Eight to watch at the Under-19 finals
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Article summary
UEFA.com picks out a player from each team to follow over the next fortnight, including a UEFA Champions League finalist and the ten-goal qualifying top scorer.
Article top media content
Article body
Kingsley Coman – France
The youngest player to appear for Paris Saint-Germain, aged 16 in 2013, the forward joined Juventus last summer, helping them to win Serie A and coming on as a substitute in the UEFA Champions League final.
Marko Kvasina – Austria
A forward for FK Austria Wien with Croatian roots, Kvasina announced his arrival with the winning strike against SV Grödig last December. He is a target man with keen instincts and strong in the air.
Petros Orfanidis – Greece
Orfanidis is a versatile attacking midfielder with great technique, a brilliant passing range and tactical nous. He became a professional last summer when he was promoted to Xanthi FC's senior squad.
Valeriy Luchkevych – Ukraine
The 19-year-old right-sided wing-back came of age during FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's run to the UEFA Europa League final, with both his club and his country benefitting from his pace, drive and energy.
Timo Werner – Germany
A pacy winger and a clinical finisher with both feet, VfB Stuttgart's Werner became the youngest player to make 50 Bundesliga appearances when he reached that landmark aged 18 years and 351 days in February.
Ramil Sheydaev – Russia
The FC Zenit striker finished as the top scorer in qualifying with ten goals, and also weighed in with five assists, having previously helped Russia win the 2013 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
Abdelhak Nouri – Netherlands
Contributing five qualifying goals and two assists, the technically gifted Nouri – who plays his clubs football for AFC Ajax – is excellent in tight spaces and a fine passer and finisher, also boasting vision and leadership skills.
Marco Asensio – Spain
Signed by Real Madrid CF in December, the fleet-footed winger spent the rest of the season on loan at original club RCD Mallorca, scoring six times in 33 starts. The 19-year-old possesses excellent technique and great pace.