Euro 2008 Adolescent Eleven: Cesc vs. Karim

After yesterday’s Elderly Eleven gave the old boys some attention, it’s time to take a look at the young bucks. Here are the youngest players at Euro 2008, by position. This one would be hell for any manager, not only in terms of keeping so much young talent on task, but also in terms of picking a formation. See, if that hypothetical coach were to field a 4-4-2, you’d get one Cesc Fabregas in midfield, who just squeaks in as the fourth-youngest midfielder in the tournament. You might have heard of him. He has a show. But, if one were to be a little more adventurous, and throw out a 4-3-3, the loss of Fabregas would be compensated for by the gain of a French striker whose name you might also have come across in the last year, Karim Benzema. Decisions, decisions. Anyway, aside from that choice (unbelievable playmaking midfielder vs. amazing striker), here are those that made the cut.

Keeper:
Rui Patricio - Portugal (20)

Defenders:
Sebastian Prödl - Austria (20)
Johan Djourou - Switzerland (21)*
Adam Kokoszka - Poland (21)
Ştefan Radu - Romania (21)

Midfielders:
Ivan Rakitić - Croatia (20)*
Michał Pazdan - Poland (20)
Samir Nasri - France (20)*
Cesc Fàbregas - Spain (21)* [if 4-4-2]

Forwards:
Eren Derdiyok - Switzerland (19)
Nikola Kalinić - Croatia (20)
Karim Benzema - France (20)* [if 4-3-3]

The players with asterisks next to their names indicate those listed in the first eleven of their official squads, and so those thought of as most likely to start. The youngest player at Euro 2008 is Swiss striker Eren Derdiyok, who should get his chance to show off for all of the other Derdiyoks at home in the group stage. Poland, Switzerland and Croatia are the only countries to have two youngsters on the list, plus France, if you went with the Benzema package. Myself, I’m a sucker for a good playmaker, and I’d have to stick with the 4-4-2 Cesc option. Plus, if I didn’t, I’d be afraid he’d use his freaky powers on me.