That Italy roster is unimpressive to me. Kean and Tonali are their best players and they aren't making the trip. Outside of Poland it seems to be the worst of the European sides. With neither Italy or Japan bringing particularly strong sides, Mexico's path to the knockout round looks a lot smoother. While I'm at it, I think Senegal could be a team making a deep run. A lot of talent on the roster at some impressive European sides. Les 21 #Lionceaux qui défendront les couleurs du Sénégal à la Coupe du Monde de Football U20 sont connus.Que penses-tu de cette sélection du coach Youssou Dabo ?#U20WC #TousDesLions Karim pic.twitter.com/JqSBFuo8sP— Orange Sénégal ⭐ (@orange_sn) May 13, 2019
FIFA has announced all the squads: https://tournament.fifadata.com/documents/FWYC/2019/pdf/FWYC_2019_SQUADLISTS.PDF There's an '03 on Tahiti's roster who plays for Toulouse in France, and several '02s, including three on Senegal's team. Our first-round opponent, Nigeria, also has one '02, who was born on Jan. 1.
This tournament is coming midway through Ramadan. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Mali, and Senegal are most likely to be affected although France most likely has a number of Muslim athletes as well. Panama will benefit the most from this as all 3 of the teams they face are going to have players fasting. Depending on the school of jurisprudence they follow, athletes are not required to fast, but many still opt to do so.
I’ve just found out I’ll be in Krakow, Poland during the tournament final on the 15th of June. Does anyone have plans to go to the final? I know that Łódź is a pretty long train ride but if anyone is considering it I may be down to also go with them. Direct message me.
An interesting question: who is the best eligible player that won't be making the trip? This year it has to be Joao Felix who is the closest thing to the next Messi I've ever seen. I am so disappointed he'll be with the senior team instead.
I don't know who'd I'd compare Sancho with. He's very good and effective but to me he has an odd style that I can't remember seeing before.
Joao Felix is a better finisher than Sancho and is more comfortable in the center of the park. Sancho has more tricks up his sleeve and seems to be more of a creator. Both are £100 million+ players. If I had to pick one I’d take Felix but that’s a personal opinion.
Not watching but following the scores, now at halftime ... Mexico is tied 1-1 with Italy, and Senegal is breezing past Tahiti 2-0.
Final scores: Group A Senegal 3-0 Tahiti Next up Poland v Colombia Group B Italy 2-1 Mexico Next up Japan v Ecuador
They are using the new IFAB rules. Still looks strange to see players receiving goal kicks in the box.
Colombia takes the 1-0 lead when Ivan Angulo feasts on a poor backpass and beats the helpless keeper.
So far Colombia looks like the real deal and Ecuador doesn't. Then again the U20 CONMEBOL was very tight.
I'm interested to see how this Mexico team does. I was fairly unimpressed at the CONCACAF U20 Championships. This Mexico team didn't particularly impress me during CONCACAF qualifying, and they have a tough group. The other result (Japan and Ecuador drew) favored them, so I think they can still advance. It just doesn't look like a vintage Mexico U20 team that's capable of winning the whole thing.
When have they ever really looked like they can win the whole thing at U20 level? I can't recall. They looked completely outclassed vs Italy yesterday. The scoreline kind of flattered them.
Poland is probably only in this tournament because they are the hosts. They looked incapable of mounting any threat on offense. The game was equally inept until Poland just gifted a goal to Colombia. I would wait and see how good Colombia is. Recent history points to them being good, but I don't think anyone could conclude that based on this game. Colombia had one wild shot that was off target before they got the goal, they really weren't doing much.
Well, I think they could have last time. [Frankly, we could have last time.] Mexico was eliminated in the quarterfinals by eventual champion England in a really close 1-0 game. The US lost in extra time to the other finalist, Venezuela. The best Mexico U20 team of recent vintage was 2011. They could easily have won the whole thing, but finished in 3rd place (beating France 3-1 in that 3rd place game.)
Probably should have worded the post better. Ecuador was champion and Colombia fourth place so it's actually a post about not concluding anything yet.
Qatar seems to be resting some key guys (based on the @zlebmada podcast) and is already down 1-0 to Nigeria. I guess they're surrendering this game and will probably bring their best squad against Ukraine, their best chance at points. New Zealand is beating the brakes off of Honduras. Honduras better figure it out because Uruguay and Norway might be tougher opponents.
Now it's 2-0 Nigeria with about 25 min. to go. Nigeria look mostly in control but not invulnerable. Their big striker, Tijani I believe, looks (on very limited viewing) like one of those "crazy legs" types who could do very little for a long time and then pull off some ridiculous triple move and break your heart. EDIT: Nigeria scored again. Zwetsloot yet to play for NZ.
4-0 leads for both New Zealand and Nigeria. Not surprising that both are winning but it does cement Qatar and Honduras in 4th place in their groups
I agree that we have to wait to see how the Group shapes up to make any conclusions. But Colombia had to deal with something the other teams did not.... ... they had to play in a full house crowd against the host. They showed some nerves just like anyone would in that situation and prevailed. Cannot wait to see how they play against Senegal. Should be a great match.
Portugal is up 1-0 but still struggling to break down a determined South Korea side. Regardless of talent it can be difficult to play against a disciplined opponent at the U20 level.