Robert Andrich, Germany, 29
To put things into context, Andrich is a year younger than Julian Draxler, who was part of Germany’s World Cup-winning squad a decade ago. At the time, Andrich was playing for Hertha Berlin reserves, and in 2016 he rarely got minutes for Dynamo Dresden in the 3. Liga. After successful spells at Wehen and Heidenheim, the combative central midfielder finally made his Bundesliga debut for Union Berlin aged 25, but even then no one could have imagined he would develop into a top-class performer.
Now, a few months short of his 30th birthday, he is preparing for the Euros having been an integral part of the magnificent Bayer Leverkusen side that won the league and cup double without losing. With Toni Kroos returning to the national team, Julian Nagelsmann needed a fighter to protect the maestro in a 4-2-3-1 formation, and Andrich was chosen for the job. Superb performances in the wins over France and the Netherlands in March cemented his place in the lineup.
Dieter Eilts was the unexpected late bloomer who excelled in defensive midfield when Germany won Euro 96. Could Andrich emulate him?
Jasir Asani, Albania, 29
Born in what is now North Macedonia, Asani received Albanian citizenship in 2016, earned one cap for their under-21s, and was then ignored. The winger was never considered good enough by the Italian coaches Gianni De Biasi, Christian Panucci and Edy Reja, and his hopes of getting a call-up for the senior team were practically zero when he left Europe for South Korea to sign for Gwangju in late 2022.
Days later Sylvinho was named the Albania coach, though, and everything changed for Asani. He is not only part of the squad but its brightest star. He scored sensational goals in wins over Poland and the Czech Republic in the qualifiers, and the sky’s the limit for him at the Euros. He is a joy to watch.
Barnabas Varga, Hungary, 29
Varga played at amateur level until the age of 20, when he nearly quit football. He was anonymous when performing for Lafnitz in the Austrian second division aged 25 and the striker then moved to tiny Gyirmot in his homeland in 2020, and no one took notice. That’s when the rise started though.
He starred in Gyirmot’s promotion from the second tier, was the top division’s leading scorer with Paks in 2022-23, joined the champions Ferencvaros last summer and carried on averaging almost a goal a game. With 39 goals in 2023, he was one of the top scorers in the world last year – and the national team coach, Marco Rossi, could not ignore him. Varga scored four times in the qualifiers, and is expected to shine at the tournament.
Abdulkerim Bardakci, Turkey, 29
Bardakci came through the Konyaspor academy but wasn’t rated by the modest club and went on multiple loans to lower divisions. Only at 25 did the centre-back establish himself in the starting lineup. Fenerbahce and Galatasaray fought for his signature in the summer of 2022, and the latter won, but fans didn’t have high expectations, mainly because a lot of Turkish people do not really trust homegrown defenders and prefer foreign imports.
How wrong they were. Bardakci was the best Galatasaray defender as the club won two titles in a row and was called up to the national team last year. A Cristiano Ronaldo fan who supported Portugal during the World Cup, he would be delighted to share the pitch with his idol on 22 June in Dortmund.
Maximilian Mittelstädt, Germany, 27
The left-back position was so problematic for Germany that Kai Havertz was bizarrely tried there in the home defeat by Turkey last November. The problem appears to have been solved by a player who was a bench-warmer for Hertha Berlin during the 2022-23 season, when they finished bottom in the Bundesliga with a porous defence.
Mittelstädt was considered a promising youngster in Berlin but did not fulfil even a quarter of his potential. Relegation enabled him to leave for VfB Stuttgart last summer for a fee of €500,000. Expectations were extremely low, but it turned out to be a magical season for the club, who finished second above Bayern Munich. The coach, Sebastian Hoeness, helped Mittelstädt to flourish, and the national team have benefited too.
Mittelstädt was superb on his debut against France in March, scored against the Netherlands in his second game, and now the stage is his. The dream is to shine at Olympiastadion in Berlin – not on the Hertha bench but in the European Championship final.
Álex Grimaldo, Spain, 28
The reason why Grimaldo had never played for Spain before November 2023 can probably be traced back almost 10 years. Once considered a top prospect at La Masia, in 2015 he criticised the then Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique, for having no contact with him while he excelled in the reserves. That was enough for the club to sell him to Benfica, and that turned out to be a mistake.
With Luis Enrique managing the national team between 2018 and 2022 – apart from his break for personal reasons – there was little chance of Grimaldo getting a call-up despite spectacular form in Portugal. Spain’s latest coach, Luis de la Fuente, has been unable to ignore Grimaldo, who has developed into a world-class player since his free transfer to Leverkusen last summer.
He contributed 12 goals and 19 assists there in all competitions in his first season. Xabi Alonso uses him as a left wing-back, whereas he would have to play as a full-back for Spain, but Grimaldo could be one of the brightest stars of the summer.
