Euro 2012: 11 Unknown Players Set to Shock the World in Poland and Ukraine

The eyes of the footballing world will be fixed on Poland and Ukraine this summer for the European Championships, one of the greatest exhibitions of international football in the world.

Many of the world's best players will be plying their trade for their countries, and the attention of most will be fixed on the likes of Xavi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Karim Benzema and Mesut Ozil.

But oftentimes the most exciting performances come from those from whom the least is expected. Every year there are a few unknown players who shine under the bright lights of the Euros and stun the world with their performances.

While watching established stars may be entertaining, be sure to keep an eye out for these 11 players who just may stun the footballing world this summer.

Sime Vrsaljko (Croatia)

Sime Vrsaljko is an immensely-talented Croatian footballer who doesn't get nearly the amount of publicity that his talent deserves.

The 20-year-old right back currently plays for Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia's top division and possesses the pace and versatility to excel wherever national team coach Slaven Bilic decides to play him.

His ascent through every level of the Croatian national team setup has been very swift, paralleling his rise through the ranks of Zagreb's youth system and his already-impressive number of appearances for the senior team.

And the coach of his hometown team, who also brought along Luka Modric, says that Vrsaljko has the potential to be an even better player than his more famous countryman.

Tomas Necid (Czech Republic)

Tomas Necid has quietly become a fixture in both his club side and the Czech national team at the age of only 22.

The striker has accumulated 68 league appearances for CSKA Moscow, which has translated into 25 senior caps and seven goals for his country.

Necid can operate as a big-target man or a pacey "false nine," depending on how his team wants to play, and is one of the gems of a country that is very underrated and is, in my opinion, one of the teams to look out for at this summer's tournament.

Maxime Gonalons (France)

Another youngster who has established himself at the club level, Gonalons is just beginning to make himself a regular on the French national team.

With Abou Diaby perpetually injured and an emphasis on attack in the French midfield, Gonalons has an opportunity to impress alongside the more attack-minded Yann M'Vila in Les Bleus' engine room.

As Lyon have stumbled somewhat this year against Montpelier and Paris Saint-Germain, Gonalons has not gotten the attention that he might have in past years.

But his status as one of France's best and yet most-unheralded young players is indisputable to anyone who has seen him play the sort of metronomic role that Sergio Busquets plays for Barcelona.

Kostas Fortounis (Greece)

At only 19 years of age, Kostas Fortounis is becoming a fixture in FC Kaiserslautern's first team and is one of the hottest stars that Greece has.

Just this season, the versatile attacking midfielder/right winger has accumulated 24 appearances for the club, while displaying enough talent to win his first senior cap for his country.

His prolific record at all levels of the Greece youth system and for old club Asteris Tripolis reportedly piqued the interest of Juventus last year, who considered making a move for Fortounis before other big clubs caught on to him.

If the Greeks want a bit of dynamism and unpredictability in their bid to over-perform and stun some of the bigger nations this summer, Fortounis may just be their best option.

Angelo Ogbonna (Italy)

Despite playing for Serie B side Torino, Italy coach Cesare Prandelli decided to give strong center-back Angelo Ogbonna two caps this season, and the 23-year-old was very solid in his first start, a 1-0 loss to the United States.

Ogbonna has accumulated 112 league appearances for Torino, and he has the sort of power and positional discipline that is a hallmark of a traditional Italian defence.

6' 3" and exceptionally strong, he could be a very valuable weapon that not many have seen if Prandelli chooses to use his defender this summer. And I have a hunch that, if he gets significant minutes, Torino will not be able to retain Ogbonna's services for much longer.

Jeffrey Bruma (The Netherlands)

In a Dutch side that often suffers from having a paucity of world-class defenders compared to their rivals at the pinnacle of international football, young Jeffrey Bruma could greatly stabilize the Netherlands' back line.

Though his parent club Chelsea seem to want nothing to do with him at this point in his career, he has impressed wherever he has gone on loan, and Bert van Marwijk has rewarded the 20-year-old with four senior caps.

If van Marwijk wants a younger, more spry partner to John Heitinga at the back than established veterans such as Joris Mathijsen, Bruma will be his best option. He has the pace to venture forward but retains the discipline to remain at the back and defend when he needs to.

Artem Dzyuba (Russia)

As a generation of Russian forwards begins to age and deteriorate slightly, Spartak Moscow striker Artem Dzyuba has found himself thrust into Dick Advocaat's first team.

Dzyuba is an archetypal target man, using his 6' 4" frame to get above defenders and make full use of crosses put into the box. He can also play as a winger when needed, giving him valuable versatility in the Russians' fluid attacking system.

Only 23, he has 82 league appearances for his club side and, though he just broke into the Russian national team, Advocaat would be well-advised to break out this versatile and prolific forward during the Euros this summer.

Jordi Alba (Spain)

Jordi Alba isn't exactly an unknown player, but he is just now breaking on to the international football scene, and many players at Euro 2012 will never have seen the Spaniard before.

Alba (not related to the more attractive Jessica) has had a fantastic season at Valencia, locking down the left side of the defence at the Mestalla and reportedly arousing the interest of Barcelona.

As Joan Capdevila has aged and fallen out of Vicente del Bosque's favor for La Furia Roja, Alba has become the go-to option at left back for a legendary Spain side that are the odds-on favorites to repeat as champions of Europe this summer.

Though, with Spain's overwhelming possession advantage in almost every match, he will not have much to do, there will be few better at his position than Jordi Alba.

John Guidetti (Sweden)

Just 19 years old, John Guidetti may be the young player to watch out for this summer, if his scoring record for Feyenoord is any indication.

The striker, on loan from Manchester City, has netted an amazing 19 goals in 21 Eredivisie appearances this season, and his performances have earned him the right to represent his country for the first time this year.

Coach Erik Hamren would be remiss if he did not take advantage of the youngster's superb form, and Guidetti will greatly benefit from being paired with superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front.

Ibra's presence could act as a decoy that would allow Guidetti to flourish in space, or the AC Milan striker could provide his younger partner with service that he could not get from anyone else on the team.

Oleh Husyev (Ukraine)

Despite accumulating 249 appearances in all competitions for Dynamo Kyiv and 68 caps for Ukraine, Oleh Husyev has gone largely unnoticed by the international footballing community.

Known mainly for his tremendous pace, Husyev can wreak havoc on the right side of the midfield, and this uncommon asset has made him a fixture in both his club and national team sides.

Husyev can score goals or provide assists, and to paraphrase Arsene Wenger, he is the oil in the engine of whatever team he plays for.

When the wide football community gets a chance to see this man in action in his home country this summer, people will definitely be impressed.

Sebastian Giovinco (Italy)

At 5' 4", Sebastian Giovinco might just be the smallest player participating in Euro 2012. But, as people begin to see the Italian play more and more, his reputation in the game will surely grow well beyond that of his petite stature.

The first glimpse I got of Parma's tricky striker was when he tormented the back line of my beloved United States back in February, and though he must have been called offside at least a dozen times, he was by far the best player on an Italy side that included Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio and Daniele de Rossi.

Giovinco hangs on the last shoulder of whatever defender has the misfortune of marking him and makes intelligent runs that try to beat offside traps and capitalize on the brilliant passes of the likes of Pirlo.

He is the type of dangerous and annoying player that can make something happen at any moment, and that unpredictability, along with the fact that Guiseppe Rossi has been ruled out of the tournament, is why I predict that Cesare Prandelli will select Giovinco routinely and the striker will shine when given his opportunities.

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