The five breakthrough stars of Euro 2024

BERLIN – Euro 2024 has been a showcase of a talented next generation of footballers, including teenagers Lamine Yamal, Arda Guler and Kobbie Mainoo, but several under-the-radar established players have shown their class on the European stage.

Here are five stars who have broken through with impressive performances at Euro 2024:

Dani Olmo (Spain)

Olmo is well known in Germany after four years at RB Leipzig, but has made everyone else stand up and take notice of his ability with a string of excellent displays in his adopted country.

Having sealed Spain’s 4-1 last-16 win over Georgia with a late goal, he came off the bench again against Germany in the quarter-finals, scoring the opener and laying on Mikel Merino’s extra-time winner.

In the semi-final with France, Olmo’s 25th-minute strike would prove the winner, sending Spain to their fifth European Championship final. In the showpiece, the 26-year-old showed another side of his game with a last-ditch header off the line to deny England extra time.

Olmo has three goals alongside two assists, despite starting only three of Spain’s seven games.

Marc Guehi (England)

Playing in his first major international tournament, Guehi quickly established himself in the middle of Gareth Southgate’s miserly defensive set-up.

Just turned 24, he has been calm and assured alongside John Stones in central defence, with England conceding just three goals in five games with Guehi on the park before the final.

When suspended for England’s quarter-final against Switzerland, some asked how the Three Lions would replace the Crystal Palace centre-back, such is his importance to the side.

Guehi has also contributed in attack, having put in an assist for Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp equaliser against Slovakia in the last 16 which saved England from an early exit, keeping them on track for the Euro final.

Cody Gakpo (Netherlands)

Forward Gakpo was front and centre in the Netherlands’ run to their first Euro semi-final in 20 years at Euro 2024, before a 2-1 defeat by England.

The Oranje jersey seems to bring the best out of the 25-year-old, whose impressive performances at the 2022 World Cup came before a big-money transfer to English giants Liverpool.

Gakpo scored the equaliser in the Netherlands’ 2-1 group-stage win over Poland while his opener in the 3-0 win over last-16 opponents Romania calmed the nerves in a tense encounter. He also forced a late own goal as the Dutch edged out Turkey in the quarter-finals.

With three goals, Gakpo was jointly awarded the Golden Boot with Harry Kane, Dani Olmo, Jamal Musiala, Ivan Schranz and Georges Mikautadze.

Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia)

Napoli forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia may have been the country’s biggest name at the tournament, but man mountain Mamardashvili stood tall in Georgia’s run to the last 16.

A centimetre shy of being 2m tall, Mamardashvili’s presence between the sticks was calming for the burgeoning football nation in their maiden Euro appearance.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper made 30 saves in four matches, the second-most in European Championship history after Igor Akinfeev’s 32 for Russia in 2008.

Mamardashvili’s performances will not be a surprise to La Liga fans, with the Valencia goalkeeper among the best in Spain this season.

Marcel Sabitzer (Austria)

A key part of Borussia Dortmund’s surprise run to the Champions League final, Austria midfielder Marcel Sabitzer continued his stellar form at Euro 2024.

Austria emerged top in a group which featured semi-finalists France and the Netherlands and were whispered to be dark horses for the competition until a surprise last-16 loss to Turkey in torrid conditions.

Sabitzer scored the winner in Austria’s 3-2 win over the Dutch, which secured top spot, thundering the ball under the crossbar from a tight angle.

A constant goal threat, particularly from long range, the 30-year-old’s boundless energy was key for Ralf Rangnick’s full-throttle Austria side. AFP