The Breakout Stars of Euro 2020

As is the case in every tournament, there are young players who catch the eye and announce themselves to world football, for example, in the last World Cup it was Kylian Mbappe who done so. Today, we’ll be looking at the three most impressive players in the Euros who we didn’t know much about going into the competition. 

*Note that players who are already regulars or play for big clubs (I.e Pedri, Billy Gilmour) are not included

Mikkel Damsgaard

No one really expected Mikkel Damsgaard to get much game time going into Euro 2020 however the 21 year old certainly stepped up to the plate after the horrific events of match day one at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen. Damsgaard didn’t feature against Finland but he started for Denmark on match day two against Belgium. He played alongside Yussuf Poulsen and Martin Braithwaite up front for the Danes but Damsgaard didn’t look out of place. Unsurprisingly, it was the No.1 ranked side in the world that walked away with the win but it didn’t stop Damsgaard from impressing. He completed the most dribbles (5) in the match and won the most duels (9) in the encounter. 

The atmosphere was incredible inside the Parken Stadium for Denmark’s final group game against Russia. Damsgaard was given the nod yet again and became the first player born in the 21st century to score at the Euros. He opened the scoring on 38th minute with a wonder goal. Damsgaard curved his long range shot into the top right corner; if Patrick Schick hadn’t scored from the half way line against Scotland, this would be a contender for goal of the tournament. The Denmark number 14 went on to have another eye catching display, helping his nation to a 4-1 win and a place in the last 16 of the Euros. 

Damsgaard’s place in the starting 11 for Denmark’s last 16 tie against Wales in Amsterdam was never really in doubt. This time though he played with Kasper Dolberg and Martin Braithwaite up top as Poulsen picked up a knock. It was Dolberg whom Damsgaard combined with to put Denmark 1-0 up on 28 minutes. He received the ball from Joakim Maehle and played an intricate pass to the Nice striker who finished into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Damsgaard though, should’ve definitely had more than a single assist; he created the most chances in the match with 4. 

After some dazzling displays after being brought into the side, it was inevitable that Damsgaard’s superb form would die out. He didn’t create nor do much in Denmark’s quarter final with the Czech Republic but he came to the fore when the Danes took on England at Wembley in the semi finals. Damsgaard opened the scoring half an hour in with a wonderful free kick from quite a distance, Jordan Pickford was beaten for the first time in the tournament. Denmark would go on to lose the game 2-1 after extra time but Damsgaard exited Euro 2020 with the world at his feet. With a goal contribution every 108 minutes at the Euros, it is no wonder the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, Liverpool and Spurs have been linked with the Sampdoria winger. 

Denzel Dumfries 

It goes without saying that PSV Eindhoven are one of the heavyweights of Dutch football; they finished 2nd in the Eredivisie in 20/21 behind the mighty Ajax. Captain of their side is a right back named Denzel Dumfries. Heading into Euro 2020, Dumfries only had 19 caps to his name but his international career has without doubt taken off this summer. One of the few positives of Frank De Boer’s 5-3-2 system was the form of Dumfries. The 25 year old was able to maraud down the right hand side and evidently scored two goals for the Netherlands throughout Euro 2020. 

It was no surprise Dumfries started in the Netherlands’ opening match against Ukraine after playing 90 minutes in both Dutch warm up games against Scotland and Georgia. Although Dumfries lost possession the most times in the match (8) and lost the most duels in the match (14) he still managed to bag himself a star of the match award. The full back came up trumps in the last five minutes for the Netherlands to grab the winner after a Ukrainian fight back. Dumfries rose above Oleksandr Zinchenko to head into the bottom right corner and make it 3-2 to the Netherlands. 

It was a similar story in match day two for Dumfries as he was crowned star of the match yet again. This time for the Netherlands through it was a more comfortable victory. Memphis Depay opened the scoring with a penalty on the 11th minute and Dumfries doubled his nation’s money on the 67th. He calmly side footed the ball into the bottom corner from Donyell Malen’s pass after making another rampaging run from right wing back. It shows how effective Dumfries was for the Netherlands that he managed to score a vital goal and win star of the match despite having the least touches of any outfield player in the game with 37. 

