On Friday we looked at the results from Under-17 World Cup held in Peru two years ago in the hope that it might provide some clues as to who and what to watch for as the Under-20 World Cup kicks off in Canada on June 30.
Here is a rundown of the stars from the 2005 tournament as picked and described by World Soccer (in quotes) at the time with an update on where they are now.
Carlos Vela (Mexico) Striker 5 goals, Golden Shoe Winner “Tournament top scorer (edit. Golden Shoe winner with 5 goals). Consistently too quick for his marker and finished well, both in the air and with his left foot.”
Where is he now? Vela was transferred to Arsenal from Chivas Guadalajara in 2005. He was subsequently loaned to Celta Vigo but they opted not to keep him for the 2006/07 season and instead he moved to Salamanca of the Spanish Second division. Often played on the left side of midfield Vela still found the net for Salamanca on a regular base. He may return to Celta Vigo (just relegated from La Liga) next season before finally making a move to Arsenal sometime in 2008.
“Ramon (Brazil) Midfield 4 goals Tall, strong attacking midfielder. Needs to improve his discipline but has huge promise.”
Where is he now? At the time of the 2005 Under-17 tournament Ramon was with Atletico Mineiro. He then moved to Corinthians before joining fellow Brazilians Jo, Wagner Love and Daniel Carvalho at CSKA Moscow. Ramon is not in the Brazilian squad of 21.
“Celso Borges (Costa Rica) Midfield 1 goal Playmaker who caught the eye with defence-splitting passes and raking shots.”
Where is he now? Son of former Costa Rica and now Panama Coach Alexandre Guimaraes, Borges is still with Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica and continues to improve and mature. Borges will be a key member of the Costa Rica team in Canada.
“Choe Myong #### (North Korea) Midfield 3 goals The “Korean Ronaldo” soon proved to be something different – a midfielder who can pass, shoot, and cross with power and subtlety.”
Where is he now? Choe Myong #### is one of the few - perhaps only - North Korean players playing outside of his country. He now plays for FC Krylya Sovetov Samara in the Russian Premier League. He was injured during most of Asian qualifying and contributed little. Despite reports that he had recovered his fitness he does not appear to be on the North Korean squad for the tournament.
“Ofori Sarkodie (USA) Defender 1 goal A contender for defender of the tournament. Cool, neat and classy in everything he did.”
Where is he now? The 2005 NSCAA/adidas National Youth Player of the Year, currently plays with the University of Indiana although he has trained with the Columbus Crew. Sarkdorie captained the under-17 tea and is in the USA pool for the Under-20 tournament and is likely to make the starting eleven.
“Ceesay Momodou (Gambia) Striker 2 goals Giant striker who terrified defenders with swift turns and strong surges. Needs to work on his left foot, but is certainly one to watch.”
Where is he now? Nicknamed Zico, Momodou missed the African qualifying competition in Congo earlier this year after undergoing surgery in Switzerland late in 2006. Reports indicate that the surgery was needed to clear up an injury that the player had been carrying since 2005. Momodou does not appear on the Gambian under-20 squad list.
So out of the six stars on the Under-17 tournament picked by World Soccer two years ago it looks as if only 50% will be playing at the Under-20s in Canada. A confirmation if it was needed that the gap between promising youngster and emerging star can be a huge one.
On the other side of the equation Anderson (Brazil) was the winner of the Golden Ball at Peru 2005 and was eligible for Canada 2007. However, Anderson has been called up to the senior squad for the Copa America and recently completed a multi million dollar move from Porto to Manchester United.
It is also interesting to see how many players who were young enough to play in 2005 at the under-20s in Holland, but still qualified for Canada 2007 and actually made it.
The winners Argentina could have had both Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero appear in Holland and Canada but we will have to make do with the latter. Runners-up Nigeria had seven players (Daddy Bazuaye, John Obi Mikel, Promise Isaac, Solomon Okoronkwo, Dele Adeleye, Kola Anubi, John Owoeri) who could have played in both tournaments but amazingly none of them have been named to the Nigerian squad.
As chance would have it Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel was in the news last week. He was suspended by the Nigerian FA from all Nigerian national teams after failing to accept a call up to the senior national team.
