Fabulous five of Euro Cup

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Alan Dzagoev, Jordi Alba, Mario Mandzukic, Mats Hummels and Vaclav Pilar are not names many fans will have fancied for their Euro 2012 fantasy team a month ago.

But the five — united by youthful exuberance and dazzling performances — have used the tournament at Poland and Ukraine as a perfect platform to showcase their talent.

Major clubs in Europe may be casting an envious eye on these precocious talents who have travelled from obscurity to headlines in the space of three weeks.
Here is the lowdown on the fabulous five.

Alan Dzagoev: The find of Euro 2012, the 22-year-old CSCK Moscow forward is destined for greater achievements.

For his age, Dzagoev showed excellent composure in the final third to score three goals. He came inches away from scoring an equaliser against Greece that would have kept Russia in the tournament. Don’t be surprised if the versatile and dynamic Dzagoev is snapped up by a big club before the new European season.

Jordi Alba: At 22, he is the baby of the star-studded Spanish squad but has outshone many of his established colleagues.

The Valencia left-back has caught the eye of fans — and Barcelona — with his rampaging runs and productive passing.

His performances have been so assured that it is difficult to believe that Euro 2012 is his first major tournament.

Alba unlocked the French defence with a fine cut-back for Xabi Alonso’s opener in the quarter-final and he nearly precluded the shootout against Portugal with a sumptuous pass that Andres Iniesta squandered in extra time. The fullback, measuring 1.65m, is a giant in the making.

Mario Mandzukic: Everybody was talking about the Italian Mario but it were the Marios of Croatia and Germany that took centre stage at the Euros.

Mandzukic has already reaped the rewards for his stellar show and three goals. He has sealed a move to Bayern Munich where he will partner the other Mario (Gomez) up front.

The Croatian can lead the line alone, co-exist with a forward in a 4-4-2 setup or support others from the wings. He also has the height to dominate aerial battles.

Mats Hummels: Composed and confident, the German centre-back has been a revelation. Hummels, 23, has been enjoying such a fine tournament that the absence of Per Mertesacker has become irrelevant.

It was Mertesacker’s lack of fitness that opened the doors for Hummels’ entry into the heart of Germany’s defence.

Joachim Loew resisted temptations to go for the experience of Mertesacker and his gamble has paid off.

Hummels, a member of Dortmund’s exciting young squad, is not a typical dour defender who boots and heads the ball away like a beast. He can dribble the ball with the confidence of a masterful midfielder.

Vaclav Pilar: With the old guard in the Czech Republic ranks set for retirement, the pint-sized midfielder will become a key man for his country.

He scored two goals and offered glimpses of his precocious talent with his trickery on the left wing.

Has the ideal build with low centre of gravity and technique to become the Czech Republic’s creative fulcrum. Pilar’s eye for goals is a bonus. You will hear a lot about this 23-year-old Wolfsburg star.