Netherlands legend Marco van Basten namechecks one 'positive' England player when asked about possible round-of-16 opponents
Legendary Dutch striker Marco van Basten has been impressed by one English youngster at Euro 2024.
The knockout stages of the 2024 European Championships get underway this weekend as 16 of the best teams on the continent will face off to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
Despite drawing their final two matches against Denmark and Slovenia, England finished on top of group C with a total of five points.
Although the Three Lions will have to wait until Wednesday night to discover who their opponents in the first knockout stage will be, it is highly likely that they will face The Netherlands.
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And, ahead of the potential clash of the two European titans, Dutch legend Marco van Basten has had his say on his nation’s likely future opponents.
When asked if he saw in positives In England’s performance against Slovenia on Tuesday night, the Dutchman picked out Cole Palmer as a shining light in the squad.
Speaking to Dutch news outlet NOS, he said: "The young kid who came on, I don't know who he is, he showed some nice things.
“He plays a bit like we actually want to see, he attacks and takes on players.
“He is someone who (makes) you think: 'Okay!'”
The former Milan striker also named Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham as two other stars in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
Van Basten continued: “Foden, also, is of course of a similar type, and [Jude] Bellingham. Those boys should be able to play and [take on] many more players, but it all goes so slowly in that team.
“In any case, this match is not an advertisement for football.
“But that boy (Palmer) was the best on the field."
Palmer didn’t feature in either of England’s opening Euro 2024 fixtures with Serbia or Denmark, despite enjoying a breakout season with Chelsea in 2023/24.
But the 22-year-old made his first senior appearance at a major tournament for England on Tuesday night as he came off the bench against Slovenia in the 71st minute.
Despite only being on the pitch for a short time, Palmer stood out as one of England’s best players, potentially setting himself up to start Sunday’s knockout fixture.
Palmer made 48 appearances for new club Chelsea in the 2023/24 season, having joined from Manchester City in September 2023.
In this time, the youngster scored 22 Premier League goals and assisted 11, placing him second in the golden boot rankings behind former City teammate Erling Haaland.
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Topics: Euro 2024, England, Netherlands, Cole Palmer, Chelsea, Premier League, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Football
Ben McCrum