I liked Ramsak. Not sure he has crazy upside, but should make a decent player.
I think you're overrating Brunner. He's a physicaly specimen in this class age, but senior football will be much tougher because he won't be able to rely on his strength to get past similar built defensemen. I don't see him as spectacular (of course, I could be dead wrong, but that's how I see it).
He's awfully strong for a U17, but not for senior football. I'm not sold at his somewhat limited skillset reaching big upside. Don't see him reaching the german NT in senior football.
Darvich is more subtle and that kind of skill always translates to older levels if he builds up his physique. He's tall and he's going to have to find balance between getting stronger, but not slower (he's not super fast already). If he does, he could be special.
I think Germany won because of excellent coaching and organisation. Their 4 men press on France's defensive players was key in the first half.
For France, I didn't see many special players either but a few with major potential. Argney I'll refrain from talking about because I'm awfully biased obviously but also because I'm not very good at judging goalies.
Meupiyou is huge for his age, and he's good with the ball, as well as calm and composed in tense situations. However, again strong players, I'm not sure he'll be as impeccable as he was in this competition, where he was easily France's best player.
Amougou is a good energy 6, but I don't see much upside in him.
Titi, the RB, is interesting and could have upside, as his position is very weak in football.
Bouabre was ups and downs but definitely was impressive in stretches and you can see the star potential. He has to find consistency. He was spectacular last Euro. I heard he played injured so that might explain.
Fode Sylla used to be the big name of this 2005 born year but he clearly has lost a step. Talent is there, but the guy has been subpar for two straight competitions now. I don't see him turning it around now.
Mathis Lambourde had a disappointing tournament with only one goal. But he too played injured and his work back to the goal is magnificent (again in the final game). I could see him develop into a nice player.
Rest of the french team was meh, although they were lacking Tel, Doue and others obviously.
I see Meupiyou with leading L1 upside, Amougou and Titi as future L1 players, Bouabre with NT potential but also maybe just a regular L1 player and Lambourde as a top half L1 player.
Then you have guys like Sanda and Gomis who will likely see some bottom half L1 games.
I dunno how Ramsak's game will translate to the higher levels because he's not as skilled as the top 3 and his physical tools don't stand out either, but he's crafty, combative, and has a great sense for space.
And yeah, we seem to rate Brunner's skill level differently. I see high level dribbling & touch, even if he's no Musiala or Wirtz, with a phenomenal shot & excellent crossing ability. All from a kid who also happens to be a plus athlete with very good size.
Agreed about Darvich, though I won't be surprised if he pushes Wirtz & Musiala for their spots in the creative band, I'm low-key optimistic that he will move deeper...like Ilkay did at the senior level...to help link the back 4 + DM with the front 4.
It's a shame injuries took such a whack out of this squad. Ouedraogo would've been huge...especially in that second half when you guys turned it on, as his introduction turned that first match we played in the group stages of the euros, on its head...but Bence Dardai was a big miss too.
He might be the most talented of the Dardai kids, and if it weren't for Darvich I think he could've been a star for this team. He's not as slick and mobile as Darvich, but he's bigger, with a better shot, and he might be an even better long-ball passer. Dardai isn't on the same level as those top 3, but I rate him more than Herrmann or Yalcinkaya, and he's not far off Ramsak.
I have nothing but praise for the coaching staff, but our possession play was pretty poor at this tourney. If Brunner and Darvich weren't so deadly whenever we actually got the ball to them, we would've been stopped long before that final.
And we actually didn't press very high, if you rewatch the match you can see that were in more of a mid block, letting your CBs have time on the ball & instead trying to smother the passing lanes forward to Bouabre & Amougou...who didn't pop much but did play a couple nice through balls that made me take note of his name.
Meupiyou looked very good, but I get your concerns. It's why I have a tough time getting to excited by CBs until they're at the U19s and close to the senior level. Like Odogu had a very strong tournament, but I dunno how to rate him since he won't have as significant of physical advantages at the senior level and he didn't show the kind of transcendent skill or intelligence for me to get hyped despite those questions.
I'm glad Bouabre finished the tourney well even if he was more up & down than he was at the euros. Kid was a beast in that final (as well as the euros) and looks like he could be another Kone level prospect for you. I'm with you on Lambourde as well, he may have had a quiet tourney, but he really popped at the euros.
