012.

Georginio Wijnaldum, Netherlands

Club: PSV Eindhoven

Position: Attacking midfielder/winger

Age: 21

Wijnaldum, a two-footed midfield playmaker, was named Sparta Rotterdam's Talent of the Year in 2007, just before he became Feyenoord's youngest-ever first-team player at 16 years and 148 days.

Now with PSV, he continues to excite fans with his silky skills, quickness and nimble feet. Watch this video and you'll agree: Wijnaldum is an international star in the making.

Jores Okore, Denmark

Club: FC Nordsjaelland

Position: Central defender

Age: 19

Okore, who was born in the Ivory Coast, came to the attention of the Danish national team only recently. He made his Under-21 debut only last September, but was called up to the full squad two months later.

At 6'0" and 190 pounds, Okore has the physical tools to succeed at the international level. Watch for him this summer.

Nicolai Boilesen, Denmark

Club: Ajax

Position: Defender

Age: 19

Boilesen is a versatile defender who can play in the middle or on the left. After spending most of his youth career with Brondby, he moved to Ajax in 2010 and broke into the first team last April.

He has represented Denmark at the U-16, -17, -19 and -21 levels and has earned two caps with the senior team. It's only a matter of time before he becomes a regular.

André Schürrle, Germany

Club: Bayer Leverkusen

Position: Forward/midfielder

Age: 21

Along with his much more famous countryman, Mario Götze, Schürrle was one of the first two Germany players to be born after German reunification. More importantly, he's one of Germany's latest batch of young stars.

The 6'0" forward has scored five goals already for the national team in just 11 appearances. With established stars like Miroslav Klose getting up in age, Schürrle could earn a big chance this summer.

Jordi Alba, Spain

Club: Valencia

Position: Defender/midfielder

Age: 22

Alba barely qualifies based on his status as a hot commodity in the transfer market. But he's played for Spain's senior team just twice.

What makes Alba intriguing is that he can play as a defender or midfielder on the left side. And if Spain has a position that needs improvement, it might be fullback. Not that the players they have there are slouches.

Just sayin'.

Martín Montoya, Spain

Club: Barcelona

Position: Defender

Age: 20

As a right back, Montoya could find himself in a situation similar to Alba. Unproven at the highest level (he recently broke into the Barcelona first-team and has never represented Spain at the senior level), he could be called upon to provide cover at right back.

Conor Clifford, Republic of Ireland

Club: Chelsea

Position: Midfielder

Age: 20

Clifford captained Chelsea to the 2010 FA Youth Cup crown, scoring the winner in the final against Aston Villa. He also won the Republic of Ireland's Under-19 Player of the Year award for 2011.

Clifford hasn't yet broken into the first team of either Chelsea or Ireland, but that's about to change.

Sean Scannell, Republic of Ireland

Club: Crystal Palace

Position: Forward/winger

Age: 21

Scannell broke into Crystal Palace's first-team in December 2007 and has already been called into Giovanni Trapattoni's senior Ireland squad.

Look for a breakthrough this summer, first with Ireland and then with a move to a bigger club.

Robbie Brady, Republic of Ireland

Club: Hull City (on loan from Manchester United)

Position: Winger

Age: 20

Brady, who turned 20 earlier this week, has been a regular contributor this season for Hull City on loan from Manchester United.

At the international level, he's been scoring consistently for Ireland's U-21 team.

Could he take Damien Duff's old spot this summer? Don't count it out.

Sime Vrsaljko, Croatia

Club: Dinamo Zagreb

Position: Fullback

Age: 20

Vrsaljko, a fullback, reportedly came close to joining Arsenal last winter. He'd probably be well known in England by now if the deal hadn't fallen through, especially considering Arsenal's injury problems this season.

As it is, Vrsaljko is a fixture at Dinamo Zagreb and an up-and-coming member of Croatia's national team. If he plays well this summer, that big-money move might happen.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, England

Club: Arsenal

Position: Midfielder

Age: 18

Speaking of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger spent a reported £12 million to bring teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to London from Southampton in August 2011.

With that in mind, he's not quite unknown. But Oxlade-Chamberlain still hasn't represented England at the senior level, even though there have been some rumblings to that end.

Could you see a Theo Walcott-like surprise inclusion for AOC in England's Euro 2012 squad? We could.

Roman Bezus, Ukraine

Club: Vorskla Poltava

Position: Forward

Age: 21

Bezus has scored five goals so far in the Europa League—including qualifiers—this season for Vorskla Poltava, a Ukrainian Premier League club. In the league, he's scored six more times.

He's made just one appearance for the Ukraine's senior squad, but that figures to change soon.

Oscar Hiljemark, Sweden

Club: Elfsborg

Position: Midfielder

Age: 19

Hiljemark has represented Sweden at the Under-17, -19 and -21 levels. He broke into the senior team at Elfsborg, a Swedish club, in 2010 and made his senior debut with Sweden in 2011.

Just call this one a hunch.

Simon Thern, Sweden

Club: Malmo FF

Position: Midfielder

Age: 19

Thern's father Jonas played 75 times and scored six goals for Sweden. The younger Thern has represented Sweden at the Under-17, -19 and -21 levels.

It's a longshot, but Thern has the pedigree to make Sweden's senior team by the summer.

Mamadou Sakho, France

Club: PSG

Position: Central defender

Age: 21

Finally, here's something less speculative. Sakho plays for PSG, the leaders of France's Ligue 1. Sakho, who is of Senegalese descent, has represented France five times.

At 6'2", he casts an imposing figure in any defense. If France advance far at Euro 2012, look for Sakho to play a role.