The best young defenders to watch at Euro 2024
Europe has some of the finest footballers in the world, and the clubs on that continent do their best to keep developing talents.
This, in turn, helps the countries with players who can do well for their nation in different competitions.
The Euros coming up next year will see a new set of talents on display by the different countries, and we expect to see some outstanding young players in different positions.
At Euro 2020, we saw Spain's midfield led by a very young Pedri, while the England national team that reached the final had Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho, among other top players.
The next competition will also see new talents become leading players for their countries, as we saw in the last World Cup, and we take a look at players who we believe can be that important to their nation.
We will start from the defence, discussing some top players who can convince you to secure your tickets today in preparation for the competition next summer.
The different countries know how important it is to have a good defence because the players you leave at the back while attacking will determine how many goals you will concede.
The experienced defenders do make an impression when on the pitch, but there are youngsters whom their nations will trust at Euro 2024.
The young defenders have the talent and speed to keep up with some of the fastest attackers in the world at the moment, making them very important to their various nations. Here is the list of some of the finest young defenders we expect to shine at Euro 2020:
Dayot Upamecano, 24, France
Upamecano has developed into a key member of the France national team over the years and is now one of the starters for Didier Deschamps' side.
The Bayern Munich man has been around the football scene for several years, and it is easy to think he is a veteran.
However, he is just 24 and would be one of the fine young defenders in the competition next year.
Upamecano has improved since he moved to Bayern Munich in 2021 and has won two league titles, two German Cups and the Nations League with France.
If Les Bleus will do well in Germany next year, he will be a key part of that story.
Levi Colwill, 20, England
Colwill is now a starter at Chelsea after a superb spell on loan at Brighton, and his fine performance has caught the attention of Gareth Southgate.
The England manager will take him to the Euros if he keeps performing well, and the 20-year-old will deserve the chance.
Chelsea is transitioning, but they currently have some of the best talents in Europe in their squad.
If they have a good season, we will see Colwill on the plane with the England national team at Euro 2024.
Ibrahima Konate, 24, France
Konate played in the Champions League final for Liverpool and the World Cup final for France months apart last year.
The defender is arguably the second-best player in his position at Liverpool after Virgil van Dijk and is comfortably one of France's best centre-backs.
At the World Cup, he benched Arsenal's William Saliba, even though Liverpool were struggling in the league and the Gunners were flying.
Konate is one reason Liverpool has a reasonably good defence and always plays when he is fit.
Although France has a lot of squad depth in defence, the centre-back is one man we expect to continue performing well and will be at the next Euros.
Giorgio Scalvini, 19, Italy
Italy missed the last World Cup in Qatar despite winning Euro 2020, but we expect them to be in Germany to attempt to defend the title they won in 2021.
The Italians are another national team in transition, and one of the new stars of the country is Atalanta man Scalvini.
The 19-year-old is a sensation and has all the top clubs in the country looking to add him to their squad.
He plays with a maturity that is well beyond his age and proves he is a player for the future.
Luciano Spalletti named him in his first squad, and the teenager should be in the group for the Euros if Italy qualifies.
Malick Thiaw, 22, Germany
Germany has been dismal at international tournaments since they won the World Cup in 2014 and the next Euros in their homeland gives them a chance to change this; one man to see is Malick Thiaw.
The AC Milan defender is a superb player who does not let anyone come close to beating him in a game.
He has been superb for the Italian side since they snapped him up from Schalke 04 and made his Germany senior debut this year.
As he keeps playing for Milan, it would be very difficult to keep him at home when the Euros begin, whoever the next national team manager is.
As they rebuild, Thiaw is one of the few players we are sure will be a part of the new era and prove their worth.
Josko Gvardiol, 21, Croatia
Gvardiol has been one of the best defenders in Europe in the last few seasons, and the Croatian will surely be at the Euros.
He is now one of the first names on the team sheet for his country, and his move to Manchester City will make him a better player.
Croatia has done well in the last few international competitions and is a country that regularly produces top players.
Gvardiol hopes his generation can start making a name for themselves at these tournaments and there is no better place to start than at Euro 2024.
Matthijs de Ligt, 24, Netherlands
De Ligt has been around for a long time, and we all remember him as the captain of Ajax as of 2019.
The defender and his team almost reached the Champions League final that year and he has continued to do well.
After a spell at Juventus, he now plays at Bayern Munich, where he competes with some of the best in the continent for playing chances.
He is one of the most reliable defenders in the Netherlands team and is often paired with Virgil van Dijk.
They have some of the best centre-backs in Europe in their squad now, but De Ligt will undoubtedly be on the plane to Germany for Euro 2024 unless he is injured.
He should also be a starter, but the Netherlands have too much depth in defence, and he must work hard this season to get chances.
William Saliba, 22, France
Saliba has developed into one of the best defenders in Europe since his last loan spell at Olympique Marseille.
He has continued to do well on the books of his parent club, Arsenal and will surely play for France at the Euros.
Right now, he is behind the likes of Konate and Upamecano in the pecking order, but should any of them miss the competition or are injured when it begins, Saliba will be the go-to guy to slot in and help his country.
At 22, he has already earned the reputation for being the most reliable defender at Arsenal and that is one reason he cannot be overlooked when Les Bleus name their squad for the euros.
Marc Guehi, 23, England
Guehi is the closest player to replacing Harry Maguire in the England national team, as he impresses Gareth Southgate every time he plays.
The Crystal Palace centre-back could have played for the Ivory Coast, but he bet on himself to do well for England and has earned call-ups recently.
The terrific performances he delivers every week for Palace have not gone unnoticed and it would be hard not to name him in the next England squad for Euro 2024.
However, the competition for a spot in that team is serious, and he knows he must work hard to come close to being on that plane.
Alejandro Balde, 19, Spain
The current Spanish national team is made up of mostly exciting youngsters as the Spaniards attempt to get back to the top of European football.
At Euro 2020 and the last World Cup in Qatar, they fell short, and the rebuilding job of the national team continues.
At 19, Balde has already forced Jordi Alba out of Barcelona and the left-back has played six games for the Spain senior national team.
He is one player in the team to stay, and there is hardly a better left-back in the country at the moment.
This means we can expect to see him in the squad for the Euros next year and his form would be important in Spain's success in the competition.
The next Euros will be one of the finest we will experience, and these young defenders will make it worth watching for neutrals and their fans.
