Euro 2024 starts in just over a week’s time, with national team managers making their final selections of their 26-man squads, with some surprises too. There is sure to be some incredible talent to grace the pitch, but who are the ones to look out for in the competition?
Alessandro Buongiorno - Centre Back (Italy)
Playing for Torino, in the Serie A, Alessandro Buongiorno is the definition of progression from a young raw talent in Italian football to first team regular.
24-year old Buongiorno has lit up his team, being part of a three-man defensive wall, and this recently concluded 2023/24 Serie A season has been his best so far.
Buongiorno and his Torino recorded their best ever finish to a Serie A season, as they finished 9th place.
The Italian defender’s statistics this season show how well he has played this season for Torino. For example, one of his best attributes this year has been his passing throughout the league campaign, with a 85.2% pass completion rate in the league after completing a total of 1012 passes in the league.
Italy, the defending champions of the competition, finished second in their qualifying group with 14 points, six behind England, the team they beat in the Euros three years ago in the final at Wembley Stadium.
The Azzurri, led by manager Luciano Spalletti, are drawn in a tricky Group B, along with three-time European Championship winners Spain, Croatia, 2018 World Cup runners up and Albania. Buongiorno will be important for his side, especially if Spalletti decides to use a back-three in defence.
Italy has a good squad selection of defensive players, in addition to Buongiorno such as: Alessandro Bastoni, Gianluca Mancini and Raoul Bellanova. It is safe to say the Italian defence has a bright future ahead.
While the Italians are likely to line up in a 3-4-3 formation, Buongiorno will be hoping to be one of the first names on the team sheet to partner Bastoni in a three-man defensive shape.
The two-time European Championship winners will be amongst the favourites to lift the trophy on July 15, as many expect them to prevail from the so called “group of death”.
This may just be the stage for Buongiorno to announce himself and still at 24 years old, there may be potential clubs on the lookout for a new defender.
Benjamin Sesko - Striker (Slovenia)
Every team needs a striker that is quick, tall, has good positional play and ultimately can score goals. Benjamin Sesko is the complete package deal.
Sesko, from Slovenia, has enjoyed a debut 2023-24 Bundesliga season after scoring 14 goals in 31 games for Red Bull Leipzig. Leipzig signed him from sister club Red Bull Salzburg for £20 million.
Standing at 1.95 metres tall, Sesko is a focal point in attack and source for goals, despite just turning 21 years old he has produced impressive numbers.
Sesko’s goals per 90 minutes for Leipzig shows how vital he will be for Slovenia in the Euros. His 14 league goals for the German side gives him a ratio of 0.83 for goals scored every 90 minutes played.
Compared to Inter Milan and France forward Marcus Thuram who, also in his debut season with the Italian side, has a 0.44 ratio for goals scored every 90 mins. This shows that Sesko will be a threat in attack and help get the goals for Slovenia at the Euros.
Slovenia, who are ranked 57th in the FIFA men’s world rankings, are making just their second ever appearance at the European Championships. It is their first since 2000.
Whilst Slovenia are not expected to progress from their group, they could still make it difficult for their opponents. They are in Group C drawn with Denmark, Serbia and England.
Sesko has been linked with moves to some big European clubs, just like last year, and will hope that good performances with Slovenia could tempt suitors to sign him up.
Florian Wirtz - Attacking Midfielder (Germany)
Playing at home as host in one of the biggest football tournaments in the world is huge and Florian Wirtz may as well be considered the face of the European Championships.
Wirtz, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, has had an outstanding 2023-24 season he won the league title and DFB-Pokal German Cup. Under the management of Spaniard Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen went 51 games unbeaten.
The 21-year old attacking midfielder has been one of the most important players for Leverkusen this season. The German played 2,372 minutes in the league, the fifth-most of all his teammates.
Wirtz’s goals and assists for Leverkusen and if his numbers were that good, it shows that he will be vital for Germany during the Euros. The midfielder has 22 goal contributions for his club, with 11 goals and 11 assists.
As for chances created for his teammates, Wirtz is definitely a player to have in your side. The German has produced 73 key passes to his Leverkusen teammates, which is the same number made by Phil Foden of Manchester City. Only Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has produced more with a staggering 91.
Whilst on the national stage for Germany, Wirtz made debut in a 2022 World Cup Qualifier against Liechtenstein. He has scored just once for his country, in a friendly match against France in March this year.
Germany, three-time European Championship winners, could to go far in the Euros this year even with the amount of quality they have. All eyes will be on playmaker Wirtz to see what he can produce during the tournament.
Josip Ilicic - Attacking Midfielder (Slovenia)
Josip Ilicic is one of Serie A’s most notable players in recent times, playing in the Italian league between 2010 to 2022.
IIicic is best known for his time at Atalanta from 2017 to 2022 playing as an attacking midfielder. He made 136 appearances in the league for the Italian side, scoring 47 goals.
During the 2019-20 Champions League season, Ilicic scored four goals against Valencia in the Round of 16 second leg, as Atalanta cruised to the quarter finals.
Ilicic, from Slovenia, became the fourth player to score four goals in a Champions league knockout match, after Lionel Messi (2009-10 & 2011-12), Mario Gomez (2011-12) and Robert Lewandowski (2012-13).
He became the first Slovenian to score a Champions League hat-trick and the oldest player to score an away hat-trick (32 years 41 days), overtaking Zlatan Ibrahimovic (32 years 20 days for Paris Saint Germain v Anderlecht in 2013-14).
At 36 years old, Ilicic makes his return to the national side for Slovenia after two years away and is hoping to play at his first major international tournament.
He will be playing alongside countryman Sesko, as Slovenia are up against Serbia, Denmark and England in Group C at the Euros.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Striker (Portugal)
If you ever needed a player for the biggest occasions in European football Cristiano Ronaldo is the man for the job.
Ronaldo, regarded as one of the greatest players of all time in football, is known for his winning mentality, longevity and most importantly his goals for club and country.
Best known for his time at Manchester United where he scored 84 goals in the Premier League, but it was at Real Madrid that he claimed “legendary” status as scored a total of 451 goals for the club over nine years.
The 39-year old striker also played for Juventus in Italy between 2018 and 2021, with 101 goals to his name, whilst playing for Manchester United for a second time in 2021 and Saudi Arabia side Al-Nassar since 2022.
Ronaldo has a tremendous list of both club and individual trophies including: three Premier League titles, two La Liga titles, five-time UEFA Champions League winner, and five-time Ballon (FIFA) D’or winner.
Ronaldo holds numerous records like most goals in the UEFA Champions League with 140 and most appearances in the same competition with 183.
As for his national side, Ronaldo has been an ever present figure for Portugal, his first major tournament was the 2004 Euro Championships. He is the all-time top-scorer with 128 goals.
In terms of goals at major international tournaments, Ronaldo is the outright leader for all-time European Championship goal scorers - currently on 14 - and he could still extend that record.
He also holds a unique record of being the only male player to score three or more goals in multiple Euros (three in 2012 and 2016 and five in 2021).
The Portuguese man goes into the Euros with a number of records he could break such as: most assists at the European Championship and chances created at the European Championship.
Where there are goals there is also silverware because Ronaldo has an international trophy to his name with Portugal. He won this competition in 2016 beating France in the final.
Ronaldo has played in 12 major international tournaments with Portugal and he will be adding Euro 2024 to that list.
Portugal will look to their superstar striker in Ronaldo as they are set to take on Group F opponents the Czech Republic, Georgia and Turkey.
Ronaldo, the man for the big stages, is set to grace the pitch once again with Portugal and do what he does best, which is scoring goals.
