Here is a look at one young player from each of the 4 Group D teams, most likely to make an impact for their respective country at the Euro 2012.

Group D

England

Danny Welbeck

PLAYER INFORMATION

Date of Birth 26 Nov, 1990 (age 21)
Club Manchester United
Position Striker
International Caps 5
International Goals 1

Stats for 2011/12

Appearance 40
Goals 12

Player Profile

The 2011/12 season has been a breakthrough year for young Danny Welbeck. He firmly established himself as a regular starter for one of the biggest clubs in the world, displacing established names such as Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov. He also made his international bow and recently scored a debut goal for the Three Lions as well. This lanky striker has come on in leaps and bounds since his debut as a teenager for Manchester United. There is a reason why Sir Alex regards him so highly as a player. Although not yet the finished article as striker, with his touch often letting him down and his finishing not as clinical as it should be, Danny Welbeck’s tireless running, wonderful work rate, great hold-up, sudden bursts of acceleration and ability to create nuisance for the defenders, is appreciated by all his team-mates. He is not your typical star player who immediately catches the eye, but a player who is valued very highly by his teammates and his manager due to his efforts and importance as a team player. He brings out the best in other players and makes it easier for his fellow players to flourish as evidenced by the form of strike partner Wayne Rooney whenever the pair have line up together at Manchester United this season. He can obviously improve his own technical level but surely this hard working young man, under the tutelage of Sir Alex, will become a complete package as a striker in the years to come.

Probability of making an impact at the Euro 2012 3.5/5

Just a few months ago Danny Welbeck was undecided on whether to pick Ghana or England to represent at the national level; now in all likelihood he will spearhead England’s attack at the Euros after Wayne Rooney’s well documented moment of madness. It just shows how far Welbeck has made it in the past few years. It is a great opportunity for the young man to prove himself at the big stage. Questions will be asked whether he will be able to handle the pressure of leading the line for the Three Lions but this young level headed player is the best candidate England have at their disposal. Even after Rooney is back from his suspension, the two can strike up a partnership that has worked so wonderfully well at Manchester United. Meanwhile, he will probably start as a lone striker in the first two games and a good show is required from the young man if England is to put up a good show.

Sweden

Rasmus Elm

PLAYER INFORMATION

Date of Birth 17 March, 1988 (age 24)
Club AZ Alkmaar
Position Midfielder
International Caps 24
International Goals 1

Stats for 2011/12

Appearance 48
Goals 13

Player Profile

Rasmus Elm has come a long way from being a young kid who suffered from stage fright and dietary problems which almost forced him to quit the game to a confident young midfielder player who dictates the game. Elm is considered one of the nicest people in the game today and a player who everyone wants to see doing well. Elm, to the delight of a lot of people has done extraordinarily well in the past few years establishing himself as a mainstay with his club side AZ Alkmaar as well as the national side. He is a midfielder player who can pass the ball long or short, take immaculate set pieces, has good technical skills and can score quite a few goals as well. Elm has overcome a lot of obstacles in his life and if he can inspire the Swedes to a good tournament it will represent a remarkable achievement for this wonderful young player.

Probability of making an impact at the Euro 2012 3/5

Sweden always seem to have a solid team going into a major tournament that can pose danger to even the most of established teams out there. They have a very balanced squad with players willing to work for each other. Elm is certainly one of those players. Elm will most probably be lined up in the middle of the park in a 4-4-2 formation alongside evergreen midfielder Anders Svensson or Kim Kallstrom. Sweden will most certainly be dependent on Elm to control the game and provide quality service up front for the capable strike duo of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Johan Elmander to pounce upon. Placed in a group with a French side in transition, a very weak England side and underdogs Ukraine, Sweden should be expecting a place in the knock out rounds. But if they are to do so, they will have to rely on players such as Rasmus Elm perform to their full potential.

France

Yann M’Vila

PLAYER INFORMATION

Date of Birth 29 June 1990 (age 21)
Club Rennes
Position Midfielder
International Caps 19
International Goals 1

Stats for 2011/12

Appearance 50
Goals 1

Player Profile

Yann M’Vila has become one of the most talked about young midfielders in Europe these days.  This supremely talented young midfielder player is an imposing figure in the middle of the park. People would expect M’Vila to be an aggressive player who commits a lot of fouls and have a bad disciplinary record due to the role he occupies but interestingly enough M’Vila received only 2 bookings in the whole of last season and his fouls per games average was only 0.8. These stats should not be surprising as M’Vila is a supremely accomplished ball winner and has wonderful positional sense. He makes winning the ball from the opponent look ridiculously easy. He is a master at breaking up attacks and they way he anticipates where the opposition will pass in order to make an interception, is simply magnificent. He also plays a big part in his team’s creative aspect as well, he is more than capable of providing a defence splitting pass after winning the ball. He is simply an invaluable asset to his club side Rennes and he has developed into a vital component for the Les Bleus as well.

Probability of making an impact at the Euro 2012 4/5

Despite injury worries, M’Vila even at 21 seems to have already established himself as the undisputed defensive midfielder for the French national team. France has been longing for a good defensive midfielder after great players such as Didier Deschamps, Claude Makelele and Patrick Vieira did such a fantastic job in that position for the Les Bleus. M’Vila now seems to be the long term answer for the French team’s midfield problems for years to come. He is a sure starter for France in the middle of the park, most probably alongside Cabaye or Diarra, but his recent injury in a friendly game may have jeopardized his chances of taking part in the first group game against England. However, Coach Laurent Blanc has assured fans he will be back for the remaining games. With France in very good form and possessing bright young players such as M’Vila, they might just spark a surprise by flying under the radar and going all the way.

Ukraine

Andriy Yarmolenko

PLAYER INFORMATION

Date of Birth 23 October, 1989 (age 22)
Club Dynamo Kyiv
Position Striker
International Caps 20
International Goals 7

Stats for 2011/12

Appearance 31
Goals 13

Player Profile

Promising striker Andriy Yarmolenko has wowed Dynamo Kyiv fans with some dazzling performances this season. Yarmolenko is a tricky player with very good dribbling skills and has pace to burn. His finishing can improve but he is still young and has a lot of time to develop as a player. He is also a versatile player who is equally effective on the wings. Yarmolenko was tagged the next “Andriy Shevchenko” by the Ukrainian media such is the hype surrounding this young player. He certainly possess the credentials to be as good as the Ukrainian hero and legend Shevchenko but he needs to control his temperament and needs work hard on some of his flaws to reach the dizzying heights that Shevchenko has achieved in his illustrious career. Yarmolenko is undoubtedly one to watch out in the Euros and expectations will be high in front home crowd which should certainly provide motivation for this talented young man to prove himself.

Probability of making an impact at the Euro 2012 3.5/5

Although backed by home support Ukraine’s chance of qualifying into the next rounds seem faint. Ukraine has an ageing squad containing players mostly based at home, who have not tested themselves regularly against the best teams in Europe. That being said Ukraine also possess some great players in Shevchenko and Voronin, and fans will be hoping they can roll back the years and put up a creditable show.  Andriy Yarmolenko is Ukraine’s next big hope. It remains to see if he has temperament to deal with the massive expectation of the home fans but he certainly has the talent to make a positive impact. He will most probably be lined up on the wings with Ukraine deploying a 4-4-1-1 system. He will be required to provide service for veterans Shevchenko and Voronin and grab a goal for himself as well, if Ukraine is to achieve the aspirations of heading into the knock-out rounds.

This is the 4th and final part of the series. Hope you guys liked it. Thank you for reading. Wishing you a happy and enjoyable Euro 2012.