The mini Vitinha?
Plus, the other young stars we're enjoying at this summer's tournaments
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A bumper European summer of youth tournament football is coming to a close.
With the U-17 EURO already done and dusted, the U-19 EURO concludes its truncated group stage today, while the quarter-finals of the U-21 EURO kick off this weekend. As always, it's been a real mixed bag: there have been plenty of dramatic matches, shocking results and outstanding performance, but also their fair share of stodgy action and turgid match-ups. But that's how it goes, that's football, that's life.
What we've really enjoyed is being able to watch players: reaffirming on those that we know well, catching up on some that we've not seen in a while, and, as always, discovering completely new names. This edition of The Shortlist is dedicated to them.
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Short…listed:
A short recommendation from Scouting Editor Llew Davies.
Germany and England played out the highest-scoring match in men's UEFA U-19 EURO history on Tuesday. There were 10 goals scored in all, eight of them scored in quick succession, split between both teams. Two of them were scored – and another was set up – by Said El Mala.
The 18-year-old destroyed England's right-hand side in the first half. His direct carries powered into big spaces, then his choppy dribbling caused all sorts of damage in and around the box. Caleb Kporha was the first victim, caught in his wake as he hit the byline and crossed for a tap-in; next up was Zach Abbott, who El Mala embarrassed with an in-out-in-out sequence that left the England captain wobbling and saw him slam a left-footed shot into the near corner. It was destructive.
This game was his first breakout moment after an impressive breakthrough season at Viktoria Köln in Germany's third tier. He scored 12 goals in total for a mid-table team, ending the campaign as one of the best-performing teenagers across European football.
What's next? A cross-city move to 1. FC Köln. Effzeh had the foresight to sign El Mala prior to the 2024/25 season for a handy €300k. It will be really interesting to see what they have planned for him as they return to the Bundesliga.
Watchlist
The players to keep an eye on – and where to find them.
🇵🇹 Diogo Nascimento (2002)
Portugal - Netherlands
U21 EURO — Saturday, 21 June, 17:00 BST
We covered Geovany Quenda and Roger Fernandes in the pre-tournament edition of the Shortlist and you should definitely tune in to watch them if you have not yet done so. Roger is playing on the left, darting in straight lines and whipping in crosses. Quenda is doing everything on the right: dribbling, playmaking, shooting, pressing. These two are very good.
But for all of the Vitinha-lovers out there, lock on the diminutive #6 at the base of Portugal’s midfield. That immediately sounds like a lazy comparison to make. But trust me, it stacks up. Diogo Nascimento is billed at 1.66m tall but he has a huge influence on the game. Like Vitinha, he personifies the Platformer Archetype we are developing. The Vizela midfielder is constantly searching for angles to show for his centre-backs, receiving on the back foot and turning to face play in one smooth motion. From there, he looks forward. Punch passes into central areas are crisp. Carries into congested areas are calculated.
The opening game against France turned into a basketball-like contest, a Platformer’s worst nightmare, but against Poland and Georgia Nascimento was in complete control and operating smoothly. Let’s see if he can do the same against a level up in quality.
🇳🇱 Ruben van Bommel (2004)
Portugal - Netherlands
U21 EURO — Saturday, 21 June, 17:00 BST
The Netherlands will be pinning their hopes of beating Portugal on Ruben, son of Mark. Llew recently noted that he plays with the tenacity of his father, albeit from a more advanced position. For me, the combination of silky, smooth on-ball actions combined with the spiky, pointy-elbowed off-ball approach is very Robin van Persie-coded. Don’t forget, RVP began his career as a winger. RBV at least shares the same ball-striking gene, he slaps the ball hard with his side foot, generating giddying dip. If he approaches the top-left corner of the 18-yard box, expect a shot. But his technique also translates to playmaking through passing and dribbling. RBV is tekky and tenacious. Whether it’s a goal, an assist or a yellow card, expect him to make an impact against Portugal. His battle with Geovany Quenda will be box-office.
🇪🇸 Marc Pubill (2003)
Spain - England
U21 EURO — Saturday, 21 June, 20:00 BST
When watching Spain, your eyes will be immediately drawn to Marc Pubill. What is a 1.9m guy doing at right-back? And if you have not spotted him, wait until you see this giant full-back match a winger stride-for-stride in open space. And if you miss that, his marauding underlaps will slap you in the face. Defensively, he is secure in all parts of the pitch. Offensively, he is a threat in every channel and all the way into the box. He covers lots of ground with apparent ease and is completely comfortable on the ball. There is absolutely no way he remains in LaLiga2 in 2025/26. The Big Five Leagues beckon. Saying that, the athleticism of Tino Livramento will be a huge test, the Newcastle United full-back is the Flyer Final Boss at this tournament.
🏴 Charlie Cresswell (2002)
Spain - England
U21 EURO — Saturday, 21 June, 20:00 BST
I have been banging this drum all season. I hope Charlie Cresswell shows you why on Saturday. You could argue that he has been England’s standout player at the tournament so far. Competent at covering space, a trademark aerial threat in both boxes - making Nelson Weiper’s headed goal against England even more impressive - and composed on the ball. He’s also had five shots, hitting the target twice and scoring once. In the squad, only potshotters Harvey Elliott (10) and James McAtee (9) have had more efforts. Cresswell might be England’s biggest goal threat. That’s cool, but it’s a worry.
