
AFC Bournemouth's squad had a season to be proud of in the Premier League, finishing 12th in the league with a record 48 points in manager Andoni Iraola's first season.
On top of this, the Cherries will have three players with the honour of representing their nation at this summer's European Championship in Germany.
All three of Bournemouth's stars will be key for their countries, with each team having an uphill battle on their hands featuring in tough groups with experienced sides, and with two AFCB players even facing off against each other.
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Ryan Christie - Scotland
The most experienced Bournemouth player going to the tournament, 29-year-old midfielder Ryan Christie revamped his game this season under Andoni Iraola, often being deployed as a deep-lying playmaker.
The Scotsman has often played as a winger in his career and it still remains to be seen where he will start for his country, having been played as both an attacking midfielder and on the wing in Scotland's international friendlies against Finland and Gibraltar respectively.
It does appear, however, that Christie will have a more attacking role for Scotland than his deeper one at Bournemouth, with the Cherries man getting on the scoresheet from the right against Gibraltar last week.
Regardless of where he is played, the former Celtic man will be a key man for the Tartan Army with his 49 caps, experience and creativity being vital in a tough group featuring Hungary, Switzerland and hosts Germany.
This experience could prove vital as all eyes will be on Scotland when they feature in the first game of the tournament against Germany in Munich on Friday.
Christie featured at the last Euro s tournament in 2021, but only played 45 minutes for Scotland against Czech Republic on the opening match day.
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Milos Kerkez - Hungary
Another key player for Bournemouth, Milos Kerkez took to the Premier League like a duck to water in 2023-24, featuring 28 times at left-back at just 20 years of age.
The Hungarian defender signed for AFCB from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar for an undisclosed fee last summer and had a debut campaign to remember.
Kerkez has already featured 16 times for Hungary, where he made his international debut in 2022 and will likely be a starter as a left wing-back, where he started against Ireland and Israel in his country's pre-tournament friendlies.
Should Ryan Christie start as a right winger for his nation, the two Cherries stars could go head to head on the pitch as Hungary face off against Scotland on the last Group A matchday on June 23.
The European Championship is well known as a stage for young players to make a name for themselves, with stars such as Pedri, Bukayo Saka and Alexander Isak examples from the last tournament.
Hungary also come into the tournament as underdogs, with decent performances at the previous two Euros and a dominating display in qualifying.
If Kerkez is to make a platform for himself on the biggest stage this summer, the young full-back could find himself as one of the hottest sets of property on the transfer market.
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Illia Zabarnyi - Ukraine
Speaking of young stars shining for the Cherries, Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi was another player key to his side's record-breaking campaign, playing 37 league games and keeping eight clean sheets.
At the age of just 21, the centre-back has featured in 36 games for Ukraine since 2020, playing all five games as his side reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 before being knocked out by England.
Zabarnyi started in two of his country's three pre-tournament friendlies, keeping clean sheets in a 4-0 win away to Moldova and a 0-0 draw against Euro hosts Germany.
Ukraine will feature in Group E at the Euros, coming up against Belgium, Romania and Slovakia.
A key component in Ukraine being successful in Germany will be the partnership Zabarnyi forms with former Shakhtar Donetsk teammate Mykola Matviienko in defence, with the 28-year-old's left foot making him a perfect complement at left centre-back.
Like Kerkez, as one of the Premier League's brightest young defensive talents, Bournemouth may have to bat away interest from other clubs for their young Ukrainian centre-back should he have another impressive tournament.

