Euro 2020 Qualifiers: 3 debutants who impressed for their country

Mario Hermoso made his first competitive start for Spain against Malta
Mario Hermoso made his first competitive start for Spain against Malta

So, that's the last international break of the season done with, then! It's back to club football, and back to title races, and European competition. The business end, as they say.

But, looking back on the last week of action of qualifying for Euro 2020, there have been some stellar performances. A much-changed German side went to Amsterdam and beat the high-flying Netherlands 3-2. A young, vibrant England pumped in ten goals in two games, past the hapless Czech Republic. Italy and Spain recorded two rather comfortable victories as well.

But, going with the theme of previous international breaks this season, it has once again been some youngsters, making their debuts for the country, who have caught the eye.

Declan Rice and Callum Hudson-Odoi made their first starts for England, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane, although reasonably experienced, tormented the Dutch, in their new roles as the strikers for Germany.

Young Jadon Sancho was terrific against the Czechs, as well. So, it was a good international break for the youngsters, just like the ones in the autumn made the world stand up and take notice of Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt, who were stellar for the Dutch.

So, which debutants caught the eye this time? We take a look.


#3 Mario Hermoso

After Gerard Pique's retirement from international football, which was announced after last summer's FIFA World Cup, Spain head coach Luis Enrique has tried both Nacho Fernandez and Inigo Martinez, but he might have finally arrived at a solution for the long-term partner to captain Sergio Ramos.

Espanyol's Hermoso made his first competitive start for La Roja in their away game against Malta, and in addition to keeping a clean sheet, he also popped up with an assist for Alvaro Morata's first goal.

Hermoso already made his debut in Spain's November friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina but was given his competitive debut against a team ranked 182 in the world - the third worst in Europe.

Despite Spain having 80% of the ball, and next to no threat being offered by Malta, Hermoso's performance at centre-back stood out. His confidence and more importantly, his ability to play with the ball at his feet stood out.

There will be tougher tests for sure, but if the start was anything to go by, Hermoso will play a lot more games for Spain in the near future.

#2 Moise Kean

Italy v Liechtenstein - UEFA EURO 2020 Qualifier
Italy v Liechtenstein - UEFA EURO 2020 Qualifier

He was the first player born in the 2000s to play in the Champions League, when he made his debut in Europe's premier club competition for Juventus, in November 2016.

Against Finland on Saturday night, Kean started his first game for the Azzurri, as well, even capping it off with a goal in the second half to put his team 2-0 up, and well on course to victory. In doing so, he became the youngest Italian starter since Edoardo Mariani in 1912, along with being the youngest to score since 1958.

Kean started on the left wing, and tormented the defences of both Finland and Liechtenstein, scoring in both games, as Italy followed up a 2-0 win over the Finns, with a 6-0 walloping of the minnows.

While others such as Ciro Immobile, Fabio Quagliarella, Federico Bernardeschi and Matteo Politano started only one game each, Mancini kept his faith in Kean to man the left flank in both games.

Kean should've scored more than the solitary goal he managed in the match against Finland, as he had several opportunities to score, and got into several beautiful positions, only for his decision-making to let him down.

Roberto Mancini, though, knows that Kean is one of the brightest prospects for the future in his current Italian set-up, and is doing the right thing by handing the youngster so many opportunities at this early stage of his career.

#1 Callum Hudson-Odoi

Montenegro v England - UEFA EURO 2020 Qualifier
Montenegro v England - UEFA EURO 2020 Qualifier

After making only a substitute appearance for his debut at Wembley against the Czech Republic, Hudson-Odoi was given his first international start against Montenegro in Podgorica - even before he made his first Premier League start.

The Chelsea youngster repaid his manager's faith in him, with a fine display in hostile conditions in the Montenegrin capital. Hudson-Odoi, Danny Rose and Raheem Sterling were all subject to racist taunts from the home fans, but the trio put in fabulous displays as England scored five for the second time in four days.

Also Read: Raheem Sterling's vocal battle against racism is exactly what football needs

Hudson-Odoi also popped up with an assist for the goal which helped England take the lead, after they had fallen behind to an early Marko Vesovic. After being played the ball on the left wing by Harry Kane, Hudson-Odoi had only one thing on his mind.

He was going to run at the Montenegrin right-back, square him up and give him trouble. He cut in, and took a curling shot, which was diverted in by Ross Barkley, who arrived in the box late, from his deeper midfield role.

Hudson-Odoi was a constant threat to the Montenegrin defence, and could have scored as well, with just a little more luck.

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