I have lauded Lee Carsley’s 4-2-2-2 system at this level and it was executed perfectly in 2023. However, key profiles are missing in this year’s squad to make it work. The searing, game-stretching speed of Anthony Gordon is gone. The chaos-inducing intensity of Morgan Gibbs-White is absent. Put Liam Delap in this team and maybe it’s a different story. But in this rematch of the 2023 final, Charlie Cresswell will be the key.
🇩🇰 Clement Bischoff (2006)
Denmark - France
U21 EURO — Sunday, 21 June, 17:00 BST
I’m pining for both William Osula and Conrad Harder to start but it seems like it’s going to be one starting and one finishing. That will be fun. But Clement Bischoff has moved me. The youngest player in the Denmark squad and the only 2006er, he changed the opening game against Ukraine from the bench before starting and starring in the second against the Netherlands. With top spot all-but secured, he was rested for the final match. The reward? A quarter-final against France and a match-up against Kiliann Sildillia. I believe Denmark and Bischoff can come out on top.
Biscoff is an extremely smooth player and started 21 Superliga games at left wing-back for Brøndby in 2024/25 - that’s a big tick for squad building. In his more advanced role at this tournament, he has not once looked rushed. Bischoff is operating on his own temporal plane. He affects the game with clever little short-distance passes, baiting the press before popping it off at the last moment and collecting the other side of a defender. But he is also a capable dribbler and ball-carrier. The silkiness of his dribbling compared to a bully-boy approach could help him against France. Les Bluets have a horde of insane ground duellers to choose from but have shown weakness when faced with a more cerebral operator. Given one word to describe Bischoff, that is the one I would choose.
Breaking down Lennon Miller
Scouting Editor Llew Davies deconstructs every kick of Scotland's most exciting young debutant.
Read more🇫🇷 Djaoui Cissé (2004)
Denmark - France
U21 EURO — Sunday, 21 June, 17:00 BST
Like Denmark, France have two strikers that I would love to see play together but are very much sharing the centre-forward role. You should get to see both Thierno Barry and Matthis Abline in this match.
However, Djaoui Cissé has arrested our attention when watching Les Bluets. The hot-stepping, pot-shotting midfielder is an example of what the pro version of the Abdi Shuffle looks like. The speed at which Cissé adjusts his feet in a host of different scenarios is spellbinding. The range of shooting techniques in his bag is also extremely exciting. Like the aforementioned Ruben van Bommel, he has the long-lever, top-spinning slap. He also has the stock weak-foot power strikes. But those dancing feet don’t just help him micro-adjust for outside-of-the-box hit-and-hopes. The Rennes academy graduate - huge green flag - is a clean dribbler and can lengthen his stride to become a ground-eating carrier. His long, skinny legs also translate well to ball-winning and blocking passes. In fact, alongside Andy Diouf, France might have the longest average midfield leg length at this tournament. This match has Game of the Tournament potential.
🇩🇪 Nicolò Tresoldi (2004)
Germany - Italy
U21 EURO — Sunday, 21 June, 20:00 BST
Germany were the only team to win all three Group Stage games and they did so by rotating massively for the top spot decider against England on MD3. Nick Woltemade was directly involved in six out of their first seven goals of the tournament, so naturally all eyes will be on him. But I believe there is no Nick without Nicolò.
Recently signed for Club Brugge, Tresoldi is a full-on Goal Hanger. He scored seven goals from 69 shots for Hannover 96 during the 2024/25 2. Bundesliga season, but the most interesting part of his shot makeup was the fact that 37 of those 69 shots were headed efforts. You would not expect a 1.83m striker to generate 53.6% of his shots with his bonce. But it is this generation of close-range, high-xG shots that makes him the perfect partner for Woltemade, and vice-versa.
Using FotMob data, 30.2% of Tresoldi’s Touches at the U21 EURO have been inside the opposition box, a higher proportion than Woltemade’s (26.4%) despite the latter’s greater per 90 output (7.91 vs. 9.72). Tresoldi has also won twice as many Aerial Duels as Woltemade (Admittedly, 4 vs. 2 is not a huge amount either way). If you were seeing Nic and Nick line up for the first time, you would paint a picture that is the complete opposite to reality. This strike partnership is an optical illusion. But is is extremely effective.
🇮🇹 Giovanni Fabbian (2003)
Germany - Italy
U21 EURO — Sunday, 21 June, 20:00 BST
Given the emphasis on Germany’s front two, you will be watching Diego Coppola closely as a biproduct. I have also written his names in lots of recent newsletters so I will move on quickly.
Instead, I wanted to turn attention to Bologna’s box-to-box midfielder, Giovanni Fabbian. Operating on the right of a classic Italian midfield three, he raids the half-space with energetic running beyond the ball all the way into the area. He is also extremely combative, challenging for duels on the ground and in the air. He wins fouls. He commits fouls. The 22-year-old should inject chaos into the game and that will test a Germany side that have been relatively untroubled by opposition players breaking beyond their midfield.
His supportive, selfless running also creates space for Tommaso Baldanzi to roam, drop and get on the ball as much as possible. Fabbian is a reminder that is not always what a player does on the ball that makes them great. Try to identify a player’s role in the team and judge them based on that. Fabbian is a disruptor, he will be tasked with pulling apart the German structure when Italy have the ball and removing their ability to build momentum in possession. He might even pop up in the box for a clutch goal.
That’s all, folks. See you next Friday.
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