Canada is the complete opposite to Nigeria. When they traveled to Holland two summer’s ago six players (Jaime Peters, Will Johnson, Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault, David Edgar, Andrea Lombardo and Asmir Begovic) were hoping to repeat and all have.
The USA has also made full use of the players who picked up invaluable experience in Holland. Nathan Sturgis and Freddy Adu (now Real Salt Lake teammates) as well as Danny Szetela of the Columbus Crew are on the squad.
South Korea have two returnees (Jong Jin Park and Young Rok Shin) while Panama’s Celso Polo made it but Ivan Rodriguez did not. Carlos Carmona was the youngster in the Chile team in 2005 and now brings experience to the team. However, Japan’s Takayuki Morimoto was unable to make it two appearances at the Under-20 World Cup.
Warm-up Games Some warm-up games have been played over the weekend. New Zealand lost 3-0 to Costa Rica (Borges 2, Solorzano) while the USA beat Chile 2-1. Adu and Rogers scored for the US while Alexis Sanchez got Chile’s goal from the penalty spot.
South Korea scored the only goal of the game to beat the Czech Republic.
Suspensions According to a FIFA media release the following players are not eligible to play in their team's respective first match due to a suspension carried over from previous competition:
Zambia 5 NYAMBE Henry is not eligible to play Match #6: Jordan - Zambia (01.07.2007). Panama 6 CASTANEDA Francisco is not eligible to play Match #3: Korea DPR - Panama (30.06.2007). Argentina 8 SANCHEZ Matias is not eligible to play Match #4: Argentina - Czech Rep. (30.06.2007). CHI 11 GRONDONA Jaime is not eligible to play Match #5: Canada - Chile (01.07.2007). CHI 10 ARENAS Juan is not eligible to play Match #5: Canada - Chile (01.07.2007). CHI 17 MARTINEZ Hans is not eligible to play Match #5: Canada - Chile (01.07.2007). CHI 7 SANCHEZ Alexis is not eligible to play Match #5: Canada - Chile (01.07.2007).
However, I received an e mail from Chile fan Pablo Oliva who tells me that the Chilean FA is still hopeful of having the suspensions for Grondona and Martinez set aside. We will keep you updated on this as this week progresses.
You can send any information (fsr@mts.net) that you think might be of interest about the twenty-four countries and I will post a regular selection. If you have a blog and you have information on the tournament you can post your link under comments.
Bobby don't you feel deco might be a bargain for the season, if a team like liverpool might go for him, l personally feel liverpool consistently lack creativity as the game against villa, city and many others show.if benitez won't play gerrarg centrally , l think masherano and alonso in the centre is a luxury.you can easily see barca play 3-5-2 net season to accomodate henry and he wont be a substitute on $280k a week, with the other already three starters they will be three places in midfield for yaya, who will start to give barca presence and l remember wenger saying he is just like diaby is at the moment, he is not defensive, but has presense and iniesta is a wonderful player, so is xavi which for me leaves deco as the guy who might pave way and l liverpool can do with some creativity just in front of the back four sliding balls into strikers, do you see him moving and can he fit into liverpool?
Less than an hour to kick-off ,where is everyone?
I`m picking a 0-0 draw with Mexico winning on pens.
But then ,I have been known to get it wrong before!
Liverpool could sure use Deco, but I would be upset b/c Arsenal need him and Barca need him, the dumbest thing they could do is get rid of him. The new galacticos.
-Today should be good, Mexico and the U.S. always play each other tough. Donovan plays his best against Mexico. I used to read a lot of Mexican press they love to hate Landon, especially since his spanish is very good so he gives all kinds of interviews, he talks a lot of good natured trash to them and they eat it up.
-That said the Mexicans are a better team in four or five critical positions, mostly in the midfield with Pardo, Marquez, Osorio, Bravo and Guardado, even more if marquez plays at center back, say what you will Rafa Marquez is still a very good player.
I'll put my 2 cents in about the Copa America squad. Bobby said it well on Friday, Bradley basically has pissed everyone off with this team.
-I like the choices up front, with Twellman, Johnson and Gomez, I have never heard of the other guy, but I really like those three a lot.
