The Secret Stars of Euro 2012

Gennady 13 years ago

Manchester United 285 3977

Morgan AMALFITANO

Country: FRANCE
Club: MARSEILLE
Position: Midfielder
Age: 27

One of the best passers in League1, the right-sided or central midfielder has not made a single representative appearance prior to his senior debut in February's 2-1 win in Germany.
Was watched by Aston Villa and Newcastle United while at Lorient, but last summer opted to join Marseille, where he has show cased his versatility and intelligence.

Artem DZYUBA

Country: RUSSIA
Club: SPARTAK MOSCOW
Position: Forward
Age: 23

Russia coach Dick Advocaat is said to rate the repertoire of this 6ft 4in striker, who just as comfortable on the wings as he is a centre-forward. Has a deft touch despite his physicality and is very self-assured on the ball. Has graduated from under-21s and made his senior debut in a friendly against Greece in November last year.

Ola JOHN

Country: HOLLAND
Club: TWENTE
Position: Winger
Age: 19

Enjoying a brilliant first full season in the Eredivisie, this creative and resillent left-winger may be a teenage novice but he has a wise head on his shoulders and fully deserved his first call-up to the Oranje squad in February. Born in Liberia but raised in Holland he is the younger brother of ex-Fulham and Holland striker Collins John.

Alessandro MATRI

Country: ITALY
Club: JUVENTUS
Position: Forward
Age: 27

Tall, solidly-built and adept in the pivot role, he has scored goals aplenty since joining Juventus from Cagliari, initially on loan, in January 2011. He has proved highly effective as an impact substitute, coming off the bench to grab an equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Milan earlier this season.

Kostas FORTOUNIS

Country: GREECE
Club: KAISERSLAUTERN
Position: Midfielder
Age: 19

Traditionally more reliant on discipline and pragmatism than flair and adventure, Greece can always look to this Germany-based wide midfielder for a bit of quality and creativity. Still a teenager, he joined Kaiserslautern, amid interest from several Bundesliga outfits, on a four-year deal in 2011 and was awarded his first senior cap in a friendly against Belgium earlier this year.

John GUIDETTI

Country: SWEDEN
Club: MANCHESTER CITY
Position: Forward
Age: 19

Has been in tremendous goalscoring form while on loan at Feyenoord, scoring 18 goals in his first 16 league games. Although still very raw, he could be crucial in helping to ease the workload of the talismanic Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

James McCLEAN

Country: IRELAND
Club: SUNDERLAND
Position: Winger
Age: 22

Gutsy, non-stop wide man who has taken the Premier League by storm since incoming Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill plucked him out of the club's reserves a couple of weeks before Christmas.

Tobias MIKKELSEN

Country: DENMARK
Club: NORDSJAELLAND
Position: Winger
Age: 25

Considered by national coach Morten Olsen to be the heir apparent to long-serving Dennis Rommedahl on Denmark's right flank. Full of tricks and with lots of pace, his switch to Nordsjaelland from Brondy in 2009 helped kick-start his career.

Nelson OLIVEIRA

Country: PORTUGAL
Club: BENFICA
Position: Forward
Age: 20

After many years of struggling to find strikers to match their production line of outstanding wingers, Portugal are finally beginning to reverse the trend thanks to the emergence of the young Benfica striker.
Lightning quick, an assured finisher and someone who relishes a physical contest, he was a pivotal figure as the under-20s finished runners-up at last's year world championship.

Alex OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN

Country: ENGLAND
Club: Arsenal
Position: Midfielder
Age: 18

Blessed with the upper body of a boxer and the twinkle-toes of a ballerina, the youngster has made quite an impact in his first season in the Premier League. The son of former England and Stoke wide-man Mark Chamberlain, "the Ox" has won plenty of admirers with his combination of pace, power and tenacity.

Marco REUS

Country: GERMANY
Club: BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
Position: Forward
Age: 22

Set to join German champions Borussia Dortmund in July for 14.6 million, it says everything you need to know about Germany's abundance of riches that this virtuoso dribbler will almost certainly have to make dowith a spot on the bench this summer. A second striker or winger, he looks set to form part of the Nationalmannschaft's Plan B, thrown on late in games with the brief of running the tiring opposition ragged.

Anton SHYNDER

Country: UKRAINE
Club: TAVRIYA SIMFEROPOL
Position: Forward
Age: 24

This journeyman striker's strength in the air, willingness to run at defenders and good goalscoring record convinced Ukraine coach Oleg Blohkin to hand him his first cap last September.

Arkadiusz PIECH

Country: POLAND
Club: RUCH CHORZOW
Position: Forward
Age: 26

Standing at 5ft 8in, Piech is not afraid of hard work and also knows where the goal is. Made his international debut against Bosnia & Herzegovina just before Christmas.

Michael RABUSIC

Country: CZECH REPUBLIC
Club: SLOVAN LIBEREC
Position: Forward
Age: 22

In fine form in front of goal since joining high-flying Liberec from Brno last June, he was a key member of the Czech under-21 squad which took part in the 2011 European Championship in Denmark.

Roberto SOLDADO

Country: SPAIN
Club: VALENCIA
Position: Forward
Age: 26

Living proof that rejection by Real Madrid need not necessarily lead to career oblivion, and with Spain's acclaimed midfield supplying the bullets, Soldado could well have a tournament to remember.

Ante VUKUSIC

Country: CROATIA
Club: HAJDUK SPLIT
Position: Forward
Age: 20

Reported to be on the wanted list of many leading European sides, including the likes of Arsenal & Chelsea, the striker is tipped to be one of the revelations of this summer's tournament.
Represents elegance, flair and sharpness all wrapped up in one smallish package, he was made club captain while still a teenager and already has 10 international cap and three goals to his credit.

Looking forward to seeing these talented players in Ukraine & Poland ;)