The FIFA u17 WC draw is being held tonight in Peru 7pm local time/8pm EST http://www.fifa.com/en/news/feature/0,1451,108508,00.html The 16 teams in the draw Host: Peru AFC: China, Qatar, Korea CAF (3): Ghana, Gambia, Ivory Coast CAF (3): USA, Mexico, Costa Rica CONMEBOL (2): Brazil, Uruguay OFC (1): Australia UEFA (3): Turkey, Netherlands, Italy
Here is the result of the draw: Group A PERU GHANA CHINA COSTA RICA Group B URUGUAY MEXICO TURKEY AUSTRALIA Group C COTE D'IVOIRE ITALY DPR KOREA USA Group D NETHERLANDS QATAR BRAZIL GAMBIA
That's North Korea, not South Korea BTW None of the three teams won their region, so it looks like the US got a decent draw.
http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=200448&itype=113&iCategoryID=0 North Korea is the opener, and they shouldn't be very good. Italy second, and we finish with Ivory Coast. We should definitely advance. However, we're looking at Brazil or the Netherlands if we advance.
No, Freddy Adu will not compete in the U17 World Championship games in Peru. Players who have competed in a U17 World Championship are not allowed to play in another..... even if they are age eligible. Rule XII Art.24 Rule 2. http://www.fifa.com/u17/2005/regulations/U17_2005_EN.pdf He will, however, be allowed to play in another U20 Youth World Championship until he is no longer age eligible.
I want to get excited about the draw which does seem favorable - however, the boys don't exactly look to be on top of the world just yet. We have a very good group of players, let's hope they get it together by tourney time.
Which means two more, in theory. Although I'm sure that Freddy hopes not to be dicking around with youth tournaments 4 years from now!
Far be it from me to pity the Euros, but ... 3 CONCACAF teams and 3 European teams? Who are ya kidding?
The Soccer America scouting report: NORTH KOREA. The North Koreans qualified for the first time for the U-17 World Championship by finishing second at the 2004 Asia U-17 championship. Their star is forward, Choe Myong Ho, dubbed the "Korean Ronaldo." ITALY. Playing at home, the Italians beat Croatia, 2-1, in overtime in the third-place match of the 2005 U-17 European championship. Both Manchester United and Arsenal are said to be following U-17 goalkeeper Enrico Alfonso (Chievo). IVORY COAST. The Little Elephants qualified for the U-17 finals for the first time since 1987. They finished third at the 2005 U-17 African championship in Gambia, where right winger Ismael Beko Fofana, a product of the famed Abidjan soccer academy ASEC Mimos, was their top scorer with four goals. Fofana is already a member of ASEC's senior team, which is playing in the African Champions League.