-The defense is good except where is Spector, he is good and he should always be in the team, most will disagree but he will develop. Besides that the defense is good. You could argue that Onyewu need all the game time he can get, but his ego must be fragile.
-You can't complain about Keller, he is a class keeper. They must not want an chance to hurt Howard's confidence as he looks to next EPL season. Actually you can't complain ever about our keepers, Freidel, Keller or Howard are all good.
-What you can complain about is the midfield. Where is Beasley? He didn't play that much this season he is not tired. Where is Dempsey? And if you gonna get experimental why not let Adu have shot.
FSC has put out an APB, so if anyone knows of a VIP arse that hasnt yet been kissed by these 2 clowns doing the match please email fox so they can get it on air. Rupert thanks you.
A gutty performance by our side against a somewhat talented and whinging Mexican side. Flopping all over the pitch just disgraceful. A classless player like Oswaldo Sanchez gets beat again, justice is served. Blanco goes studs up on Howard towards the end of the match, did you see it? I wouldn't pay 2 cents to see that clown play for Chicago. A fantastic strike by Feilhaber who was AWOL in the first half and turned it on in the second. LD played well. Gooch and CB were quite good.
Beasley was off on and on and should have scored. Dempsey was inconsistant and Ching was a workhorse, just terrific, who cares that hit the post. Ricardo Clark came on and played his tail off.
ohphuque-Its seriously disgusting isn't it? I was trying to get Bobby to be an analyst out there. I'm sure Max and Chris are doing their best but I don't need to hear about how "good" both sides are playing. I can see with my own eyes how CRAPPY teams and some players are playing.
MasMaz- You may have hit on something. Mexico has some very talented players but it's right to question their heart and their gaffer, Hugo Sanchez. He will get skewered in the press and could be sacked.
For those who complain about FCS's announce duo, (I am not going to disagree) the blame really lies with FSC's producers for not reigning the announce team in and making poor pre-match interview choices. Their coverage is subpar, missing replays, poor directing, etc.
I honestly think CS is a decent analyst but MB strays off topic and is too often in a promotional mode.
We should start a write in campaign for Bobby McMahon.
At least we got to see the match with English commentary.
Remember our players played another match in their own country and the crowd was quite anti-US.
The David Beckham channel, here we go. Ringo you haven't seen nothing. It will be like the second coming of JC come July.
Your right gong they are sufficently bad that there cant be just a couple of folks off the mark, im sure it takes a team effort. Outside of Bobby's analysis 2 nights a week, the innovative fsc world report, along with the matches produced by fsc are so bad they have now reached the stratus of campy. Its like wathin a train wreck you dont dare turn away in case you miss something. Its a pg John Waters Pink Flamingo kinda thing. I weasnt disspointed sticvkin to the end when the goof ball christian miles tells me the usa just won the 2000 gold cup! talk about tape delay
I like Max and Chris, they are the best we got. Chris is good and Max trys hard and does his homework, he does a large diversity of games and leagues and he is always prepared. In the end I can forgive an announcer anything as long as he is a true fan of the game, even talking too much and off topic. Max gets excited and I like that. Someone needs to remind them not to suffocate the game by talking too much.
Christian Miles is terrible. Webster's not bad. I like Carlos and Mitch. Jeremy comes off as a jerk. Bobby is great. You can just see how much he loves the game. I wouldn't mind if Bobby were to join Max and Chris for a couple of games. I think that might work.
One suggestion: bring a woman back to the report. Michelle was great. It needs a little female energy. Replace the fat guy with a pretty lady!
True they have some talent, but looking at this team, it's declining team.
- Borgetti is done.
- Blanco is done and lacks discipline.
- The team is not united. there are argument about who should play, who is better, why allow naturalized players to join the national team, etc....
they take it for granted that they will qualify. but I would argue not, if they are paired in the same group with the likes of Honduras & Panama. Even Canada could beat this mexican team. The best Mexican team was 2002.
I agree Mexico look in disarray, but they played some good football today.
Even worse for them is they don't have anyone to replace Marquez as he gets older. He's the best player since the great Hugo himself.
But they will qualify for the WC and they will do well in the Copa America. I think they have to play Brazil to make it to the quarters right? So they probably won't make it.
I guarantee Mexico go farther and do better than us in the Copa America.
