Who to watch: 1 star from every team at the European U-21 Championship

There will be plenty of exceptional young talent on display in Poland over the coming weeks, as some of the world's top youngsters convene for the European Under-21 Championship. Organised by group, we pick out one player to watch from each of the 12 sides taking part in the competition.

England: Tammy Abraham

• Club: Chelsea
• Age: 19
• Position: Striker

The angular attacker comes into the tournament on the back of a fantastic season with Bristol City, where the Chelsea loanee found the back of the net 26 times in all competitions. Abraham, who looks likely to be sent out on loan to a Premier League side ahead of the coming season, will serve as the focal point of Aidy Boothroyd's side, leading the line as the Young Lions look to win the competition for the first time since 1984.

Slovakia: Laszlo Benes

• Club: Borussia Monchengladbach
• Age: 19
• Position: Attacking midfielder

Slovakia's crown jewel, Laszlo Benes is being hailed as the heir to Marek Hamsik - high praise, indeed - and will get a chance to showcase his versatile skill set as he anchors the Slovak midfield in Poland. Benes, who pairs a powerful shot with superb passing ability, was used sparingly at Borussia Monchengladbach this season, but will be the star of the show for Pavel Hapal's unfancied side.

Poland: Bartosz Kapustka

• Club: Leicester City
• Age: 20
• Position: Winger

Though he struggled to make an impact - or get any playing time, really - during his first season at Leicester City, winger Bartosz Kapustka will be relied upon heavily as host nation Poland looks to make a splash at the European U-21 Championship. Together with forward Dawid Kownacki - who has been compared to Robert Lewandowski in some circles - Kapustka, who already has senior team caps to his name, will look to be the impetus behind the Polish attack.

Sweden: Niclas Eliasson

• Club: Norrkoping
• Age: 21
• Position: Winger

Sweden, the defending European Under-21 champion, could have a tough time reaching the semi-finals of the competition given the expanded format; only one runner-up from the three groups will make it to the knockout stage, meaning the Swedes will need to either top England in Group A, or pip the likes of Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Germany for the last spot in the final four. For Hakan Ericson's side to have a chance, electric Norrkoping winger Niclas Eliasson, who is leading the Allsvenskan with eight assists in just 13 matches so far this season, will need to dominate.

Portugal: Ruben Neves

• Club: Porto
• Age: 20
• Position: Central midfielder

The forgotten man of the Portuguese youth movement. Ruben Neves was billed as the midfielder that would lead the Selecao for years to come when, as an 18-year-old back in 2015, he became the youngest player to ever wear the captain's armband in a Champions League match. The Porto midfielder may have been surpassed on the hierarchy by teenage teammate Renato Sanches, but Neves, comfortable operating in a holding role but also able to get forward from central midfield, will be crucial if Portugal is to pip Spain to first place in Group B.

Macedonia: Enis Bardhi

• Club: Ujpest
• Age: 21
• Position: Attacking midfielder

Debutant Macedonia comes into the competition as a heavy underdog, despite an impressive qualifying campaign that saw Blagoja Milevski's side lose just once in 10 matches, beating out European behemoth France for top spot in its group. Enis Bardhi, an attacking midfielder with a penchant for finding the back of the net - he scored 12 goals for Hungarian side Ujpest this past season - already has six senior team caps, and will need to bring his scoring boots if the Macedonians are to make a splash in Poland.

Spain: Marco Asensio

• Club: Real Madrid
• Age: 21
• Position: Attacking midfielder / winger

Arguably the premier player in the competition. Asensio, who has already broken through at Real Madrid and established himself as a key contributor for Zinedine Zidane, looks destined for superstardom. A dribbling wizard who can play multiple attacking positions, the 21-year-old leads a ridiculously talented Spain side that is expected by many to capture this trophy for a record-equaling fifth time.

Serbia: Andrija Zivkovic

• Club: Benfica
• Age: 20
• Position: Winger

Expectations are high for an exciting winger who has already accomplished plenty in his young career. Zivkovic holds the Serbian record as the youngest player to ever win a cap with the senior national team - he was just 17 years old - and was the star performer for a Serbia side that captured the U-20 World Cup title in 2015. Despite his tender age, he served as captain of Partizan Belgrade before making the move to Benfica last summer. Not bad, kid.

Czech Republic: Patrik Schick

• Club: Sampdoria
• Age: 21
• Position: Striker

The young forward was the top scorer in qualifying for this tournament with 10 tallies, and his exploits in front of goal extended into his campaign with Sampdoria; the Sparta Prague youth product bagged 11 goals this past season, putting his supreme technical ability on display regularly. A strike against Crotone in April, eerily reminiscent of Dennis Bergkamp's trademark tally, was the standout, and that type of skill is part of the reason he's reportedly on the verge of a €30-million move to Juventus.

Denmark: Marcus Ingvartsen

• Club: FC Nordsjaelland
• Age: 21
• Position: Centre-forward

A sleeper pick for top scorer in the tournament, Denmark's physically imposing forward has been finding the net regularly for both club and country; Ingvarsten led the Danish Superliga with 23 goals this past season, and struck eight times in just six qualifying matches for this competition.

Germany: Serge Gnabry

• Club: Bayern Munich
• Age: 21
• Position: Wide midfielder/winger

The German squad arrives in Poland rife with players which are already household names, both in the Bundesliga and beyond. Serge Gnabry is the most intriguing of the bunch. Cast aside by both Arsenal and West Brom during his time in the Premier League, the 21-year-old Stuttgart native has enjoyed an impressive past year; after leading the Olympic football tournament in scoring last summer, Gnabry hit 11 goals for Werder Bremen. His ability to find the net from his wide midfield spot convinced Bayern Munich to snap him up on a three-year deal earlier this month.

Italy: Federico Bernardeschi

• Club: Fiorentina
• Age: 23
• Position: Winger

After Spain, Italy boasts the most talented side in the competition. While a formidable backline that includes the likes of Daniele Rugani and Mattia Caldara should prove difficult to break down, this Italian squad is bursting with attacking quality. Wingers Domenico Berardi and Federico Bernardeschi highlight that group; the Fiorentina standout, a crafty dribbler whose left foot is equal parts elegant and precise, has the talent not only to be the Azzurrini's leading man, but to leave Poland as the tournament's top performer.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)