That is a common practice in Europe in all youth categories. Spain has gone out in other occasions because playing in another host country all their qualifying games. Then there is also the Europe Championship of the category that is also organised in a host country. I think it is to do not arrange so many trips at that young age. France and Portugal also have very young set ups. And Holland are now twice champions of Europe in U21
Here's some footage from Ottawa last night, atmosphere was fantastic and the match was great. [youtube]0sUvnEEK7QE[/youtube] Walking up to the stadium during the Argentina match South side stand Anthems for Brazil and USA
European qualifying for the U-20 World Cup is through the UEFA U-19 Championship. The U-17 and U-19 competitions aren't taken very seriously by many associations. In Europe it's all about the UEFA U-21 Championship.
From what i understand most of the players on the U-17 and U-19 teams dont make it anyway, many of them are just early developed.
Is a bit of myth Europe don't giving importance to the WC, not having greta results? is another thing. And also a myth they didn't have them. Figo, Henry, Owen, just to mention a few passed through Youth WC with or without success.
most of the big euro nations qualified for the last u20 world cup didnt they? anyways, i think this year is a bit odd in that respect because France, Germany and England still usually do quite well in the u19 category, which is the qualifier of course.....its just a coincidence that they are missing, you cannot take a night off in the preliminary rounds.....and that is what happens, i think scotland advanced at the expense of france, and belgium to the uefa finals ahead of england.... i think Italy is the most notorious nation for doing well in the u21 category and ignoring the rest....the other countries take them all seriously i believe, at least to some degree.....but again the u21s are once every 2 years, while the u19s and u17s are every year so surprises arent uncommon....also the u21s resemble senior club football that is probably why they are taken more seriously....but i dont think teams ignore the other levels by any means, i mean its a whole set of different players.....i mean look at the u17 world cup and the representatives this year from europe? france, england, and germany are all there.... Germany and France didnt even advance to the uefa u21 finals, so what now they didnt take them seriously either? a bit of a cop out in my mind that not taking the u19s or u17 seriously is being used as an excuse for the u20s....its simply one of those years..... and its not like the european representatives have been a huge disappointment thus far anyways, but whatever....i think Portugal, Spain and Czech are all big well know football nations so at least a few of the big guns came..... anyways, next time around in 2009 i would be surprised if at least 2 of england, france, italy, and germany didnt advance --> because statistically they do well in terms of getting into the final 8 in europe at the u19 level....
I seriously doubt Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney EVER played for Englands u20 side once they made the full national team at age 17....feel free to proove me wrong....
Michael Owen played in the '97 U-20 WC in Malaysia. He scored 3 goals in 4 matches. Wayne Rooney never played 1 minute of youth football for England. But it doesn't take away from the fact that European teams put most of the best players into the U-21 squads. If you aren't good enough for the U-21 team you play for the U-19 team. And the U-19 teams are the ones in the FIFA U-20 WC.
I questioned wether either of them EVER played for ANY under age England team after appearing for the full national team.....apparently neither did EVEN THOUGH ELIGIBLE.....they just do things differently in England and it would be unthinkable for a situation (like Bradley's kids for example) where a player was a REGULAR in the full side to be dropped down to any under age side.
England is a bad example though. They have a horrible youth setup. Most other big nations in Europe take the U21 competitions very seriously. For example, Nani, Chiellini, and Aquilani have all been capped by their senior national teams. But they still suited up for Portugal and Italy at this years Euro U21 finals.
are you serious? we have one of the most technical teams in the tournament.we have the quickness i dont know if weve been watching the same games. ill give you that we dont counter as well as other teams.
I think the Mexico U20 are a very good team, it's true that we defeated them in a friendly in Chile but it was mainly between B teams so I don't think that can serve as a real evaluation. Good thing is Mexico is on Argentina's side of the draw, so Chile would meet either Mexico or Argentina in semis, not both....but first we must beat Portugal.
Well, I had difficulty deciding between Chile and Canada for first, and went with the hosts for host based reasons. Whoops. Reality: 1. Chile 2. Austria 3. Congo 4. Canada Much better here. Nailed it from 1st to 4th with lots of help from the since red carded Uruguay goalie. Nailed this one two after Gambia woke up from a slumber following their first half heart break against Mexico. Reality hits w/me all over the board here, not a single team in the right place. 1. USA 2. Poland 3. Brazil 4. South Korea Not bad here. Just overrated N. Korea a tinge because of their outstanding performance in Asian Qualifying and underrated the Czech's. Reality: 1. Argentina 2. Czech Republic 3. North Korea 4. Panama I let typical Nigerian FA issues get in the way in logic with this one and what the heck was I think with Scotland?!?! Reality: 1. Japan 2. Nigeria 3. Costa Rica 4. Scotland
Oh the irony. Some young English players do occasionally switch between the full squad and the U21's (Bentley, Walcott, Nugent etc) but no-one who's considered an integral part of the full squad would go back to the youth teams.
Is Bradley an integral part of the US's full squad? He has like 7 caps. His play during the Gold Cup has probably made him a regular with the senior squad, but it wasn't a foregone conclusion until just a few weeks ago.
I completely bungled this up too. I thought it would be: 1. Brazil 2. Poland 3. South Korea 4. USA I'm very happy to be eating fat chunks of crow on this. What a great, fun, campaign by our boys. Hope the magic ride continues tonight!
Hey don't forget we want revenge against Mexico!! Good luck to your team, may the best team win (and also win against Mexico or Argentina)
Same happens with Spain. They keep the youth teams quite separated from each other. Once you get an important role in the senior squad you does not go back. Same between U-21 and U-19 and so on. That happened with Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Silva and now with Cesc Fabregas.
Well Argentina and Brazil do the same...you guys imagine if Messi had gone to Canada...pffff...total carnage! He scored a sick goal against Mexico a few hours ago in Copa America.
Does anyone know if this is being shown NE America? Is this shown in North East America? Cant find it anywhere to watch
Re: Does anyone know if this is being shown NE America? Thanks I do get it and just watched the Mexico/Congo game...