21 June - 13 July Tournament Home on FIFA.com GROUP A (Istanbul, Kayseri): France, Ghana, USA, Spain. GROUP B (Kayseri, Istanbul): Cuba, Korea Republic, Nigeria, Portugal GROUP C (Trabzon, Rize, Gaziantep): Turkey, El Salvador, Colombia, Australia GROUP D (Gaziantep, Trabzon): Mexico, Greece, Paraguay, Mali GROUP E (Antalya, Bursa): Chile, Egypt, England, Iraq GROUP F (Bursa, Antalya): New Zealand, Uzbekistan, Uruguay, Croatia Mod Note: Keep it civil.
GROUP A (Istanbul, Kayseri): France, Ghana, USA, Spain. GROUP B (Kayseri, Istanbul): Cuba, Korea Republic, Nigeria, Portugal GROUP C (Trabzon, Rize, Gaziantep): Turkey, El Salvador, Colombia, Australia GROUP D (Gaziantep, Trabzon): Mexico, Greece, Paraguay, Mali GROUP E (Antalya, Bursa): Chile, Egypt, England, Iraq GROUP F (Bursa, Antalya): New Zealand, Uzbekistan, Uruguay, Croatia
Nope, they both stunk-up the qualifying tournament. Neither even finished in the top 6, nevermind finishing in the top 4 required for qualification. That's how bad they were! Argentina almost failed to qualify for the under-17 World Cup too (despite hosting the qualifiers), but seem to have got their shit together just in time.
I figured Brazil would want to show off it's youth talent just before WC2014 and at the very least, defend their U20 WC.
Add Ghana to the list - they could easily run away with this tournament given the quality in a Duncan led midfield and three great goal-scorers up front (Boakye Yiadom, Assifuah, Acheampong). Group A is a killer group. Players to watch: Daniel Pappoe (Chelsea), Baba Rahman (Greuther Furth, already with the national side), Alfred Duncan (Inter Milan, his club just declined 5 mln eur for him), Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Sassuolo, key to helping his club win Serie B), Francis Narh (Tema Youth), Ebenezer Assifuah (Udinese, signed the guy just prior to the U20 World Cup to avoid a skyrocketing price), Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, incredible dribbling skill) African teams will probably as usual perform well and should obviously be considered amongst favourites at this tournament. Ghana seems to have the best African team (plus the best coach in Sellas Tetteh). Irregardless of names Ghana must be considered amongst favorites. BTW: Given how rarely European teams do well at this event I find the statement that they 'by far' have the best squads very funny. They by far have the 'most recognisable' teams. Not the best. Remember the Olympics (where Uruguay and Spain were supposed to dominate?) p.s. Mali has sent a gargantuous team! Big lads almost every one of them!
At the recent Toulon tournament, played in May this year, which had basicly the same players (with the exception of France who used lots of 21 year old players), that would play in the under 20 WC in Turkey, of the likely candidates Colombia thrashed all of those who oposed them, only losing to the Brazil squad (which also was an under 20 squad) in the final game, whom didn`t make it out of Conmebol qualifiers and had previously thrashed all the rest of the teams, makes me believe that Conmebol will once again rule in the under 20 WC. Among the teams that will play in the under 20 WC, that also participated in Toulon and got beated there by either Colombia and/or Brazil, were France, Portugal, USA, Mexico and South Korea. Nigeria was the only one who got a draw against Brazil, but also lost to Mexico and Portugal.
at Toulon Colombia were also one of the squads who sent the most players from their qualifying team. i wouldnt use that as an indicator for who is a favorite. most teams used it for last second trials and world cup prep as opposed to going all out to win the tournament. the favorites are most likely the continental winners then traditional powers.
Yeah, please tell me who won the under 20 Southamerican championship, which qualified the Southamerican teams that are going to be present in Turkey. I`ll answer that one for you : Colombia
my point wasnt that Colombia arent a favorite but rather other teams at the tournament werent there to win it necessarily. Colombia looked sort of meh to me without Quintero and got a tough draw at the WC. we shall see in time.
For one Nigeria for example were testing second string players, which the coach was unsure of and whether they are good enough for the U20- World Cup. Arguably their best players like Abduljaleel Ajagun and Umar Aminu weren't even in the Toulon Tournament. 12 out of the 21 players at the U20 tournament are the same, but the starting XI will be markedly different than that at Toulon. --- With Argentina and Brasil out the only former winners of the U20 World Cup are Portugal (1989, 1991), Ghana (2009) and Spain (1999), with Nigeria, Uruguay and Mexico the only teams to have ever made the final.
Colombia played some ugly football I agree with that but like you said we were without Quintero our best player (and named the best player of the south American u20 Qualifiers) so even without our best player we reached the final. Frankly I don't know if we are favorites in the U20 world cup, I mean we never are favorites in any international tournament (maybe Toulon is the only one where generally we do good).
Mexico will win, we're always underrated but go on to surprise everyone. Corona and Gomez are our star players.
Uzbekistan announced the list of players for this tournament. Goalkeepers 1. Asilbek Amonov 12. Akmal Tursunboev 21. Bahodir Mirsoatov DF 2. Tohir Shamshiddinov 3. Sardor Rahmonov 4. Boburbek Yuldoshev 5. Maksimiliyan Fomin 13. Kamronbey Kapadze 14. Nodir Sanakulov 16. Azamat Abdullaev MF 6. Abbosbek Mahsitaliev 7. Vladimir Kozak 8. Diyorzhon Turopov 9. Jaloliddin Masharipov 10. Jamshid Iskanderov 18. Sardor Sobirhodzhaev 20. Muhsinjon Ubajdullaev FW 11. Abul Aziz Yusupov 15. Jasurbek Hakimov 17. Igor Sergeev 19. Zahibulla Urinboev Coach Ahmadjon Musaev 2013 friendly matches: Russia 2-2 Kazakhstan 1-0 Kyrgyzstan 2-2 Russia 0-2 Kazakhstan 0-2 Tajikistan 2-0 Turkey 2-5 Portugal 2-0 Portugal 1-1 Chile 1-1 Spain 2-3
Ghana U20 final squad: Goalkeepers: Eric Ofori Antwi (Amidaus Professionals), Richard Ofori (Wa All Stars), Michael Sai (Berekum Chelsea) Defenders: Lawrence Lartey (AshantiGold), Princebell Addico (Bechem United), Baba Rahman (Greuther Fürth, Germany), Richmond Nketiah (Medeama), Jeremiah Arkorful and Joseph Attamah (Tema Youth), Ebenezer Ofori (New Edubiase), Daniel Pappoe (Chelsea, England) Midfielders: Michael Anaba (Asante Kotoko), Clifford Aboagye (Inter Allies), Kennedy Ashia (Liberty Professionals), Frank Acheampong (Anderlecht, Belgium), Alfred Duncan (Inter Milan, Italy), Moses Odjer (Tema Youth), Seidu Salifu (Wa All Stars). Striker: Richmond Boakye Yiadom (Juventus, Italy), Francis Narh (Tema Youth), Ebenezer Assifuah (Liberty Professionals).