Players who could breakout at Euro 2020 – Netherlands future looks bright
By A. Aden
Donyell Malen – 22, Netherlands – Group C
Another Dutchman on this list and Donyell Malen might be the one who could have the chance to impress ahead of Luuk de Jong.
An asset to de Boer in that he is able to play across the front line, with his extended time in Arsenal’s U23 playing as a winger and the initial season back in Holland with the U21s of PSV also consisting of a majority of his minutes out on both flanks.
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What he brings to the table is a variety of traits usually common with a false nine as well as a pure winger.
His ability to deliver quality balls into danger areas from the wing, as well as a high level of lineup play which isn’t exclusive to just outside the box, but finding himself on either wing or even deeper in the midfield where establishes play from.
The half-spaces is where he mainly does most of his damage in what is commonly a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 set-up.
His speed is a key cog in which guys like his fellow club and country teammate, Gakpo, find spaces due to the runs and movement Malen supplies, stretching the structure of the opposition’s defense.
A similar example is Werner’s darting run across the Manchester City defense towards the right-wing, dragging PFA Players’ Player of the Year winner Ruben Dias along with him, ultimately creating space for teammate Havertz to round the keeper for the winning goal of the UCL Final.
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Traits like this have the ability to provide additional windows of opportunities that are usually lost with a traditional striker/CF. I have no doubt in my mind that should he receive a healthy amount of minutes, de Boer will not live to regret the decision.
Honorable mentions of possible breakout players at Euro 2020
- Alex Kral
- Jeremy Doku
- Kacper Kozłowski