The ten greatest Euros debuts

As England defeated Wales at the death last week, in the clash of Britain over in Lens, it became somewhat overlooked that young striker Marcus Rashford made his competitive debut in the competition. The starlet impressed in the limelight, but how does he compare to those before him?

Total Sport was intrugued, so we decided to take a look at some of the best debutants of the European Championships, to see how some of the household names made their first impression upon the big stage. Here's our pick of the ten best:

10. CRISTIANO RONALDO - Portugal - Euro 2004

The prodigious 19-year-old announced his Euros arrival by coming off the bench to head his first goal of the competition, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the hosts going down to a surprise 2-1 defeat to Greece. Ronaldo broke into Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team during the tournament and headed the winner against Netherlands in the semi-finals. But his competition would end where it started, with a shock defeat to winners Greece in the final.

9. MARCOS SENNA - Spain - Euro 2008

The Brazil-born midfielder played a vital role in Spain getting the monkey of their back and ushering in six years of complete dominance. The Villarreal midfielder would later be replaced by Sergio Busquets, but Senna’s midfield dominance provided the solidity from which Xavi was set free to turn in the sort of performances that earned the Barcelona man the prize for player of the tournament.

8. MILAN BAROS - Czech Republic - Euro 2004

The Liverpool hitman christened his first appearance in the tournament with a vital goal to draw his side level against Latvia and didn’t stop scoring. He found the net in all three group games, and hit two more to inspire his side comfortably past Denmark in the quarter-finals. In 2004 only the invincible Greeks could stop Baros, who was the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.

7. DAVID VILLA - Spain - Euro 2008

It was the beginning of a dynasty. 2008 saw Spain finally end their wait for a major international crown, and tournament debutant David Villa was vital. He bagged a hat-trick in their opener against Russia and hit the winner in Spain’s second group-stage clash, against Sweden. The Valencia man was the tournament’s top marksman despite missing the final.

6. WAYNE ROONEY - England - Euro 2004

Aside Cristiano Ronaldo, Euro 2004 saw another exciting 19-year-old take centre stage at his first major international tournament as a young Wayne Rooney took the competition by storm. He found the back of the net twice against Switzerland in England’s second match, and twice more in their final group game against Croatia. Unfortunately for Rooney, and England, he was forced off after 27 minutes of the quarter-final against Portugal with a foot injury and England went out on penalties.

5. MARCO VAN BASTEN - Holland - Euro 1988

Marco Van Basten began the competition as his side’s third-choice striker after an injury-ravaged club season. Coach Rinus Michels gave him a start in Netherlands’ second match and Van Basten responded with a hat-trick against England. He then scored an 88th-minute winner to eliminate hosts Germany in the semi-finals before hitting perhaps the greatest goal in the tournament’s history to gain revenge on Soviet Union in the final and claim his country’s first major title.

4. PETER SCHMEICHEL - Denmark - Euro 1992

The Danes weren’t even supposed to be there. They were called in off the beach, they said at the time, though they were always aware the war in Yugoslavia meant they could be drafted in. Peter Schmeichel made a number of fine saves on their incredible and unlikely road to glory, stopping a Van Basten penalty a semi-final shootout before keeping a clean sheet in Denmark’s historic win over Germany.

3. THIERRY HENRY - France - Euro 2000

Already a world champion, Henry and France returned in 2000 as outright favourites. Arsenal forward Henry, now 22, was tasked with taking a leading role in attack. He hit three goals in the competition and was named in the team of the tournament as a David Trezeguet golden goal gave Henry and le Bleus their first Euros since Platini.

2 - ALAN SHEARER - England - Euro 1996

Football was coming home but hosts England looked set to disappoint once again after opening the competition with a draw against Switzerland. Shearer had struggled for goals with his country, but manager Terry Venables had told him he would start no matter what. Shearer responded with five goals to claim the golden boot in what remains England’s greatest summer since 1966.

1 - MICHEL PLATINI - France - Euro 1984

The hosts sparkled on home soil thanks to the magnificence of their no.10 who came into the tournament as the reigning Ballon d’Or winner. Platini scored in all five of his side’s matches, bagging two hat-tricks to end the tournament with nine goals - six clear of the next second top-scorer and a tournament record to this day. He was, of course, named as player of the tournament.