Emerging talent: 12 players to watch at the Under-21 European Championships 2011

The 2011 UEFA Under-21 European Championships get underway this weekend in Denmark. This year’s edition includes some surprise names, such as Belarus and first-time qualifiers Iceland, as well as some big name absentees like Italy, Holland and 2009 winners Germany who all failed to qualify this time around. As always at Just Football, we like to keep a close eye on emerging stars around the world. Here are 12 players to watch out for:

Javi MARTINEZ (Spain)

It seems strange that while many in England feel Jack Wilshere has outgrown Under-21 level, Spain are happy to send along World Cup winners like Javi Martinez. A jewel in Athletic Bilbao’s crown (alongside a few others – Muniain, Llorente, Iraola), Javi Martinez is an energetic, tenacious central midfield player rated very highly in Spain.  Captain of the U-21 side, Martinez bosses midfield with power and tenacity, is a good passer of the ball, can head and has a knack of lurking outside the box to finish off moves with precision shooting. The Basque iron lung, one senses he would be ideally suited to the Premier League.

Xherdan SHAQIRI (Switzerland)

While television pundit Adrian Chiles sneered condescendingly at Switzerland’s team after their recent 2-2 draw with England, those concentrating on the game itself and not the celebrity status of the players will have noted the presence of some exciting young talent in the Swiss ranks. One of those, Xherdan Shaqiri, is a player of dazzling promise.

Of Kosovan descent, Shaqiri is a versatile, quick-witted winger who can play across the midfield. A surprise inclusion in Switzerland’s World Cup 2010 squad when called up by Ottmar Hitzfeld at 18 after only 31 senior appearances for Basle, Shaqiri has only grown in stature since and is now a regular in the international setup. Creative, a penetrative dribbler and packs a wicked shot – as England learnt to their dismay last year.

Christian ERIKSEN (Denmark)

The hopes of a nation are already being pinned on the slight young shoulders of Christian Eriksen. At just 19, Ajax’s promising attacking midfielder is rapidly making a name for himself, winning the Dutch Eredivisie title and being crowned the league’s young player of the season in his first season as a first-team regular. Full of praise, Johan Cruyff described him as “a player I really like with all my heart” and Eriksen’s vision and flair have led to comparisons with the Laudrup brothers.

Daniel STURRIDGE (England)

Behind superstar names like Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Fernando Torres in the pecking order at Chelsea, one could be forgiven for starting to wonder just where the former Manchester City player’s career might be drifting. But in as illuminating a demonstration of the benefits of regular first-team football for the development of a young emerging player as you could hope to find, Sturridge’s loan move to Bolton Wanderers proved a resounding success. Eight goals in twelve appearances has seen his stock rise dramatically, and England will now be hoping that form can translate to the Under-21s in a tournament environment.

David DE GEA (Spain)

Whether we mentioned him here or not, many will be keeping an eye on David de Gea regardless with a move to English champions Manchester United supposedly pending. An excellent shot-stopper (he had a lot of practice in front of a leaky Atletico Madrid defence this season), de Gea is apparently seen by those at Old Trafford as the heir apparent to Edwin van der Sar. Big shoes to fill. De Gea certainly has a similar icy demeanour, outwardly at least, and it is the 20-year-old’s composure and organisation of the back four that have impressed as much as his handling and agility.

Kolbeinn SIGTHÓRSSON (Iceland)

15 goals in 32 appearances in the Eredivisie fired AZ Alkmaar’s Icelandic striker Kolbeinn Sigthórsson’s name into the spotlight in Holland this season. Five goals in one game against VVV Venlo made the 21-year-old only the second ever foreign player to score five goals in a Dutch top-flight match, and his scoring prowess throughout the season has consequently seen him linked strongly with a move to Ajax, with Newcastle United apparently also keen. Hard-working, possessing good movement off the ball and a decent finisher, Sigthórsson holds the ball up well and looks to bring others into play. Already has 3 goals in 6 appearances at senior level.

Nassim BEN KHALIFA (Switzerland)

A revelation at the Under-17 World Cup in 2009, Nassim Ben Khalifa has since moved on from his Swiss homeland to German plains, earning a transfer to VfL Wolfsburg before being loaned out to FC Nürnberg at the back-end of last season. A tall, rangy striker with pace and good penalty area instincts, Ben Khalifa can create as well as score goals. Hasn’t received too many opportunities in Germany so it will be interesting to observe his continued development in Denmark.

Yaroslav RAKITSKIY (Ukraine)

Shakhtar Donetsk have a growing reputation for importing Brazilian talent, so it is refreshing to see an academy graduate like Yaroslav Rakitskiy rising in prominence. Rakitskiy began his career at left back before being converted by Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu into a centre back. So confident was Lucescu in the 21-year-old’s ability that he did not mind selling Dmytro Chygrynskiy to Barcelona. Rakitskiy has a hammer of a left foot shot and can take free-kicks but is best known for his sturdiness and steel in defence.

Jordan HENDERSON (England)

All eyes will be on Liverpool-bound Jordan Henderson in Denmark, as Reds fans tune in to see just how much bang they’re getting for their £20 million-odd buck. Intelligent, an astute passer of the ball and offering impressive maturity for his age both off the pitch and on it, Henderson continued his development at Sunderland in 2010-11 after winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award the previous season. Earned a first full cap at senior level vs France last November and should impose himself on teams here.

Gylfi SIGURDSSON (Iceland)

Made our Good Player Guide last season before leaving Reading for the Bundesliga and Hoffenheim, and has continued to show the immense potential he clearly has out in Germany, where he scored 9 goals from midfield in just 10 league starts (29 appearances altogether). Technically very impressive, assured on the ball, creative and a taker of set pieces, Gylfi Sigurðsson has already been capped at senior level for Iceland. His goals in qualifying helped secure Iceland their first ever appearance at these championships.

Libor KOZAK (Czech Republic)

Tomas Pekhart is one to watch, but if you’re looking for Jan Koller-incarnate when watching the Czech Republic at this Under-21 Championships look no further than Libor Kozak, the 22-year-old 6ft 4in tall striker. Aerial prowess is the Lazio forward’s main attribute but he isn’t bad on the deck either. After a loan spell at Brescia, Kozak is beginning to get more of a look in at Lazio as he continues his development and is considered one of the brightest young prospects in Serie A.

Alberto BOTIA (Spain)

A product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, Alberto Botia did not quite make it at Barça and was transferred to Sporting Gijon permanently after a successful loan spell there in 2009-10. Nonetheless, the centre back’s performances at Sporting have been sufficiently impressive over the last two years that Barcelona are now considering exercising a clause they inserted giving them first option on the player and buying him back – even if only to then sell him on again at a profit. At this level the 22-year-old ought to be one of the classier defenders on show.

Alberto Botia, Christian Eriksen, Czech Republic, Daniel Sturridge, David de Gea, England, Good Player Guide, Gyfli Sigurðsson, Iceland, Javi Martinez, Jordan Henderson, Kolbeinn Sigthórsson, Libor Kozak, Nassim Ben-Khalifa, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, Under-21 European Championships, Xherdan Shaqiri, Yaroslav Rakitskiy, Youth Football