Under21

As the table above shows, 29 players have won the U21 Euros and then a major senior tournament – including Laurent Blanc, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluigi Buffon, Francesco Totti and Manuel Neuer.

Not just counting the winning team, many of the world’s best players have impressed at previous European Under-21 Championships.

Among the players to win the best player of the tournament award were Rudi Voller, Blanc, Davor Suker, Luis Figo, Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo, Petr Cech, Juan Mata, Thiago and Fabian Ruiz.

However, there are a few outliers.

Renato Buso and the late Francesc Arnau never won a senior cap for Italy or Spain respectively, while Royston Drenthe only played once for the Netherlands. Arsenal’s Fabio Vieira, 25, has yet to feature for the Portugal senior team.

Sweden’s Marcus Berg had a good goal-laden career, although never played for one of Europe’s top clubs.

The list of Golden Boot winners is more of a mixed bag.

Andrea Pirlo, despite being a midfielder, Alberto Gilardino and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar were among the previous winners.

But Massimo Maccarone, Maceo Rigters, Jan Kliment or Luca Waldschmidt are unlikely to have any statues made of them.

Germany’s Nick Woltemade is the top scorer in this tournament with five goals – two clear of three different players.

After Gareth Southgate resigned from the role of senior team boss following Euro 2024, Carsley had a six-game spell in charge of the Three Lions, winning five matches and losing one and guiding England back to the top tier of the Nations League.

He is now back at under-21 level and recently signed a new deal with the Football Association that lasts until 2027.

“It’s important I just do a good job, I’m just trying to do it again [win the Euros],” said Carsley. “The priority is the Euros and I won’t be taking my eye off of that.

“Hopefully we’ll be good to watch. That’s what you want. You want people back home watching the next generation of England players and being excited by it.”

There are 16 nations in the tournament in Slovakia, with England placed in Group B, along with Czech Republic, Germany and Slovenia, with the top two from each section moving into the quarter-finals.

Carsley’s 23-man squad includes Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento, who has one cap for the senior side, along with plenty of players with Premier League experience, including Liverpool’s title-winning duo Jarell Quansah and Harvey Elliott.

Other players named include Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Tottenham’s Archie Gray, Brighton’s Jack Hinshelwood, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, Manchester City’s James McAtee and Ipswich’s Omari Hutchinson.

Arsenal winger Ethan Nwaneri, at 18, is the youngest player in the England squad after a breakthrough season for the Gunners, which saw him score nine goals in all competitions.

West Bromwich Albion forward Tom Fellows is a late addition to the squad, replacing Jobe Bellingham, who has been included in Borussia Dortmund’s squad for the Fifa Club World Cup after joining the German club from Sunderland earlier this week.

Fellows had travelled to Slovakia as an additional training player.

Goalkeepers: James Beadle (Brighton), Teddy Sharman-Lowe (Chelsea), Tommy Simkin (Stoke).

Defenders: Charlie Cresswell (Toulouse), Ronnie Edwards (Southampton), CJ Egan-Riley (Burnley), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Brooke Norton Cuffy (Genoa), Jarell Quansah (Liverpool).

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Archie Gray (Tottenham), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough), Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton), Tyler Morton (Liverpool), Alex Scott (Bournemouth).

Forwards: Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), Tom Fellows (West Bromwich Albion), Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich), Sam Iling Jnr (Aston Villa), James McAtee (Manchester City), Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), Jonathan Rowe (Marseille), Jay Stansfield (Birmingham).

THE Under 21 Euros kick-off today – bringing a whole host of new stars.

England are the holders and some of their winners from two years ago are now in the senior squad.

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The likes of Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer and James Trafford have been with Thomas Tuchel‘s party over the last week.

Premier League clubs will surely be interested ahead of the proper transfer window opening on June 16.

So, here is SunSport’s five to watch – although one of the names will be familiar…

NICK WOLTEMADE (Germany)

Stuttgart’s 6ft 6in striker is anything but a target man and arrives full of confidence after making his senior bow against Portugal last week.

The £34million-rated star’s 17 goals this season have alerted a host of Prem clubs, including Everton.

Woltemade, 23, could now earn himself a big-money move by firing the Germans to Euro glory.

CONRAD HARDER (Denmark)

Sporting Lisbon brought the hotshot, 20, to Portugal for  £16m last summer and now value him at nearly FOUR TIMES that amount.

Harder had seven goals and 16 assists this term — with Chelsea, Manchester United and Juventus all watching him closely.

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YEREMAY HERNANDEZ (Spain)

Deportivo winger was playing third-division football in Spain a year ago — but now has a host of top clubs eyeing him.

The 22-year-old led them to promotion with 15 goals and five assists.

His electric pace and dribbling make him one to watch.

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JORREL HATO (Holland)

Despite being just  19, the classy defender has been named Ajax vice-captain.

Even though the Dutch giants suffered title agony, Hato was named the Eredivisie Talent of the Year.

Arsenal and Liverpool are among clubs eyeing the teen star.

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ETHAN NWANERI (England)

Arsenal’s attacking sensation, 18, aims to announce himself on the international stage this month.

Nwaneri produced 11 goal contributions for Mikel Arteta’s men in a breakout campaign.

Equally happy out wide or centrally, Nwaneri is arguably the Young Lions’ biggest threat.

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