The Oldest, Youngest, Most Capped Players At Euro 2020

Sally Polly June 13, 2021 | 01:15

The much awaited Euro 2020 is around the corner and the national team managers have announced their squads for the tournament. Keep reading to know more about the oldest, youngest and most capped players at the tournament.

Photo: UEFA

Ronaldo is already the holder of the record for the most games played at theEuro finals with 21, and he will be participating in his fifth tournament.

Belgium not only take their top ranking into the European Championship but they will also be the most experienced of the campaigners at the tournament, which kicks off on Friday. Their 26-man squad has a total of 1,338 caps - an average of more than 50 per player and underlining the experience of Roberto Martinez’s team.

Four squad members have already racked up 100 caps, and winger Dries Mertens will win his 99th cap if he lines up as expected against Russia in St Petersburg on Saturday, when the two countries get their Group B campaign underway.

Another 19 players at the tournament have passed the milestone of 100 caps, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, who made his 175th appearance for Portugal on Wednesday in their last warm-up win over Israel.

He also increased his goal tally to 104, moving closer to becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in men's international football.

Ronaldo is already the holder of the record for the most games played at the Euro finals with 21, and he will be participating in his fifth tournament.

The youngest squads at Euro 2020

Photo: Getty Images

The youngest squad in the tournament is Luis Enrique's Spain national team with an average age of 24.1 years. Barcelona midfielder Pedri is the youngest player on the team at 18 years old. Meanwhile, fellow Blaugrana teammates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are the oldest players in the squad at age 32. Notable absentees in the squad include Ansu Fati and Sergio Ramos.

Turkey are a close second with a squad average age of 24.6 years. The Turks boast a wide range of star power in the likes of Merih Demiral, Zeki Celik, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Çağlar Söyüncü, Ozan Kabak, and captain Burak Yilmez.

Gareth Southgate's England squad, with an average age of 24.8 years, is just behind the Turkish national team. Former Birmingham City teen sensation Jude Bellingham is the youngest player called up for Euro 2020 by Southgate at age 17. Other prominent young stars include Phil Foden (21), Jadon Sancho (21), Bukayo Saka (19), Mason Mount (22), and defensive midfielder Declan Rice (22).

The oldest squads at Euro 2020

Photo: Getty Images

Roberto Martinez's Belgium and Zlatan-less Sweden teams are the oldest squads in this edition of the European championship.

Belgium's squad, with a combined age of 28.7 years and 1300+ national caps among themselves, is the most experienced side at Euro 2020. Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens, Axel Witsel, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are all well into their 30s. Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois are in their late 20s.

This could also be the last chance for the golden generation of Belgian football to stake a claim at silverware. Belgium will face Finland, Denmark and Russia in the group stage of the Euro 2020.

Sweden are just days behind Belgium in compiling the tournament's most experienced team. Janne Andersson's squad will be without their greatest player of all time- Zlatan Ibrahimović as the 39-year-old opted out due to a knee injury.

This could be an opportunity for Dejan Kulusevski to take center stage for his country. The 21-year old is already an integral figure for Juventus. Regarded as a hardworking player, physically strong, and versatile, Kulusevski is capable of playing in several positions in midfield and attack.

Poland's Kacper Kozłowski is the youngest player to be called up for Euro 2020. Meanwhile, former Real Madrid and current Portugal central defender Pepe holds the distinction of being the oldest outfield player to be named in the 26-man squad.

Had Zlatan been fit for the Euro 2020, it could have been a possibility for him to become the oldest outfield player to feature in the tournament beating Lothar Matthäus' record at 39 years 91 days.

Meanwhile, if there is one age-related record that is likely to be broken it has to be England's youngest player to ever feature in the Euros. Jude Bellingham, who doesn't turn 18 before 29th June, could break his teammate Marcus Rashford's record for the youngest appearance holder for the Three Lions at 18 years and 229 days.

UEFA EURO 2020: Groups

The countdown to UEFA EURO 2020 is well and truly on, with 24 teams set to vie for the trophy between 11 June and 11 July.

