--- description: Sure, we could wax lyrical about the likes of Ronaldo, Xavi and Rooney but wouldn't you rather find out about the potential breakout stars? title: Eight Players to Watch at Euro 2012 image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfdcde8e7a0b6e60a/698a98ef929fad6a14c034b1/ks_lewandowski_euros.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Sports](/section/sports/) # Eight Players to Watch at Euro 2012 by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) Jun 7, 2012 2:22 AM CUT  Climbers install a poster of striker for the Polish national football team Robert Lewandowski, advertising the upcoming Euro 2012 football championship in Warsaw May 17, 2012 Climbers install a poster of striker for the Polish national football team Robert Lewandowski, advertising the upcoming Euro 2012 football championship in Warsaw May 17, 2012JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/GettyImages by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) Jun 7, 2012 2:22 AM CUT Sure, we could wax lyrical about the likes of Ronaldo, Xavi and Rooney but wouldn’t you rather find out about the potential breakout stars? ## Jordi Alba, Spain, Group C  Spain's Jordi Alba (right) vies with Venezuela's Julio Alvarez during the friendly football match Spain vs Venezuela at La Rosaleda stadium in Malaga on February 29, 2012
As if the Spanish manager Vicente del Bosque didn't have enough to work with, look out for Jordi Alba's attacking forays from full-back. The former winger turned defender still managed seven assists last season at Valencia and the Champions League will be graced by the 23-year-old's presence in the fall. If he thrives during Euro 2012, expect the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United to put a bid in. His value is set to soar. glentime ## Antonio Cassano, Italy, Group C  Antonio Cassano of Italy during the international friendly match between Italy and Russia at Letzigrund on June 1, 2012 in Zurich, Switzerland
While the Italians yet again go into a major tournament with a scandal hanging over them – allegations of match-fixing – you can bet that Antonio Cassano will be making the most of his opportunity. Known for an uneven temperament (as his former paymasters in Italy and Spain will tell you,) the 29-year-old Milan striker has been given a second chance of sorts, as he was recently diagnosed with heart problems and thought his career was over. But he successfully underwent surgery. He's been an integral part of new coach Cesare Prandelli's plans over the past couple of years and scored some crucial goals as Italy romped through its qualification campaign. So long as Italy don't suffer further group heartache as they did at the 2010 World Cup, Cassano might just shake off his "Antonio il terribile" reputation. glentime ## Alan Dzagoev, Russia, Group A  Russia's midfielder Alan Dzagoev vies for the ball with Italy's defender Federico Balzaretti during their friendly football match, on June 1, 2012 in Zurich
Russia picked up many new fans on its unlikely run to the semi-finals of Euro 2008\. Watching with the rest of us was attacking midfielder Alan Dzagoev. But Dzagoev, now 21, won't sit this one out. He made his debut at 18 years and 116 days, becoming the country’s youngest-ever outfield player. But he's plays with the poise of a veteran, netting four goals during qualification. glentime ## Christian Eriksen, Denmark, Group B  Christian Eriksen of Denmark in action during the Euro 2012 group H qualifier between Denmark and Portugal on October 11, 2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark
The Dane Christian Eriksen is similar in age (20) and position (midfield) to Dzagoev but finds himself in a far tougher group at Euro 2012\. He does have more experience, however, having taken part in the 2010 World Cup. Eriksen played a pivotal part in his club side Ajax's championships over the past two seasons (he made his debut for them at just 17) and only Zenit Saint Petersburg's Danny and Real Madrid's Mesut Ozil averaged more key passes per game in this season's Champions League. glentime ## Nikica Jelavić, Croatia, Group C  Croatia's Nikica Jelavic pictured before the International friendly football match between Norway and Croatia in Oslo on June 2, 2012
