Five up-and-coming players looking to make mark in Nations League

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, September 26, 2026

Several European national teams are integrating young talents like Germany’s Lennart Karl, the Netherlands’ Ruben van Bommel, Italy’s Alessandro Romano, Greece’s Charalampos Kostoulas, and France’s Lucas Da Cunha as the UEFA Nations League resumes. These players are expected to play crucial roles under new or continuing coaches, marking a transitional phase aimed at revitalizing their teams ahead of future international competitions.

As the UEFA Nations League resumes, several emerging talents across Europe are poised to make significant impacts on the international stage. This international break presents a valuable opportunity for new players to solidify their roles within their national teams, particularly under recently appointed high-profile coaches.

Germany’s squad, led by new manager Juergen Klopp, features 18-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder Lennart Karl. Despite an injury setback that excluded him from the World Cup squad, Karl has already earned three caps and is viewed as a potential key playmaker as Germany looks to recover from a disappointing World Cup campaign. He is expected to feature prominently in Germany’s upcoming matches against the Netherlands and Greece.

The Netherlands will also showcase fresh talent in the form of Ruben van Bommel, the 22-year-old winger from PSV Eindhoven. The son of former Dutch international and current Belgium coach Mark van Bommel, Ruben earned his first senior call-up under new Oranje head coach Xavi Hernandez. His recent form—contributing two goals and four assists in nine matches this season—has placed him in contention for his debut, potentially starting in the much-anticipated clash against Germany.

Italy is turning to youth as it seeks to revive its fortunes after missing qualification for the last three World Cups. Twenty-year-old Alessandro Romano, a midfielder on loan at Serie A club Cagliari from Roma, has earned his first call-up to Roberto Mancini’s squad. Born in Switzerland to Italian parents, Romano switched allegiance from his birth country’s youth teams to Italy. He could make his debut in Italy’s home game against Belgium as the national side looks to rebuild support and competitiveness.

Greece is banking on 19-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas, a promising talent who has recently impressed in England’s Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion. Kostoulas has contributed both goals and assists in his last two league games, including a key role in Brighton’s 3-0 victory over Arsenal. With four international caps already, he aims to strengthen his position as Greece begins its Nations League campaign against Serbia.

France, under newly appointed coach Zinedine Zidane, has called up 25-year-old Lucas Da Cunha, a central midfielder and captain at Como in Italy’s Serie A. Though not as young as other newcomers, Da Cunha’s steady development and leadership have been critical to Como’s rise to the Champions League. His perseverance paid off with a call from Zidane, who is assembling his first squad since succeeding Didier Deschamps as head coach.

These five players embody the fresh talent emerging in European football during a period of transition for many national teams. Their performances in the upcoming Nations League matches will be closely watched as they vie to secure long-term places in their respective squads.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.