Top 10 Players Left in the U21 European Championship
And then there were four. The Under-21 European Championship has finally bid farewell to the group stages, and as such, our list of teams has been halved to just four exceptional sides fighting over the privilege to call themselves the U21 European champions this summer.
Yet within these remaining sides lie a number of top-class players who still have plenty to showcase the world and the number of scouts at each and every game.
Germany and Portugal—the two favourites for this year's competition—will face off on Saturday night before Sweden and Denmark line up to see who will join one of the two formidable sides in the final.
It's going to be great weekend of football, but before we dive in to that, let's just take a moment to appreciate what talent remains in the competition.
Here are the top 10 players left in this summer's U21 tournament.
10. John Guidetti
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We kick off today's list with a forward well known to many in England and Scotland, as he has been something of an inconsistent talent throughout the years.
Although John Guidetti may only be 23-years-old, the Swede has already proved himself at both Manchester City and Celtic as something of a hot or cold player. Exceptional one week and then rather dismissive the next.
Fortunately for his side, Hakan Ericson has seemingly got the best out of the young striker through the tireless performances he continues to show from one match to the next.
Guidetti may only have one goal to his name, but he has proved to be a real handful against each and every defence he's played against this summer. And that makes him very valuable to this Sweden side.
9. Amin Younes
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At No. 9 we have our first German entry of the list in the diminutive Amin Younes. The forward may stand no taller than 5'6" from the ground, but what Younes lacks in height he certainly makes up for in talent and speed with the ball at his feet.
Although the 21-year-old may have had a rather average season with Kaiserslautern in last season's 2.Bundesliga, Younes has wasted little time in this summer's competition and has proved to be one of Germany's most efficient and exciting forwards.
It says plenty about the tournament he's having when more established stars such as Max Meyer, Leonardo Bittencourt and Moritz Leitner have all been left biting the dust in his wake.
8. Jannik Vestergaard
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Aside from a minor blip against tournament-favourites Germany—who managed to beat them 3-0—Denmark have proved to be a well-organised team in defence.
Much of that will go down to the overall system Jess Thorup has implemented from one game to the next, but a lot of it will also go down to the exceptional performances put on by central defender Jannik Vestergaard.
The Werder Bremen defender has been a real rock at the back and an aerial threat up front for his side this summer. Perhaps the most consistent and best performing player for Denmark so far and one who is an absolute necessity if Denmark are to get past Sweden this weekend.
7. Isaac Kiese Thelin
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One of the real breakout talents of this summer's competition has been the young Swede Isaac Kiese Thelin. A centre-forward who has proved invaluable to Sweden's own workmanlike style of football.
Although Thelin may not be as established or indeed as noticeable as Guidetti, the 22-year-old striker has been useful in chasing down long balls, fighting for possession in the air and holding up plays to allow his team-mates to get into place.
Calling this young talent a target man would perhaps be too simplistic and a bit unfair on his skills—he much prefers running at defenders and shooting from distance—but that's almost exactly what he has done for Sweden this summer. And he's been fantastic at it.
6. Sergio Oliveira
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At No. 6 we have our first of many Portuguese players in the shape of Sergio Oliveira, Portugal's central midfielder and perhaps the most underappreciated player at this year's competition.
Much has been made of the more attacking, flair players in Oliveira's side—two of whom we'll get to later—but very little has been said about the manner in which this 23-year-old has quietly gone about his business.
Oliveira is a player who thrives on closing down opposing attacks and playing the simple, almost genius passes around the pitch. You won't find any Hollywood passes from this player, but then you also won't ever see him lose the ball or step out of position.
5. Jakob Busk
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Denmark have proved to be no less than expected in this competition, with a steely determination to win—or at least not get beaten—that has seen them qualify from a very tough group alongside Germany.
Such an achievement has been down to a collective performance from the team, yet no player really stands out quite as well as goalkeeper Jakob Busk.
The 21-year-old shot-stopper has been ever-present in this Danish side and a real rock for Jess Thorup to build his side upon. Although they ultimately lost, Busk's performance against Germany is the main reason the match finished a reasonable 3-0 and not something a little more embarrassing.
Busk may not be the most established goalkeeper at this tournament, but he's certainly one of the most in form.
4. William Carvalho
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At No. 4 we have the Portuguese midfield engine that is William Carvalho. A player already well known around the world of football and one who has wasted little time demanding the respect of this entire competition.
The Sporting Lisbon youngster has long been touted as a future star, but it has been in this competition that much of the continent has first laid their eyes on the 23-year-old's talent.
Carvalho is a classic box-to-box midfielder who can tackle with speed and precision just as easily as he can dribble past two or three defenders and set up a goal.
Portugal simply wouldn't function without this young starlet, and as such, that makes him one of the best in this competition.
3. Kevin Volland
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As the second German on our list today, Kevin Volland undoubtedly raises very few eyebrows for his inclusion considering the reputation he already has around Europe.
The Hoffenheim forward is an exceptional player who can score and create goals with equal ease, as we've seen from his two goals and assist in just three games this summer.
What is perhaps even more impressive is the fact Volland was played out on the right side of midfield for the opening game, before coach Horst Hrubesch found some sense and put him up front.
Very few players in this competition can guarantee their team goals, but this German forward is certainly one of them.
2. Emre Can
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At No. 2 we have the German box-to-box midfielder Emre Can, who has surprised everybody outside of the Bundesliga with his exceptional ability to play as a midfielder, despite featuring primarily as a defender for Liverpool since he arrived last season.
The former Bayern Munich youth product is a natural midfielder and has shown just what he's capable of, defending and attacking with ease in each of Germany's three games thus far.
Carvalho should prove a worthy test for the Liverpool player when Germany meet Portugal on Saturday.
1. Bernardo Silva
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At No. 1 we have the exceptionally talented Bernardo Silva of Portugal as the single most impressive player left in this summer's European Championship.
The classic No. 10 has been instrumental in everything Portugal have done going forward in this competition, and as Carvalho has bumped and bruised his way through opposing defences, Silva has danced and glided past players with absolute ease.
A player only too typical of the style of football this sport has come to love from Portugal over the past 20 years, Silva looks every bit of the player who will undoubtedly go on to command the respect of Portugal's senior team very soon. But before that, he has this competition to contend with.
