After every European Football Championship, new stars emerge. But there are players for whom this tournament is an opportunity to revitalize their careers or get possibly the last (and for some the only) contract in the top leagues of the Old World.
These are the players who are talked about as surprising discoveries of the Continental Championship. At one time Romelu Lukaku, Edgar Davids, and many others were so surprising. Today, many build their own Euro 2024 predictions and the category of players who can surprise is also present in such analyses. Let’s look at the top 5 players who can surprise the football community already from June 14.
Kasper Schmeichel
It would seem that this Danish goalkeeper had a good season. But if after the regular Belgian championship, his Anderlecht were second, they finished the season third. Schmeichel’s statistics are relatively good:
- 34 games;
- 32 goals conceded;
- 7 dry matches.
But in general, after leaving Leicester (when the team went to the Championship under him), the transition to Nice was a failure. At the Euro, he will be the main goalkeeper of his national team. Accordingly, he will have the opportunity to help out his teammates more than once. And if we manage to repeat the benefit from the 1/8 finals at the 2018 FIFA World Cup (then Kasper kicked 3 penalties, but the team did not go further), then the chances of getting a lucrative contract at Schmeichel Jr. are pretty good.
In the group, except for the clear favorite England, the other teams are of the right level. Therefore, there is a chance that Kasper Schmeichel can once again surprise the European public with his reliability.
Harry Kane
At first glance, it may seem that the top scorer, who scored more than 30 goals per season, including 4 hat-tricks, has no place in this list. However, his performance has declined recently, and Bayern missed out on the title for the first time in years. A poor season for the club and a relatively early Champions League exit may have dented Kane’s confidence in his abilities.
Of course, the England national team is no Bayern. The team will be the clear favorites in the group and the attacking players will be able to show their capabilities in dominant football. And Kane will have to prove to the fans that despite a few bad months he is still a top forward and the main contender for the title of top scorer of this tournament.
Robert Lewandowski
Robert’s situation is similar to Kane’s. Robert scored relatively little this season (19 goals) and was not even in the top three scorers in La Liga. Already an ex-coach of Barcelona Xavi thought that Lievanovski could not play at the top level and there were rumors of buying a younger scorer. But there has been a change of coach and Flick believes that Robert can still prove himself.
Proving his worth to the club can start at the Euros. The Polish national team is already losing its golden generation. Most of the players are of age and top stars are fewer and fewer. Therefore, Robert together with SzczÄsny should lead this team forward and show by example that the team can achieve better results.
Unfortunately, the group is not an easy one for Poland. But it is in the top matches that Lewandowski must show what he can do. Thanks to such games he will be able to surprise the football community and show the best version of himself at the tournament and in the new club season.
Marko Arnautovic
The last Euro for Marko was associated not only with his goals but also with a scandalous suspension. The Chinese voyage did not go in the player’s favor and he returned first to Bologna and then to Internazionale. However, he is not the first option among the forwards at the club. And the Euros should help the Austrian to prove to the coaching staff that he is still capable of surprising.
Having some pretty strong opponents in the group means top matches. In such games, the spectators’ attention will be on the players and the attacking group can shine. Marko Arnautovic is an explosive and dangerous forward. Therefore, he can surprise fans and scouts. He is unlikely to become the top scorer, but he can show what he is capable of. We just have to wait for the tournament itself and see if such Euro 2024 predictions will turn out to be a reality.
Andriy Yarmolenko
Many fans have already forgotten about the explosive right winger of the Ukrainian national team. After his voyage to Saudi Arabia, the player returned to his native Dynamo. Initially, Andriy planned to play for 2 years and become the sports director of the team. But in the last matches of the Ukrainian championship, he did not leave without scoring goals.
At the last Euro Yarmolenko was marked by a masterpiece against the Netherlands and a working goal against North Macedonia. Most likely this tournament is the last major championship for Andriy before the end of his career. On his flank plays one of the leaders of sensational Girona Viktor Tsygankov. But Yarmolenko can remind himself for the last time at the European Championship level and he is unlikely to miss this chance.
Conclusion
Of course, these are not the only players who can surprise at the upcoming Euros. But each of them needs to show themselves and convince the world community that they have not yet said their last word in the top football of the Old World. Already on June 14, fans will be able to understand whether these players have already played their swan song at the level of national teams or they will show themselves to the maximum.
