Who boasts the best squad eligible for the Euro U21 championships this summer?

While nations across the continent are kicking off their qualifying campaigns the U21 tournament lineup has already been established, with some notable omissions in the form of Portugal and Netherlands.

While there a number of players eligible (born on or after January 1st 2016) for the finals in Italy that have already been fast tracked into their senior sides, we’ve taken a look at the strongest available XIs of the five favourites based on WhoScored.com ratings across league and European competitions.

France U21 - 7.14 average rating

Nimes’ keeper Paul Bernardoni is the usual number one for les Bleus U21 side and the highest rated player eligible for the spot between the posts. Captain Abdou Diallo is in at left-back, with Dortmund club mate Dan-Axel Zagadou at the heart of the back four alongside RB Leipzig’s Ibrahima Konate despite the two teenagers not yet being called up for the U21s - highlighting the wealth of talent at coach Sylvain Ripoli’s disposal.

The same is true of Nantes’ Enock Kwateng, who claims our right back spot while there are some big names that miss out at the back - including senior internationals Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez - based on this season’s ratings.

Lyon duo Houssem Aouar and Tanguy NDombele form an impressive central midfield pairing, keeping out the likes of teammate Lucas Tousart, Marseille’s Maxime Lopez and Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi.

The attack, however, is even more frightening - with Nice’s Allan Saint-Maximin and Guingamp’s Marcus Thuram very much overshadowed by Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe. Neither will drop down to the U21s in the summer, of course, but it just goes to show the quality available to both Ripoli and senior coach Didier Deschamps.

England U21 - 7.02 average rating

Saints stopper Angus Gunn has had to bide his time for his chance at club level but appears to have a grasp on the number one spot for now. Having only looked at top-flight ratings the 23-year-old has no competition and it’s at the back where the Three Lions look weakest in that regard, despite some strong youngsters playing regularly in the Championship.

Joe Gomez is the only natural centre-back available to have made five or more Premier League appearances that is eligible, partnered in our XI by the versatile Mason Holgate - now on loan at West Brom but having made five appearances at centre-back for Everton early in the season. The full-back options are significantly stronger, however, with Ben Chilwell taking the spot on the left and Aaron Wan-Bissaka getting in ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right, proving just how well stocked England are in that position.

Dele Alli is still of an age to represent the U21s this summer and is partnered in midfield by debutant hopeful Declan Rice, while like France the young lions’ real strength is in attack.

James Maddison takes the number ten role in our side, flanked by teen sensations Jadon Sancho and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Meanwhile Marcus Rashford leads the line to complete a line-up that may not come together in Italy this summer but offers a huge amount of hope for the future.

Germany U21 - 7.00 average rating

While the future of the German gloves will be in safe hands with Marc-Andre ter Stegen for some time, there is somewhat of a gap when it comes to emerging keepers as far as Die Mannschaft are concerned, with Schalke’s Alexander Nubel claiming the spot almost by default.

At the back Leipzig’s Lukas Klostermann may well be utilised in the summer despite just earning his first senior cap, while Maximilian Mittelstadt of Hertha Berlin gets the spot on the opposite side of the defence. There are two notable omissions elsewhere in the backline in the form of Thilo Kehrer and Jonathan Tah - both of whom are in Jogi Low’s senior side - with Gladbach teenager Louis Beyer and Hertha’s Jordan Torunarigha earning higher ratings this season.

Kai Havertz and Maximilian Eggestein could also feasibly drop down to the U21s in the summer having also been involved in the latest senior squad, with Hoffenheim’s Nadiem Amiri completing a midfield three.

Again, the three man attack eligible for the German’s is extremely strong on paper, with Timo Werner flanked by Leroy Sane and Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt, all of whom have been in the first team set up for some time.

Spain U21 - 6.97 average rating

La Roja won’t need a ‘next big thing’ goalkeeper for some time given the ages of both David de Gea and Kepa Arrizabalaga but as far as the U21 championships are concerned it’s certainly not a position of strength. Unai Simon of Athletic Club is first choice and gets a spot in our XI despite a modest rating to say the least this season.

By contrast Luis de la Fuente’s side are extremely well stocked when it comes to left-backs, with PSV’s Angelino getting the nod ahead of Mainz’s Aaron Martin and Real Madrid’s Sergio Reguilon. Bordeaux’s Sergi Palencia takes the spot on the right, while captain Jesus Vallejo hasn’t played enough this season at Real Madrid to qualify. As a result Athletic Club’s Unai Nunez is partnered by uncapped Leganes defender Rodrigo Tarin.

Unlike the three sides before, Spain’s strength in this XI is in midfield, with Atletico’s Rodrigo anchoring a trio alongside Napoli’s Fabian Ruiz - forced to withdraw from a potential senior debut this week - and Dinamo Zagreb’s Dani Olmo, who has been superb in this season’s Europa League.

Marco Asensio takes an unfamiliar false nine role due to a lack of central striking options despite a disappointing season with Real Madrid, with los Blancos loanee Oscar Rodriguez also starting out of his favoured central position on the left, and Celta’s Brais Mendez completing the front three.

Italy U21 - 6.87 average rating

Some way back on their top competition here, Italy still boast an eligible squad with plenty of top-flight experience, not least in the form of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who faces stern competition from Alex Meret.

AC Milan teammate Davide Calabria is a regular feature at right-back, with Parma’s Federico Dimarco - on loan from Inter - on the opposite flank. Atalanta’s Gianluca Mancini may well star in the defence for the host nation this summer despite receiving his first senior call-up and is partnered by SPAL’s Kevin Bonifazi.

The midfield trio - like Spain’s - looks like a real strength of the Azzurri’s U21s as far as those eligible are concerned, involving senior internationals Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Pellegrini alongside AC Milan loanee Manuel Locatelli.

The front three isn’t too shabby either, made up entirely of players in Roberto Mancini’s latest first team squad, with Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo and Fiorentina’s Federico Chiesa in the wide berths. Meanwhile Juventus youngster Moise Kean just gets the spot up front ahead of AC Milan’s Patrick Cutrone, both of whom have seen playing time understandably restricted by new arrivals this season.