Frank de Boer surprisingly only made two changes for his side’s dead rubber against North Macedonia in match day three. The Netherlands ran out 3-0 winners and Dumfries was uncharacteristically (at least in Euro 2020) quiet. He was subbed off for Jurrien Timber at half time to protect him going into the last 16. The Netherlands faced the Czech Republic in the first knockout round of Euro 2020; this game was the first shock of the tournament so far; it finished 2-0 to the Czechs in Budapest. The winners of the tie got their two goals after Matthijs de Ligt was shown a red card for an imprudent hand ball. Despite the defeat, Dumfries still managed recover his admirable form from the first two games. He completed the most dribbles in the match (3), drew the most fouls in the game (4) and won the greatest amount of duels in the match (10). With Everton and Inter interested, it is more than likely Dumfries will make a move away from his homeland this summer. 

Alexander Isak

The Real Sociedad man was awarded young player of the year in La Liga for the 20/21 season after scoring 17 goals and assisting a further 2 in the Spanish top flight. Isak knew he had to step up to the plate after Sweden found out they would be without Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Euro 2020 and the 21 year old definitely did. It manifests how effective Isak was for his country that he didn’t even score a goal yet he’s being linked to several big clubs. 

Sweden faced a tough opening fixture against Spain in Seville. The Swedes though, we’re resolute defensively and provided a threat on the counter through Isak. Despite his 6”4 stature, one of Isak’s strengths is his ability to carry the ball. He completed the most dribbles in Sweden’s match against Spain with 2. Isak was very close to putting his nation in front in the first half after spinning Aymeric Laporte; his shot was blocked off the line and on to the post by Marcos Llorente. The Sociedad striker should feel hard done by not to have got at least an assist. He beat three Spain players in the box and flashed it across goal only for Marcus Berg to fail to score into an empty net from all of four yards out. Isak was hooked on 69 minutes and Sweden managed to hold out for a goalless draw. 

Match day two provided Sweden with possibly their most winnable game. They faced Slovenia in Saint-Petersburg. I mentioned Isak’s dribbling and yet again, he managed to complete the most in the match with 6. The 21 year old also played a part in the only goal of the game, sending a ball over the top for Robin Quaison to run on to. The Mainz forward got there ahead of Martin Dubravka to win the penalty which Emil Forsberg converted to win the game for Sweden. Isak interestingly had the least touches (45) of any outfield player to play 90 minutes yet still had such an impact on the game. 

Sweden knew if they beat Poland in their final group game, they would secure top spot in the section. The Poles had to win to even have a chance of qualifying for the last 16 and after going 2-0 down, they looked down and out. Isak played a part in the first goal. His physical presence was enough to let the ball break for Emil Forsberg who fired into the bottom right corner. This went down as an assist for Isak on most platforms. After going two goals behind, Poland needed a response and they got one through Robert Lewandoski who drew them level with two goals. They had hope with six minutes of normal time left. However, in the last minute of stoppage time, Sweden snatched first place in the group courtesy of a Viktor Claesson goal which made it 3-2. Isak lost possession the most times in the match (2) and also lost the most duels in the game with 13 but he managed to cancel those concerning stats out with the afore mentioned assist. Alexander Isak and Sweden would face Ukraine at Hampden in the last 16 of Euro 2020. 

The combined age of the front two that started for Sweden against Ukraine was just 42 years. Alexander Isak partnered Dejan Kulusevksi in attack and managed to set up Sweden’s only goal of the game. He combined once again with Emil Forsberg, laying off the RB Leipzig man whose long range shot was deflected into the net. This drew Sweden level just before half time after Oleksandr Zinchenko put Ukraine ahead early on. Isak went on to play until the 97th minute after the match went to extra time. Just after Isak’s departure, Sweden went down to 10 men. Janne Andersson’s men done their best to try and hold out for penalties but Ukrain found the breakthrough in stoppage time in the second half of extra time. Just like Dumfries, the last we seen of Isak was in the last 16 of the tournament. 

Many Premier League sides have been linked with Alexander Isak such as Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal however on the 1st of July Real Sociedad conducted some shrewd business. The Basque club agreed to extend Isak’s contract with them until 2026, putting off any potential suitors. Should any club come in for Isak though, the news of his contract extension will surely increase Sociedad’s asking price significantly. 

Rounding off

It is almost certain at least one of the players on this list will secure a big move this summer. It goes to show how major tournaments can shape the careers of young players.