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For those of you struggling to embrace the footballing void since Liverpool's Champions League win on Saturday night, have no fear! The beautiful game is returning this very night in the shape of the UEFA Nations League.
England will do battle with the Netherlands (tomorrow), and Portugal take on Switzerland (tonight) in the two semi-final clashes, and here we're taking a look at some of the young starlets who will hopefully be on show.
We have also analyzed their performances over the past year, assembled them into a starting eleven, and cast an eye over what lies in store for them next season with regards to the transfer window and the rumor-mill merry-go-round that comes with it.
Goalkeeper: Yvon Mvogo, 24, (Switzerland & RB Leipzig)
Born in Cameroon, Yvon Mvogo has so far amassed two caps for the Switzerland national side. He started his career at Fribourg Jugend but was quickly snapped up by Swiss heavyweights BSC Young Boys, the club for whom he would go on to keep 45 clean sheets in 154 games.
These impressive figures prompted RB Leipzig to sign the young goalkeeper in a deal worth £4.5 million two seasons ago.
Mvogo hasn't actually made much of an impact in the Bundesliga since his arrival, with RB Leipzig preferring to keep faith with Hungarian shot-stopper, Peter Gulacsi.
However, he has been a regular starter in the Europa League, a tournament in which he has kept 2 clean sheets in 12 games (including the qualifying rounds).
He makes our youthful Nations League Dream Team by default since there are no other goalkeepers under the age of 24 on display during the inaugural semi-final clashes, but that's not to say he isn't a decent prospect. He has quick reflexes, nice distribution, and is a determined and committed individual to have between the sticks.
There is no current transfer speculation surrounding this player, so Leipzig fans can expect to have him back at the club next season, and we are sure he'll continue to put pressure on Gulacsi for that coveted number one jersey.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold, 20, England & Liverpool
Liverpudlian, Trent Alexander-Arnold has been an absolute revelation since breaking into Jurgen Klopp's starting-eleven at Anfield during the 16/17 PL season. He has been on the books at the club since he was a young boy and is, without doubt, one of the best players to have emerged from their academy in recent years.
The pacey right-back is coming off the back of an absolutely incredible season. His Liverpool side was unlucky not to pick up an EPL title, (losing out to Manchester City by one point on the final day), but quickly put the disappointment to bed when they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 0 to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy last Saturday evening.
Alexander-Arnold ended the season with 16 assists in 40 games (in all competitions), and was instrumental in Liverpool's remarkable Champions League semi-final comeback against Barcelona, a game in which it was the Liverpudlian's quick-thinking from a corner that set up the winning goal in a 4-3 second-leg reversal.
He has since gone on to oust Tottenham's Kieran Trippier from the England squad and will have his eyes firmly set on Kyle Walker's number two jersey.
There is no transfer news regarding this player. He is at his home town club, has just lifted the biggest prize in club football, and would likely set back any potential suitors a cool £130 million - truly one of global football's next superstars.
Left-back: Ben Chilwell, 22, England & Leicester City
Ben Chilwell emerged from Leicester City's academy. Following a successful stint on loan at Huddersfield Town during the 15/16 season, the pacey defender was called back to the King Power Stadium and set the challenge of making the left-back position his own.
Since then, the young Englishman has been in steady ascension, and his performances for both Leicester City and England have earned him many admirers... and not just in the UK.
The 22-year-old is a constant performer up and down the left flank, and he gives both his club and international side a lot of energy in both attack and defense.
Chilwell is a disciplined player who doesn't pick up many cards. He also reads the game well and is a good interceptor of the ball. He can still look to improve on his tackle-success rate (56%) but that hasn't stopped him catching the eye of some of the biggest clubs in world football this season.
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United and even Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid have all been linked with him since the transfer window reopened, so his future, post-Nations League, is anyone's guess at this point...
Center-back: Manuel Akanji, 23, Switzerland & Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund's Manuel Akanji is fresh off the back of an outstanding campaign with the German club. He was brought to Signal Aduna Park from FC Basel during the 17/18 transfer window and has gone on to become a key part of the side's recent successes.
He is a strong and powerful presence at the back but there is plenty more to his game than just that - Akanji boasts a pass success rate of 92.9% in the Bundesliga this season and is an intelligent player who reads the game well.
He has already made 15 appearances for the Swiss national side, and he will be hoping to help the team to Nations League glory this month after narrowly missing out on the Bundesliga after his side, Dortmund, crumbled under the pressure of a chasing Bayern Munich outfit during the final months.
Akanji himself has come out and stated his desire to one day play at Old Trafford, and he would be a marked improvement on most of the center-halves currently at the Manchester club. However, there have been no links in the press regarding such a transfer, so it's more than likely he'll be lining up in yellow and black for the Dortmund faithful again next season.
Might be worth keeping an eye on though...
Center-back: Matthijs De Ligt, 19, Netherlands & Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax's captain marvel is fresh off the back of an outstanding campaign with the Dutch giants. He has been at the club since his early days, has cleaned up all major personal honors on offer to a young player at Ajax, and is the youngest debutant to don the famous orange shirt of the Netherlands since 1945.
This season, De Ligt captained his Ajax side to a league and cup double in Holland, and was unfortunate to miss out on a Champions League final, with only the brilliance of an inspired Lucas, who scored a hat-trick for Spurs in the semi-final, keeping him from taking the field at the Wanda Metropolitano to duel with compatriot Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool for a shot at Europe's biggest prize.
He is quite simply the most sought-after defender in world football this summer. His all-action displays at the back, coupled with his leadership abilities and commanding presence - especially at such a young age - have helped shape him into one of football's global stars already.