I'll tell you why TH is leaving, b/c he wants to win... and they started charging their players to use the new training facilities in an attempt save some money. they even have to share towels and buy their own tape.
He also doesn't want to wear the new #### eye away kits.
Bobby
We ,the viewers ,demand a female presence on the report ,please use any influence you might have to grant our wishes.
I ,for one ,nominate atleti.
And I think I`m not alone.
First off the announcing, while not the greatest in the world, I love Max, and it ain't that bad. Especially compared to Balboa and Shep in the world cup last year. CM is ok, not a huge fan, but I don't really notice him. Could be better could be worse, but at least they don't follow other american sports and talk about nonsense outside of soccer, like a players criminal record, or how they grew up with so much adversity. I don't care, just talk about the game!!!! And Max and Chris did that so I am satisfied.
As far as that goal, AWESOME. Lets be honest aside from Hejduk's goals the us doesn't score too often outside of the PK area, so when a US player scores on a volley to me it is very unexpected, and quite a treat.
The defense was much better today, I feel like the US plays down to their oppenents level alot of the time. Today they had to raise it and they did, Gooch and Boconegra were much better, still could improve but I will take it.
On a final note, TH14 will you learn to spell? It hurts my eyes!!!
verbal - A few month`s ago ,I had the pleasure of talking to the lovely Kelly on Talksport.
Shame I can`t stand the sight or sound of her `orrible old man though!
realrico - you are correct ,sir ,atleti is indeed the perfect woman!
I couldn't beleive the Gold Cup final. I was outraged by the fact that the ref fell for Brian Ching's dive. That killed the game for Mexico.
\How could the ref call that but not call the foulon Omar Bravo that would have given Mexico a penalty shot at the end of the game.
The US got lucky in the final and in the semi finals with the offside that should've never been called.
They wont get far in the Copa America seeing as they will play actual teams like Argentina and Columbia and not Guatemala or El Salvador.
I see mexico possibly going all the way in the Copa America.
Fernando - Do you mean Giovanni dos Santos and if you do the answer is yes. He is the Mexico pool of 21. I will have a piece on him included in the blog later this week.
Last edited by BobbyMcMahon on June 25th at 12:41 PM.
bobby,
who are some of the up and coming stars in the under 20 world cup that we might see playing big time football for some powerhouse teams in a couple of years.
Fernando give me a break, Mexico all the way? In case you didn't notice they were pretty awful in the GOld Cup. And no the US won't go far because they are bringing in a B squad! I bet the US and Mexico do the same, and Mexico's team is going to be thier A squad. And that was no dive on Ching, and Omar and Gooch were both playing the ball, did you notice how the mexican players didn't even complain when the ref gave a no call? That should tell you something!
playking14 - Stay tuned. I will have a daily blog on the FIFA under-20 and from today to Saturday there are group previews including players to keep an eye out for. The Day minus 5 blog is up already and focuses on Group A - Canada, Chile, Congo and Austria. Tomorrow I will have a look at the USA, Poland, South Korea and Brazil.
It's obvious you are a Mexico supporter which is great but let's be honest about their performance in the Gold Cup which by the way was their A squad.
Except for the first half of the final they were not that good . They have some fabulous players in Pardo, Castillo, Bravo, Marquez, Castillo, Guadardo, Franco but Borgetti and Blanco are dead weight. You don't win football matches rolling around the pitch feigning injury.
Sanchez can be a decent keeper but the US owns him as he chokes in big games.
Ching was clearly brought down for a deserved penalty and Donovan schooled Sanchez on the PK. Like someone said yesterday they question Mexico's heart not their talent. I concur.
The US deserved to win against Mexico. They showed great character and heart in coming back in the second half.
As far as Copa America? The US has at best a B side going, we don't expect much but Mexico has their A side and a lot is expected of them.
I am the soccer analyst for the Fox Soccer Report and appear twice a week - every Monday and Friday at 10:00 EST. I have also been a regular contributor to the Fox Soccer Channel website since the summer of 2004. Over the last twenty years I have contributed to various radio and television programs throughout North America as well writing about the game for newspapers, magazines and websites.
Thank you to all who take time to visit this blog and especially to those of you who post your comments and thoughts.
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