Nobody seems to be talking about Croatia in Group C, which will suit the dark horses just fine. And if Croatia manages to finish behind the inevitable group winners Spain, they'll not only fancy their chances in the quarter-final (against the winners of Group D) but will presumably be thanking lethal striker Nikica Jelavić for getting them to the latter stages. The 26-year-old is coming off a great calendar year for English Premier League side Everton, where he scored 11 goals (in just 16 appearances) since his move from Glasgow Rangers at the end of January. Jelavić managed the winner on his full debut against Tottenham and never looked back, even scoring in five successive away games, counting the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. glentime ## Robert Lewandowski, Poland, Group A  Climbers install a poster of striker for the Polish national football team Robert Lewandowski, advertising the upcoming Euro 2012 football championship in Warsaw May 17, 2012
Co-hosts Poland are in a far easier group than Ukraine and will expect to progress, especially with Robert Lewandowski leading the line. The 23-year-old topped the Bundesliga's goalscoring chart, with his 22 goals helping Borussia Dortmund win a second title in a row. He saved the best for last, notching a hat-trick in the German Cup final to thrash Bayern Munich 5-2\. Lewandowski's technique, predominantly when it comes to playing with his back to goal, should take the Poles forward. glentime ## Yann M'Vila, France, Group D  French midfielder Yann M'vila (left) and Germany's midfielder Mario Goetze vie for the ball during the friendly football match between Germany and France in Bremen on February 29, 2012
Les Bleus will be pinning much of their defensive hopes on a 21-year-old phenom called Yann M'Vila, who has wowed everyone lucky enough to see him play since he broke out in 2009 with domestic side Rennes. M'Vila has exceptional awareness, tackles with ferocity and will surely start many of France's attacks. No wonder his manager Frederic Antonetti said that M'Vila "reads the game like Makélélé, has the presence of Vieira and can pass the ball like Yaya Touré." And no wonder that another Frenchman, Arsenal's Arsène Wenger, is rumored to be planning the biggest bid in the EPL side's history to secure his services. glentime ## Mario Gotze, Germany, Group B  Germany\`s midfielder Mario Goetze vies for the ball with Swiss Steve von Bergen during the International friendly football match between Switzerland and Germany in the city of Basel, Switzerland, on May 26, 2012
If your nickname is the "German Messi," you'd better be good. And even though the 20-year-old midfielder Mario Gotze may not start for the Germans in Poland and Ukraine, he'll almost definitely be called upon from the bench as the Mannschaft look to avenge their defeat in the final of Euro 2008\. For someone so young, Gotze has already got some decent silverware (two Bundesliga titles and the German Cup with Borussia Dortmund). He managed to notch a remarkable six goals and set up five more in only 17 league appearances in an injury-ravaged season. None other than Der Kaiser Franz Beckenbauer, a German legend, has said that Gotze is "impossible to stop." glentime Eight Players to Watch at Euro 2012 ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7159370/eight-players-to-watch-at-euro-2012/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7159370/eight-players-to-watch-at-euro-2012/"},"headline":"Eight Players to Watch at Euro 2012","datePublished":"2012-06-07T02:22:58.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-16T15:19:46.848Z","description":"Sure, we could wax lyrical about the likes of Ronaldo, Xavi and Rooney but wouldn't you rather find out about the potential breakout stars?","url":"https://time.com/archive/7159370/eight-players-to-watch-at-euro-2012/","keywords":[],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfdcde8e7a0b6e60a/698a98ef929fad6a14c034b1/ks_lewandowski_euros.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"TIME Staff","url":"https://time.com/author/time-staff/"}],"articleSection":"Sports","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfdcde8e7a0b6e60a/698a98ef929fad6a14c034b1/ks_lewandowski_euros.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"ks_lewandowski_euros","caption":"Climbers install a poster of striker for the Polish national football team Robert Lewandowski, advertising the upcoming Euro 2012 football championship in Warsaw May 17, 2012","creditText":"JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/GettyImages","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/sports/","name":"Sports"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/archive/7159370/eight-players-to-watch-at-euro-2012/","name":"Eight Players to Watch at Euro 2012"}}]}] ```