De Ligt has been linked with a host of European giants already this summer, and it appears that Ajax is prepared to let him leave. The only question that remains is where he will end up: Barcelona? Manchester United? Liverpool? Juventus? Real Madrid? Only the young lad himself knows the answer to that...
Midfield: Frenkie De Jong, 21, Netherlands & Barcelona
Another product of Ajax's famous youth academy, Frenkie De Jong is expected to star during the Netherlands' Nations League matches this month.
Likened to Sergio Busquets (the man many feel he was purchased to replace), this composed Dutch midfielder is expected to go on to become one of world football's brightest stars, meaning Barcelona was more than willing to cough up the £67.50 million transfer fee Ajax demanded for his signature.
He was a near ever-present for de Godenzonen as they fought their way to a league and cup double, and is one of those players who always seems to have time on the ball, rarely gives possession away, and is much feistier than his angelic demeanor suggests.
Definitely one to watch tomorrow night when England do battle with the Netherlands.
Right-wing: Jadon Sancho, 19, England & Borussia Dortmund
Second only to Kylian Mbappe, Jadon Sancho was involved in more goals than any other young star across all of Europe's top leagues this season. Dortmund snapped him up for peanuts when he opted not to renew his contract at Manchester City, and he has done nothing but set the world alight since.
He scored 12 goals and assisted 17 in the Bundesliga this season, and put in some very accomplished displays on the right flank in the Champions League, too.
Gareth Southgate gave him his first full cap for England just last year and, along with Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi, Sancho is expected to become the key creative outlet in an England side that has so often lacked exactly that.
His pace, change of acceleration, trickery, vision, and sheer numbers have prompted Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United into action, and they are reported to have made an approach for him earlier in the summer.
However, it seems that Sancho is keen to play in the Champions League and has no interest in joining another EPL club, so it's expected that he will line up in black and yellow again next season, fortunately for Dortmund fans.
Midfield: Ruben Neves, 22, Portugal & Wolverhampton Wanderers
Ruben Neves was a huge part of the success story that was Wolverhampton Wanderers' EPL campaign during the 18/19 season. Signed from FC Porto for a now bargain £9 million, his composure on the ball, ability to read the game, long-range shooting, and positional sense was key to Wolves' 7th place finish in their first season back in the top flight.
The 22-year-old has already made 10 appearances for the Portuguese national side and is expected to appear against Switzerland later this evening.
Though we did give due consideration to England's Declan Rice for this position, it was decided that Neves' superior creative prowess and ability to score spectacular goals should see him make the final cut ahead of his EPL counterpart.
There have been tentative links with Manchester United during the early stages of this transfer window, but we expect to see Neves lining up alongside countrymen Joao Moutinho, Diogo Jota, Rui Patricio, et al at Molineux once again next season.
Center-forward: Marcus Rashford, 21, England & Manchester United
It seems the young Mancunian has been with us forever already. He broke into the Manchester United first-team set-up under former manager Louis Van Gaal four seasons ago and hasn't looked back since.
Like most of the Red Devils squad, Marcus Rashford endured a difficult campaign at Old Trafford but there is no doubting that he remains one of the brightest prospects in European football.
He scored 10 and assisted 7 times in 33 appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side during the 18/19 EPL campaign, meaning the young forward was directly involved in a goal every other match. He has also managed to grab 6 goals for England since his debut almost 3 years ago.
There were other potential players I looked at with regards to the center-forward position in this dream team of Nations League starlets (Diogo Jota & Breel Embolo) but the truth is that Marcus Rashford, despite having a below-par season due to injury (and the poor form of just about everyone at the club), is still the most exciting talent and does boast the best stats.
There have been tentative transfer rumors linking the skillful forward with a move to Barcelona but we don't see much happening with regards to them: the lad is a Manc and he is playing at the club of his dreams, so it's likely he'll be wearing the famous red and white again next season.
Attacking-midfield: Joao Felix, 19, Portugal & Benfica
Joao Felix, once released from FC Porto's youth academy for 'being too small,' is currently the hottest young star on the market, and for good reason: he was instrumental in Benfica's Liga NOS title-winning campaign, scoring 15 goals and assisting 9 in just 26 matches, meaning he directly influences the score every 97 minutes - not bad for your breakthrough season!
He is hotly tipped to make his competitive debut for the Portuguese national side during tonight's match against Switzerland, and there are likely to be scouts from a host of Europe's biggest club sides taking note.
The 19-year-old, who is capable of playing on the right-flank or through the middle as a number ten, has been linked with just about every force in football since the onset of the transfer window; and it does seem that Benfica are willing to listen to offers so long as they reach his release clause of £120 million.
Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Juventus are among the clubs reported to be chasing his signature.
Left-wing: Steven Bergwijn, 21, Netherlands & PSV Eindhoven
Not an awful lot was known about Steven Bergwijn outside of his native Holland up until this past season, but some impressive performances for a PSV Eindhoven side, who came so close to lifting the Eredivisie title, have put him on the radar of both clubs and fans around Europe.
The pacey right-footed winger likes to operate on the left flank, where he is able to use his dribbling skills to cut inside to shoot or create chances for teammates. But, he is effective in any attacking position due to his technical ability on the ball, shooting skills, and change of pace.
He will more than likely make an appearance for the Netherlands during tomorrow's match against England and don't be surprised to see Manchester United scouts in the crowd, with the club looking at him as a potential successor to Alexis Sanchez (should he leave) on the left wing.
Here is our final XI:
Think you can do better? Is Rice a better prospect than Neves? Have your say in the comments section below:
