Nations League: The youngsters to watch

Joao Felix – Portugal

Felix was undoubtedly one of the breakout stars of 2018/19 as he went from Benfica debutant to one of the most sought-after players in Europe.

The 19-year-old has already been linked with clubs such as Manchester United, Juventus and Barcelona and it is easy to see why.

A Europa League hat-trick against Eintracht Frankfurt saw him become the youngest player in the history of the competition to hit three goals in a game – but that was just the culmination of a fine first season in Lisbon.

Felix would have made his senior Portugal debut in March had he not had to withdraw from the squad through injury.

Captain Cristiano Ronaldo will be the headline-maker in the build-up to the tournament on home soil – but Felix could yet steal the show.

Frenkie De Jong – Holland

While Felix has been linked with Barcelona, De Jong has already done enough to earn himself a summer move to the Nou Camp.

A fine dribbler and a creative midfield talent, De Jong has been one of the jewels in a young Ajax side which claimed a first Eredivisie title since 2014 and was seconds away from reaching the Champions League final.

At just 22, De Jong will depart Amsterdam having made 89 first-team appearances and with endorsements from the likes of Marc Overmars and Xavi.

His fellow professionals in Holland also appreciate his ability as he was named Dutch Football Talent of the Year – an award voted for by players in the top two leagues – as well as winning the Eredivisie Player of the Season gong.

England will have to be wary of his talents in their semi-final clash in Guimaraes, where he is likely to collect an eighth cap for the Dutch.

Matthijs De Ligt – Holland

Yet another precocious talent making a name for himself at Ajax – and another likely to leave for pastures new before a ball is kicked in the 2019/20 season.

The 19-year-old defender already possesses enough authority to captain Ajax and he has made great strides since bursting onto the scene in 2016.

He became the youngest player to feature in a major European cup final as he played in the 2017 Europa League final defeat to Manchester United – who have been linked with a move for the centre-back this summer.

More records tumbled at international level as, at the age of 17, De Ligt became the youngest player to earn a senior cap for the Oranje since 1931.

With Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk to play alongside for Holland, De Ligt can certainly continue to improve and will be looking to shut out the Three Lions on June 6.

Breel Embolo – Switzerland

He may not have pulled up as many trees as the other players on this list at club-level, but the Schalke forward is highly-rated in his homeland.

Embolo made his debut for Basel at the age of 17, doing enough to earn suitors and eventually landing a move to the Bundesliga in 2016.

Since then he has had to contend with a long-term injury but has bounced back to become an important player at the Allianz Arena.

Born in Cameroon, Embolo could have played for the Indomitable Lions but instead opted for Switzerland – where he developed through the youth ranks before making his senior bow in 2015.

The 22-year-old has hit four goals in 32 international appearances and was part of the squad that made it to the last 16 at the 2018 World Cup.

Jadon Sancho – England

The success of Sancho at Borussia Dortmund has led to several other young English players looking to the continent as a possible destination to ply their trade.

A former Manchester City trainee, the 20-year-old moved to Germany in 2017 and was instantly part of the first-team squad at the Westfalenstadion.

This season Sancho has been a revelation and led the way in terms of assists in the Bundesliga, weighing in with 14 as Dortmund took the title race with Bayern Munich to the final day.

His form certainly caught the eye of Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, who included the winger in his squad for the Nations League double-header against Croatia and Spain in October.

Sancho became the first player born after 2000 to represent England at senior level and enjoyed a fine evening in the 5-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win over the Czech Republic earlier this year.

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