The Round of 16 matches in Euro 2024 showcased the immense impact young talent can have on the biggest stage of European football. Cody Gakpo, a rising star for the Netherlands, proved his worth by scoring his third goal of the tournament in a crucial match against Romania. At just 23 years old, Gakpo became his country’s youngest player to score and assist in a knockout match in a major tournament since the legendary Marco van Basten achieved the feat in the final of Euro 1988.
Gakpo’s performance also put him in elite company, as he joined the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Robin van Persie, and Memphis Depay as one of the four Dutch players with 3+ World Cup goals and 3+ Euro goals. Additionally, Donyell Malen made history by becoming the first-ever Dutch player to score twice after coming off the bench in Euro history. The young goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen also etched his name in the record books as the youngest goalkeeper in Euro history with a clean sheet in a knockout stage game at just 21 years old.
Throughout the Round of 16 matches, young talents made significant contributions to their teams. Xavi Simons of the Netherlands became the first player to provide 3+ assists at Euro 2024, while Turkey’s Arda Guler joined the elite company by becoming the third teenager to both score and assist in the same edition of the Euro, following in the footsteps of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo from Euro 2004.
Turkey’s goalkeeper Mert Gunok also stole the spotlight with a phenomenal save during stoppage time against Austria. The save, with an “Expected Goals on Target” value of 0.93, was deemed the most unlikely save in stoppage time of major tournaments since 2018. Merih Demiral of Turkey made history by scoring the earliest goal in Euro knockout round history, finding the back of the net in just 57 seconds against Austria.
The Round of 16 matches also saw a surge in goal contributions from players under 22 years old. With a total of 17 goal contributions from young talents, Euro 2024 is on the verge of tying the record set by the 2004 edition for the most goal contributions by players under 22 at a European Championship since 1980. Notable young stars from the 2004 tournament, including Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Arjen Robben, left a lasting impact on the competition with their impressive performances.
The Round of 16 matches in Euro 2024 highlighted the significance of young talent in shaping the outcomes of crucial matches. With rising stars like Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons, and Arda Guler making waves on the European stage, the future of European football looks bright. As these young talents continue to showcase their skills and make history, football fans can expect to witness more remarkable performances in the upcoming matches of the tournament.