Group A: Turkey, Italy, Wales, Switzerland

Group B: Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Russia

Group C: Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, North Macedonia

Group D: England, Croatia, Scotland, Czech Republic

Group E: Spain, Sweden, Poland, Slovakia

Group F: Hungary, Portugal, France, Germany

UEFA EURO 2020: fixtures

Group stage

Friday 11 June

Group A: Turkey 0 Italy 3

Saturday 12 June - today's fixtures

Group A: Wales 1 Switzerland 1 (14:00, Baku, BBC) Group B: Denmark vs Finland - LIVE (17:00, Copenhagen, BBC) Group B: Belgium vs Russia (20:00, St Petersburg, ITV)

Sunday 13 June

Group D: England vs Croatia (14:00, London, BBC) Group C: Austria vs North Macedonia (17:00, Bucharest, ITV) Group C: Holland vs Ukraine (20:00, Amsterdam, ITV)

Monday 14 June

Group D: Scotland vs Czech Republic (14:00, Glasgow, BBC) Group E: Poland vs Slovakia (17:00, Dublin, ITV) Group E: Spain vs Sweden (20:00, Seville, BBC)

Tuesday 15 June

Group F: Hungary vs Portugal (17:00, Budapest, ITV) Group F: France vs Germany (20:00, Munich, ITV)

Wednesday 16 June

Group B: Finland vs Russia (14:00, St Petersburg, BBC) Group A: Turkey vs Wales (15:00, Baku, BBC) Group A: Italy vs Switzerland (20:00, Rome, ITV)

Thursday 17 June

Group C: Ukraine vs North Macedonia (14:00, Bucharest, ITV) Group B: Denmark vs Belgium (17:00, Copenhagen, ITV) Group C: Holland vs Austria (20:00, Amsterdam, BBC)

Friday 18 June

Group E: Sweden vs Slovakia (14:00, St Petersburg, BBC) Group D: Croatia vs Czech Republic (17:00, Glasgow, BBC) Group D: England vs Scotland (20:00, London, ITV)

Saturday 19 June

Group F: Hungary vs France (14:00, Budapest, BBC) Group F: Portugal vs Germany (17:00, Munich, ITV) Group E: Spain vs Poland (20:00, Seville, BBC)

Sunday 20 June

Group A: Italy vs Wales (15:00, Rome, ITV) Group A: Switzerland vs Turkey (17:00, Baku, ITV)

Monday 21 June

Group C: North Macedonia vs Holland (17:00, Amsterdam, ITV) Group C: Ukraine vs Austria (17:00, Bucharest, ITV) Group B: Russia vs Denmark (20:00, Copenhagen, BBC) Group B: Finland vs Belgium (20:00, St Petersburg, BBC)

Tuesday 22 June

Group D: Czech Republic vs England (20:00, London, ITV) Group D: Croatia vs Scotland (20:00, Glasgow, ITV)

Wednesday 23 June

Group E: Slovakia vs Spain (17:00, Seville, ITV) Group E: Sweden vs Poland (17:00, St Petersburg, ITV) Group F: Germany vs Hungary (20:00, Munich, BBC) Group F: Portugal v France (20:00, Budapest, BBC)

Knockout phase

Round of 16

Saturday 26 June

1: 2A vs 2B (17:00, Amsterdam) 2: 1A vs 2C (20:00, London)

Sunday 27 June

3: 1C vs 3D/E/F (17:00, Budapest) 4: 1B vs 3A/D/E/F (20:00, Seville)

Monday 28 June

5: 2D vs 2E (17:00, Copenhagen) 6: 1F vs 3A/B/C (20:00, Bucharest)

Tuesday 29 June

7: 1D vs 2F (17:00, London) 8: 1E vs 3A/B/C/D (20:00, Glasgow)

Quarter-finals

Friday 2 July

QF1: Winner 6 vs Winner 5 (17:00, St Petersburg) QF2: Winner 4 vs Winner 2 (20:00, Munich)

Saturday 3 July

QF3: Winner 3 vs Winner 1 (17:00, Baku) QF4: Winner 8 vs Winner 7 (20:00, Rome)

Semi-finals

Tuesday 6 July

SF1: Winner QF2 vs Winner QF1 (20:00, London)

Wednesday 7 July

SF2: Winner QF4 vs Winner QF3 (20:00, London)

Final

Sunday 11 July

Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 (20:00, London)

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