2 days ago
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Final on Saturday
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The Club World Cup isn’t the only international tournament ongoing this summer with the U21 European Championships taking place in Slovakia. It’s been an excellent tournament with some of the best young players in the world on display and it will conclude with a fascinating final between England and Germany. The European powerhouses have both lifted the trophy on three occasions and they've already met in the group stages with Germany winning 2-1.
Germany have been really impressive and they are the only nation to boast a 100% record and they were outstanding in dispatching France 3-0 in the semi-final. England were far from convincing in the group stages, progressing with just one win but they’ve defeated Spain and the Netherlands in the knockout stages. England had the most valuable squad at the U21 Euros at €402 million with Germany fourth (€257m) but who makes the most valuable combined XI from the finalists?
The most valuable England U21 and Germany U21 combined XI
The combined XI’s total market value would be €326m with four Germany players and seven from England - Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri is the most valuable player at €55m. Nwaneri forms a front three with Brajan Gruda and Nick Woltemade. The German striker has enjoyed a fantastic tournament and he’s the top scorer with six goals and he’s been linked with a €60m move to Bayern Munich. Woltemade and Harvey Elliott will be vying for the player of the tournament award and the Liverpool star forms a midfield trio with Elliott Anderson and Archie Gray.
Tottenham star Gray isn’t a starter for England at the tournament, however, with Lee Carsley preferring to play Bournemouth’s Alex Scott alongside Anderson. Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown is Germany’s sole representative in the back four with Jarrel Quansah also featuring. Quansah is expected to complete a €41m move to Bayer Leverkusen from Liverpool after the tournament. Germany’s Noah Atubolu is the goalkeeper at €18m.
