MISSION SEALED:Five Emerging Stars of Euro 2024. AFP Sport highlights five stars who have…
After 50 matches and the elimination of 22 teams, England will face three-time winners Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday.
The tournament has highlighted a talented new generation of footballers, including teenagers Lamine Yamal, Arda Guler, and Kobbie Mainoo. However, several under-the-radar established players have also demonstrated their quality on the European stage.
Here, AFP Sport highlights five stars who have emerged with standout performances at Euro 2024:
**Dani Olmo (Spain)**
Spanish starlets Yamal and Nico Williams have dazzled from the flanks, but Dani Olmo’s contributions from the midfield have been crucial for the finalists. The 26-year-old, familiar to German fans after four years with RB Leipzig, has made a name for himself with a series of stellar performances in his adopted country.
Olmo scored late in Spain’s 4-1 last-16 victory over Georgia and, after coming off the bench to replace the injured Pedri just eight minutes into the quarter-final against Germany, he netted the opener and assisted Mikel Merino’s extra-time winner. In the semi-final against France, Olmo’s 25th-minute goal secured Spain’s spot in their fifth Euros final. With three goals, the most in the tournament, and two assists despite starting only two of Spain’s six games, Olmo has been instrumental to Spain’s success.
**Marc Guehi (England)**
Making his debut in a major international tournament, England’s Marc Guehi quickly became a key player in Gareth Southgate’s solid defensive setup. At just 23, he has displayed calmness and assurance alongside John Stones in central defence, with England conceding only three goals in five games with Guehi on the pitch.
When Guehi was suspended for England’s quarter-final against Switzerland, his absence raised concerns about how the team would cope without the Crystal Palace centre-back, underscoring his importance to the side.
