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England's Phil Foden. PA Images/Alamy Images

Six players to watch at the 2024 Euros

By Ignacio Cervantes | Last updated Jun 13, 2024 8:25 AM ET

The UEFA European Football Championship kicks off on Friday with hosts Germany taking on Scotland inside Munich's Allianz Arena at 9 a.m. ET.

The 24-team tournament begins with a round robin stage which is followed by a knockout round that determines the continental champion.

According to Caesars Sportsbook, England is this summer's favorite to lift the cup with +350 odds.

The 2018 World Cup champion France (+400), host Germany (+550), Euro 2016 winner Portugal (+700), and three-time winner Spain (+800) complete the top bunch alongside England.

Performances like midfielders Xavi for Spain in 2012 and Theodoros Zagorakis for Greece in 2004 inspired their nations and guided them to European glory.

Below are six players to keep an eye on who are sure to turn heads over the next few weeks.

Phil Foden, attacking midfielder, England

The list starts with Foden because if the tournament favorites pull off what the bookmakers think is likely, the 24-year-old Manchester City midfielder will have to be the Robin to England captain Harry Kane's Batman.

Foden scored 19 Premier League goals in 2023-24 with five goals and two assists coming in the teams final six games. Not many squads boast similar talent to City, but England's Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka alongside Kane are expected to help Foden flourish in manager Gareth Southgate's system.

Peter Gulacsi, goalkeeper, Hungary

Alongside Germany in Group A is 2012 quarter-finalist Hungary. The central Europeans impressed during qualification, beating England twice and Germany once — proving that, along with Scotland and Switzerland, a spot in the knockout phase is within distance.

Enter Gulacsi. The RB Leipzig goalkeeper brings veteran leadership to a squad preparing to navigate a tight group that will require big moments from important players. Expect Gulacsi to help anchor Hungary's defense with crucial saves in close games.

Gianluca Scamacca, striker, Italy

Italy followed up its 2020 European Championship victory by failing to clinch a spot in the 2022 World Cup. A lot of questions surround where the goals will come from with Atalanta's leading goal-scorer Scamacca tipped to be the answer.

The Italian striker's 19 goals in all competitions helped the Bergamo club to its first European trophy following a Europa League final win. Opposing defenses in Italy and Scamacca's Group B aren't exactly the shut-down type, which provides an opening for the forward to continue his scoring ways this summer.

Kylian Mbappe, forward, France

Mbappe announced his decision to join La Liga giants Real Madrid two days after the Spanish side were crowned Champions League winners. Now the Frenchman will feature in his first tournament since revealing the news, and there will be nothing more Mbappe will want than this summer's spotlight.

“I really want to win this. It's my first competition as captain, so it’s really important for me."

Kylian Mbappe is ready to write the latest chapter in his and France’s history

@cnnsport @amandadcnn pic.twitter.com/ZotJ0r56yJ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) June 12, 2024

Mbappe's future club teammates Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. are a pair made for the big stages and Mbappe will be chomping at the bit to prove he belongs alongside the pair of Ballon D'or candidates.

Bruno Fernandes, midfielder, Portugal

It's hard to argue against Portugal when thinking about who has the most exciting squad on paper. Manchester United's Fernandes will be at the center of it all with Bruno Silva, Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo among the players expected to combine.

The midfielder's ability to see things on the field in ways others can't paired with his world class technique help make Portugal one of the most exciting attacks in the tournament.

Florian Wirtz, attacking midfielder, Germany

It's been 10 years since Germany's last trophy. During a span where plenty of world class players have gone on to win a lot of domestic titles, the lack of silverware is alarming. The hosts have a shot to rinse off the drought during a summer which features a squad with a few fresh faces — including Wirtz.

"The Germans already have a word to describe the players with an ability to understand the game - 'Raumdeuter,' the investigator of space," Tifo Football writer and presenter Jon Mackenzie told DW. "Wirtz shares this Raumdeuter quality with the player to whom the word was originally applied: Thomas Muller. Both are able to read the game in such a way as to simultaneously create and exploit space for themselves and their teammates."

The 21-year-old wizard had 38 goal contributions in all competitions in 2023-24 for German Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. Mixing it up with Wirtz in Group A this summer will be Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala and Arsenal's Kai Havertz.

Ignacio Cervantes

Ignacio Cervantes is a freelance sports reporter based in Southern California. His love for sports turned into a love for reporting which has taken him to cover MLS Cup finals, CIF State finals, and numerous high school sporting events. Ignacio also contributes to the high school sports departments at Southern California News Group newspapers the Daily Breeze and the Press-Telegram

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