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Experts pick out best players at U21 EURO

UEFA.com spoke to a reporter from each of the eight nations at the U21 EURO in the Czech Republic to ask which players have impressed so far and who might win the tournament.

Captain Kevin Volland is one of a number of Germany players to have caught the eye
Captain Kevin Volland is one of a number of Germany players to have caught the eye ©Getty Images

Henry Winter, Daily Telegraph (England)
I always like watching Harry Kane because he gives everything. He is a young player who has not had it easy. He has gone out on loan and grown physically, mentally and tactically and he rarely gives the ball away. As for Jesse Lingard – what a touch for his goal; he has that technical excellence of a lot of Manchester United players. He has had injuries but he is a good player.

I also liked Portugal’s Bernardo Silva – he is the type of true No10 we don't really produce in England – and William Carvalho, who exuded authority. I never back against Germany. Portugal are the best team I've seen but Germany are a tournament side – and look who they've got in goal, a player who's just won the Champions League.
Tip to win: Germany

Luca Bianchin, La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy) 
I'm aware Germany are a football powerhouse but I would choose Portugal as my predicted winner. They never lost a game on the road to Prague and I guess they will beat Sweden and win Group B. With my focus being more on the Group B games, I would pick Bernardo Silva and Domenico Berardi as the best players of the tournament so far. They both played with style when they came up against each other in Uherske Hradiste. They both combine speed and technique, a real necessity in modern football.
Tip to win: Portugal

Watch Jan Kliment's hat-trick

Oliver Schmidt, TV commentator for ZDF (Germany)
I have been more impressed by team performances, such as Sweden's versus Italy, Germany versus Denmark and hosts Czech Republic against Serbia, than by individual displays by the likes of John Guidetti, Jan Kliment or Joshua Kimmich. For the rest of the tournament, I expect full stadiums, exciting matches and a dramatic final between Portugal and Germany, with Horst Hrubesch's team taking the title.
Tip to win: Germany

Mathias Luhr, Expressen (Sweden)
The best team I have seen so far were Germany against Denmark – Kevin Volland, Max Meyer and Emre Can were outstanding. I liked a lot of Swedish players in the first game too. Oscar Lewicki is a really good central midfielder, hard-working and clever, and he was outstanding against Italy. Against England, he defended well and Sweden defended well for 85 minutes, even if they lacked a bit of firepower. An easy pick to win – Germany, even if they might lack pace in central defence as I saw Denmark threaten there and Serbia too in the first game.
Tip to win: Germany

Highlights: Germany 3-0 Denmark

Andreas Kraul, commentator for DR (Denmark)
We were really impressed by the German winger Amin Younes; he gave our right-back Alexander Scholz a nightmare and it was scary for everyone of a Danish sympathy. He stood out as a new sensation to us. We've also followed our neighbours Sweden a lot and a player to watch there is the left-back Ludwig Augustinsson, who plays for København and had an absolutely smashing first six months in Denmark. Germany are incredibly strong – not just the first XI but the squad too – and are deservedly favourites.
Tip to win: Germany

Jan Kaliba, Czech Radio (Czech Republic)
I have followed the Czech games and also saw Portugal's win against England. The player who has impressed me most is Jan Kliment, who has played really well in both matches. He was totally unknown until two weeks ago, when he went to the training camp in Austria, but he has been a great revelation for the Czech squad. I think that Germany will win the tournament — they have the strongest team and squad.
Tip to win: Germany

Watch Emre Can's goal against Serbia

Nenad Milovanović, Arena Sport TV (Serbia)
I have been most impressed by Germany midfielder Emre Can. He played really well against Serbia and Denmark, and he is certainly one of the stars. Although he only played for 20 minutes against Serbia, Václav Kadlec of the Czech Republic [who has since been ruled out of the tournament] also showed he has a lot of quality. Yussuf Poulsen of Denmark showed he is a great player as well. I think Germany will win in the end, as they have started to play like a machine.
Tip to win: Germany

Luís Baila, RTP (Portugal)
The one player that has really impressed me is one I've been following since he was a young kid: Bernardo Silva. He played amazingly in the first two matches against England and Italy. It is extraordinary to watch his technique on the pitch, the way he leads his team and the maturity he displays for such a young player. It is quite hard to predict a winner because all the teams here have a lot of quality. I would say one of the teams from Group B or Germany but I will let my heart speak for me and tip Portugal!
Tip to win: Portugal

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