EFA EURO 2012 looms closer into view with the first friendlies of the season on Wednesday and UEFA.com looks at several young talents making their case for potential finals places.
Wednesday's international friendlies mark a further step on the road to UEFA EURO 2012 and several players are hoping that impressive seasons could take them from the fringes into their nations' squads for next summer's tournament. UEFA.com profiles some of those to keep an eye on from the sides in strong qualifying positions as well as one each from the two countries ensured of finals places – co-hosts Poland and Ukraine.
Thiago Alcántara (Spain)
Continuing to progress and impress on both domestic and international fronts, FC Barcelona midfielder Thiago has completed a memorable summer by receiving his first call-up to the senior set-up for the Italy friendly. Coach Vicente del Bosque has stated the 20-year-old is "with us on merit", and Xavi Hernández's withdrawal makes a debut all the more likely. A product of Barça's La Masia youth development school, the Bari-born player struck a spectacular second for his country in June's UEFA European Under-21 Championship final against Switzerland (he'd previously also helped Spain win the 2008 U17 title). He was also on target three times in Barcelona's pre-season tour of the United States, prompting Josep Guardiola to say: "Everything Thiago hits is going in at the moment but let's take it step by step with him."
Kyle Walker (England)
The Tottenham Hotspur FC right-back stood out at the U21 finals, where he was named in the all-star squad, and although he will be unable to make his senior debut due to the postponement of the friendly against the Netherlands on Wednesday, Walker could fill a position that has been a worry for England ever since Gary Neville stepped aside. The 21-year-old had a successful loan at Aston Villa FC last season but Spurs are keeping hold of him for this season after extending his contract until 2016, manager Harry Redknapp saying: "He is the most exciting attacking right-back you could wish to see."
Sebastian Giovinco (Italy)
"Quality" has been Cesare Prandelli's watchword since his appointment as Italy coach last summer. The 53-year-old made it apparent that technical skills counted for more than physique, and Giovinco, 24, is arguably the epitome. "Despite his small stature he can sometimes be a giant on the pitch," Prandelli said about the Parma FC attacking midfielder. A star of the 2009 U21 Championship, Giovinco failed to make an impact at Juventus and joined Parma last season. He went on to score seven goals in 30 Serie A appearances, including two against his former employers in January and earned himself his senior Italy debut the following month. In March the 'Atomic Ant' provided a wonderful assist to Alessandro Matri when Italy defeated 2-0 Ukraine in a friendly in Kyiv. "Just being here I proved many people wrong," he explained.
Marvin Martin (France)
Another diminutive attacking midfielder, Martin has been called up for the second time by France for their friendly with Chile after having stood out during his first two appearances in June as France took on Poland and Ukraine. Indeed, the 23-year-old FC Sochaux-Montbéliard academy product scored twice in Les Bleus' 4-1 win in Donetsk having already set up another. He is all set for his continental club debut as Sochaux take on FC Metalist Kharkiv in the UEFA Europa League play-offs later this month, their qualification aided by Martin's 17 assists last season.
André Santos (Portugal)
Having made an international impact at youth level, Sporting Clube de Portugal midfielder André Santos, 22, seems to be ready for the next step after Paulo Bento included him for the senior friendly against Luxembourg. Having proved himself with a loan spell at UD Leiria, he returned to Sporting last season and established himself in their midfield to add to Portugal's current crop of players in that position.
Sven Bender (Germany)
A UEFA European U19 Championship winner in 2008 together with his twin brother, the Benders separated in 2009 when they both left TSV 1860 München, Lars joining Bayer 04 Leverkusen while Sven tried his luck at Borussia Dortmund. While some said that Lars was maybe a bit more talented, it was Sven who was first to really break through, a key player in Dortmund's magnificent 2010/11 Bundesliga-winning midfield. His first senior cap came in the 2-1 loss to Australia in March but he could feature again versus Brazil on Wednesday. A holding midfielder who is calm beyond his years in possession, with the vision to open up the game, the 22-year-old was praised by Germany coach Joachim Löw thus: "He is aggressive but fair and he is outstanding when it comes to robbing the ball from the other side."
Kevin Strootman (Netherlands)
Having proven himself in the Eredivisie during spells at Sparta Rotterdam and FC Utrecht, Strootman earned his first international cap on 9 February this year, coming on in place of Dutch player of the year Theo Janssen during the Netherlands' friendly against Austria. The creative, versatile midfielder caught the eye of PSV Eindhoven who snapped him up ahead of this season and the 21-year-old is a firm favourite with national team coach Bert van Marwijk. "I think Kevin can go a long way," Van Marwijk said. "I like players who can think a few steps ahead of everyone else. He doesn't get confused, is strong in any duels and I see enough quality in him to become a top player."
Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Greece)
Last summer, fringe Olympiacos FC defender Papadopoulos (who had made his senior debut aged 15) left for FC Schalke 04 and has not looked back. The centre-back, who turned 19 in February and can also play in defensive midfield, became a first-team fixture as Schalke reached the UEFA Champions League semi-finals and in July signed a four-year contract extension. A Greece U19 regular at 17 and an U21 player a year later, Papadopoulos was given his senior debut by Fernando Santos against Malta on 4 June, scoring in the 3-1 qualifying win. He could further impress in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, with an eye to next month's crucial trip to Group F rivals Israel, for which Sokratis Papastathopoulos is suspended.
Grzegorz Sandomierski (Poland)
Some fine goalkeepers have come out of Poland in the last few years such as Artur Boruc, Łukasz Fabiański, Tomasz Kuszczak and Wojciech Szczęsny, but the country is ready to provide even more. Sandomierski was the hero of Jagiellonia Białystok's impressive fourth-placed finish last season, having already set a club record the year before with a 564-minute unbeaten run in the league. The 21-year-old, on the radar of several well-known clubs, could win his fourth cap for the UEFA EURO 2012 co-hosts against Georgia on Wednesday but the modest Sandomierski told UEFA.com: "I am working hard but I would not put myself on the top list of Polish goalkeepers. Definitely, Boruc, Fabiański, Szczęsny and Kuszczak have still an edge over me." Poland coach Franciszek Smuda's regular calls for Sandomierski suggest otherwise.
Yevhen Konoplyanka (Ukraine)
Skilful, quick and intelligent, 21-year-old FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk attacking midfielder Konoplyanka is considered one of the biggest talents in Ukrainian football. "Konoplyanka is worth €50m," Dnipro coach Juande Ramos once said, and has not changed his opinion despite the free-kick specialist's under par U21 performance in June. "At this age it is hard to be consistent," Ramos explained. "Yevhen is still very talented and will get better." His senior debut came on 25 May 2010 against Lithuania, four days before his first goal in the 3-2 defeat of Romania and he is now setting his sights on a finals squad place.
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