Bundesliga
Germany's U21s to watch in 2019/20
If you hadn't heard of them already, you certainly have now. Luca Waldschmidt, Marco Richter and Jonathan Tah all produced outstanding performances during Germany's run to the 2019 UEFA U21 European Championship final.
For some, it was their first major step onto the international stage. For others, it was further proof of their top-level calibre. Either way, this trio of emerging talents will be looking to take their summer form into the 2019/20 Bundesliga season, and you're not going to want to miss it.
bundesliga.com highlights three of Germany's U21 Euro stars who you should be very excited about in 2019/20…
Appearances: 5
Goals: 7
Assists: 1
Bundesliga club: Freiburg
Ending as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals in five matches, Freiburg forward Luca Waldschmidt gained a host of new admirers outside of Germany at the finals in Italy. He scored in all but one game during the Euros, grabbing a hat-trick against Luka Jovic's Serbia in the group stages, as well as a brace and an assist in the semi-final win over Romania.
The silky striker was the focal point of Stefan Kuntz's attack, playing in the centre of a three-man attack. He would drop deep to pick up possession well away from his marker, utilising his strengths with the ball at his feet. He had scored four goals before he smashed a 35-yard thunderbolt into the top corner against Austria, highlighting the power in his wand of a left foot. The strike was later voted Goal of the Tournament.
The Eintracht Frankfurt youth product and former Hamburg man had a fantastic debut season with Freiburg in 2018/19. In 30 appearances, the 23-year-old scored nine times and added one assist. With strike partner Nils Petersen now 30, and on the back of his superb display during the summer, Waldschmidt could well be given an even more crucial role in the Freiburg line-up for 2019/20 by coach Christian Streich.
Appearances: 5
Passes completed: 333
Assists: 1
Bundesliga club: Bayer Leverkusen
You may already know the name of Jonathan Tah, the man mountain with 125 Bundesliga appearances already under his belt. Tah has even played six times for Joachim Löw's senior Germany squad, but spent this summer at the heart of the U21's defence, as captain.
Despite not keeping a clean sheet in the tournament, Tah and his defence displayed maturity beyond their years to reach the final. The Bayer Leverkusen centre-back completed more passes than any other player at the competition, with 333 to his name across his five appearances: averaging over 66 per game.
The 6"3' powerhouse already established himself as a starter at the BayArena in the 2015/16 season, following spells with Hamburg and Fortuna Düsseldorf. His 142 first-team appearances since speak volumes for a player who is still only 23. Just don't be surprised if he dons the captain's armband at club level, too.
Appearances: 4
Goals: 3
Assists: 2
Bundesliga club: Augsburg
One of the talents stationed alongside Waldschmidt in attack, Augsburg's Marco Richter is setting himself up for a breakout 2019/20 season. His three goals and two assists during the U21 Euros came in two group stage matches against Denmark and Serbia, proving as he did in the Bundesliga that when he scores one, he often finds the net again soon after.
Four goals across consecutive games against Frankfurt and VfB Stuttgart helped Augsburg secure safety in the top flight for another season. The Bayern Munich youth product averaged two shots per game in 2018/19 for a team that finished 15th, while he spent the majority of his minutes playing on the wing.
Richter has proven himself across each potential attacking position, though, and can be trusted to lead the line when needed. Should Augsburg head coach Martin Schmidt feel that injury-troubled Alfred Finnbogason needs further support, you can count on 21-year-old Richter to be the man he would look to first.