After being delayed a year because of the pandemic, Euro 2020 will kick off on Friday, June 11 with the final being played on Sunday, July 11. The tournament will take place across some of the major cities within the continent, including, London, Rome, Munich and Amsterdam.

The Voice of Sport puts six players under the spotlight who could well make a difference to their respective teams…

BRUNO FERNANDES (PORTUGAL)

Age: 26

Position: Attacking midfield

Talismanic Fernandes has had an extraordinary impact for Manchester United, scoring 26 goals since joining them from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020. Now he will be hoping to have a similar effect on his national team as they look to retain the title they won in 2016. The attacking midfielder is sure to be Portugal’s main source of creativity and his leadership qualities could help guide his nation to back-to-back European Championship titles.

GIANLUIGI DONNARUMMA (ITALY)

Age: 22

Position: Goalkeeper

Following in the footsteps of the legendary Gianluigi Buffon would not be easy for any goalkeeper – never mind one who is just 22. But Gianluigi Donnarumma seems to be taking it all in his stride as the shot-stopper became the youngest ever goalkeeper to play for Italy when he made his first appearance for the Azzurri aged 17. Since his first cap, Donnarumma has made 25 senior appearances and will be a key figure for Italy as they aim to win a first European Championship title since 1968.

TIMO WERNER (GERMANY)

Age: 25

Position: Forward

Fresh from winning the Champions League with Chelsea, the German has scored 15 goals in 38 appearances for his country since making his first appearance for the senior team in 2017. Werner won the Golden Boot in Germany’s last tournament victory at the 2017 Confederations Cup and will be leading the line for Die Mannschaft once again this summer. Germany will need Werner to hit top form early on as they begin their campaign against the reigning world champions and tournament favourites, France.

KYLIAN MBAPPE (FRANCE)

Age: 22

Position: Forward

Mbappé started his career at AS Bondy from 2004 – 2013, until he made his move to Monaco. The young forward moved to Monaco in 2015 and made his first team debut two months later at the age of 16. Monaco, with the help of Mbappé, won the Ligue 1 trophy during the 2016/17 season. Mbappé signed for Paris Saint Germain (PSG) on loan and signed for the club the following season for a fee of €145 million plus €35 million in add-ons, making him the most expensive teenager ever. He would go on to win the World Cup with France in 2018 and dominate French football with PSG. He got himself a UEFA Champions League runner-up medal in the 2019-20 season, after losing to Bayern Munich in the final. With such an impressive CV, the gifted striker will definitely be a crucial part of France’s attack for Euro 2020.

JADON SANCHO (ENGLAND)

Age: 21

Position: Winger/attacking midfield

The mercurial Sancho began his career at Watford at the tender age of 7 from 2007-2015. At the age of 14, Sancho moved to Manchester City in 2015 for a fee of £66,000. He then signed for German giants Borussia Dortmund two years later for a fee in the region of £8 million. Sancho has made a huge impression since arriving in Dortmund and will certainly be one to watch for the Three Lions over the next few weeks.

TEEMU PUKKI (FINLAND)

Age: 31

Position: Striker

Pukki began his career at HOPS (Hovinsaaren Palloseura) and soon joined Finnish club, KTP (FC KooTeePee). He made his debut for KTP at the age of 16 and would soon be a transfer target for many European clubs. The goal poacher then signed for Spanish side Sevilla in 2008 until he signed for Finnish club HJK (Veikkausliiga) in 2010. Next Pukki would play for German side Schalke 04 from 2011-2013 and then for Scottish side Celtic from 2013-2015, for an undisclosed fee. In September 2014 the Finn signed for Danish Side Brondby IF on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy, which Brondby IF chose to do for an undisclosed fee. Pukki would go on to score 46 goals in 103 matches for Brondby until he signed for English Championship club Norwich City on a free transfer in 2018. He found success at Norwich City, scoring 66 goals in 120 appearances, and winning the Championship twice.