4 European Under-21 Stars Who Should Be on Tottenham's Radar
For Tottenham Hotspur's England contingent, the European Under-21 Championships was not the tournament they envisioned.
Tom Carroll was quiet, Harry Kane underutilised and Alex Pritchard injured during his first start after an encouraging cameo in the loss to Portugal. Bottom of their group, Gareth Southgate's team never got close to matching the promise of their qualifying campaign and build-up.
Although Tottenham did not learn too much positive about their own players out in the Czech Republic, it is likely some others have popped up on their radar. If they are not already, the following article examines four Euro 2015 stars who the north Londoners should be looking at.
Each of the players included come from the two finalists, Portugal and Sweden. Others shone in the tournament, but in terms of possible availability and reasons why Spurs would be interested, these four are at the forefront in this writer's mind.
First up, the centre-back at the heart of Portugal's stingy defence.
Paulo Oliveira
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Paulo Oliveira's toughest night of the tournament turned out to be Portugal's final loss to Sweden.
Largely untroubled in the first-half, the eventual winners found ways to hit the Portuguese more directly after the interval. The front pair of John Guidetti and Isaac Kiese Thelin were unlucky not to grab a potential match-sealing goal prior to the penalty shootout it eventually took.
The susceptibility to these often aerial attacks was more a team issue than anything specifically relating to Oliveira. The greater takeaways from the Sporting defender's performances at the tournament were his general alertness and willingness to compete.
This occasionally manifested itself in him being dragged out of position hunting for the ball. Mostly, though, he was a dominant presence at the heart of a Portugal defence to concede only once in five games (the concluding penalties not included). He helped keep Spurs' own Kane under wraps in the group stage, and was excellent ensuring the German attack got even less room to breathe in the semi-final.
Per WhoScored.com, Oliveira's numbers in the latter match read as four tackles, three interceptions and six clearances. His tackling certainly stood out, but most impressive was his focus in anticipation of various situations.
Given Tottenham's concentration struggles, any defender not so prone to ball watching is definitely worth a further look.
Sergio Oliveira
2 of 4Sergio Oliveira is one Euro 2015 standout whose name has already been linked with a potential move to Tottenham.
Metro's Lewis Rudd cited a report in Portuguese newspaper O Jogo claiming interest from Spurs. Meanwhile, in their detailed mid-tournament analysis of the player, Bleacher Report's Ryan Bailey and Sam Tighe suggested Mauricio Pochettino's side as a good fit for the midfielder should he move on (see above video).
Oliveira's usefulness to Portugal was typified by how much he was missed after his 54th-minute substitution in the final with Sweden. The distinguished 23-year-old had effectively been controlling the game from his slight-left-of-midfield berth.
The Swedes were proving a resistant foe, so much so the Portuguese's closest goal-scoring effort was an Oliveira free-kick cannoning off the crossbar. But their best work was patiently coming through their skipper. You suspect the midfielder, most recently playing for Pacos Ferreira, would have had a further say had he remained on the pitch.
Oliveira's most appealing attribute during the tournament was his reading of the game. Allowing him to anticipate danger against his defence and provoke his attack with unfussy but effective passing, he is a player who operates comfortably at his own stately pace.
Pochettino is not short of midfielders, even with Paulinho's departure. But an intelligent facilitator with eye-catching flourishes such as the Portuguese could be what the head coach needs to improve his team in this position.
Simon Tibbling
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Simon Tibbling's blend of hard-running, sensible ball-use and composure in front of goal marked him out as one of the Championships' most valuable players.
His crucial late goal in Sweden's group-stage draw with Portugal was followed up by another well-taken effort in his side's 4-1 semi-final victory in the Scandinavian derby with Denmark.
The strikes were in keeping with Tibbling's sound choices throughout. James Milner-esque is not necessarily a comparison to set many football fans' pulses racing, but Tibbling's similar deployment of his abilities brings the England international to mind.
The Groningen player is not blessed with outstanding speed but, predominantly used out right by boss Hakan Ericson, he smartly chose when to attack and when to hold back and ensure possession was retained.
This contributed to Sweden not playing riskily, but not being shy either. Speaking to UEFA.com's Simon Hart & Nuno Tavares, Ericson's assessment of his team here could be just as well applied to Tibbling.
"We know we have fewer resources than a lot of other countries in Europe but we do well with what we have and we found a good balance in this team between some technical play but also all playing together," the head coach said. "We have to do what we're good at."
Tibbling certainly did that. Such smart, technically sound players are hard to come by. Spurs could do worse than keeping an eye on this versatile 20-year-old.
Ricardo Pereira
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Ricardo's five qualifying goals played their part in Portugal getting to Euro 2015 and, once there, he was one of several to shine too for the finalists.
The 21-year-old was sometimes used as cover at right-back by Porto last season but it was further forward his national under-21 coach Rui Jorge preferred to deploy him.
Ricardo joyfully exposed Germany's, at times, sleep-walking defence in the semi-final.
His goal, Portugal's second of five, resulted from his going completely unmarked at the back-post for a corner. The attacker's frequent assaults on the channels just as significantly led to Germany's undoing, though.
Pulling their defence apart with fast purposeful runs, both short and long, Ricardo created considerable space for his team-mates. One saw him tee up his captain Oliveira for a shot which struck the post. Another, this time down the left, led to him crossing for Joao Mario whose cushioned header set up Ivan Cavaleiro to make it 3-0.
It proved tougher going in the final against a more stifling Sweden defence. But it was not for want of trying from Ricardo.
Spurs are in need of support for their 2014-15 top scorer Kane up top. As a savvy close-contact partner in a front two, or a more natural wide-man in the 4-2-3-1 Pochettino often deployed, Ricardo would be a good fit.
However, given Porto boss Julen Lopetegui's hopes for developing him as a right-back, per UEFA.com's Pedro Marques, Ricardo's fate may lie elsewhere.
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