With the pain of a 0-4 hammering from Manchester City not long behind Brighton, perhaps it’s best to focus on Euro 2024, where we can genuinely count England among the legitimate favourites for the Henri Delaunay Cup.
One of the highlights of every big tournament is the swansong of the legend, the breakout of the young stars, and the cementing (or breaking) of a reputation.
In this report, we’re focusing on the rookies. This Americanism stands for the rising talents, the kids you’ve perhaps never heard of, or the lad who finally moves from potential to stardom.
Phil Foden (Manchester City, England)
Just as any respectable British publication, we have to start with the Three Lions. Foden had an icy start to his England career, with his escapade during an international break getting him sent home early.
But now, he’s seen as one of the best players in the England setup. This season he’s been in truly scintillating form. His recent hat-trick against Villa has sent fans into a frenzy, with most hoping Southgate will finally start playing him centrally.
Of course, there’s still a little bit of a question mark when it comes to his temperament. Guardiola has already complained in the media, but it seems that this season he has his head on straight and his off-field issues are a thing of the past. Let’s just hope it doesn’t affect his play and get him sanctioned on the field.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
La Masia just seems to churn them out, every single year a new exciting starlet is breaking through for Barcelona. He’s seen as the most talented prospect since a player called Messi (you may have heard of him). We have a feeling this Barca product will not end up at Brighton like Ansu Fati.
What’s unbelievable is just how young Yamal is; he’s just 16. He’s already arguably the best player for Barcelona, and perhaps even Spain. And it’s his debut season.
It’s a little unfair to compare him to the GOAT, but he’s certainly one of the top players, let alone rookies, to watch during Euro 2024.
Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig, Netherlands)
When your father names you after one of the best midfielders to have ever graced a football pitch, it sets expectations early. He started his career much in the same way, becoming a child prodigy at the famous La Masia in Barcelona.
At 16, his road started to part from OG Xavi. He moved to PSG, seemingly set to star in Paris. Yet three years later, he had just a handful of matches under his belt, no goals, and a single assist. Would he go the way of Freddy Adu, an unfairly overhyped teenager, never to fulfil his promise?
Last season answered that question, with Xavi starring for PSV back home in the Netherlands. This year, he’s one of the top players in the Bundesliga. He hasn’t quite yet managed to show the same form for his country, but will Euro 2024 signify his international breakthrough?
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
He reads the game so, so well, you’d think he’s been doing this for a long time. He looks like a veteran, calm on the ball, reading the game through the prism of someone with experience, and has bags of technical talent too.
He’s one of the best in the Bundesliga and one of the main drivers of Leverkusen’s historic title. It’s clear that if Germany is going to do something at their home tournament, Wirtz will be a pivotal figure.
Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG, France)
No Pogba, no problem. He’s only 17 but oozes class. Luis Enrique already sees him as unmissable from his team sheet, starting in all of the big matches for the club, including in the Champions League.
Will Didier Deschamps see it the same way? Big question. The manager isn’t known for bedding in youngsters quickly, but his talent is perhaps too big to ignore. He’s the complete midfielder, his physical and technical talents perhaps only in the shadow of his tactical prowess.
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
You were probably worrying we were going to miss him out, eh? You’d lose any ounce of credibility by leaving out the player who has already cemented his place as Real Madrid’s star man, the talisman, and a true leader on the pitch.
Bellingham has absolutely everything, the template of a modern footballer. And he’s still only 20, which is bizarre. He already has the experience, with three solid seasons at Dortmund, and now showing it every week in Madrid.
So we’ll end this rookie report with the question: Can Bellingham deliver the trophy? As always, England expects. But before we start counting our chickens, let’s just keep calm and carry on.
