Internet Broadcast
FIFA announced on Thursday that all 52 games of the under-20 World Cup will be available over the internet to a wide-array of European countries. Highlights, goals and other features will also be accessible at the official FIFA site.

Ticket Sales
Ticket sales are now approaching 1,000,000.

Group B (Vancouver, Victoria)
Spain, Uruguay, Jordan and Zambia

Spain is the class of this group and should progress comfortably. The European Champions have skill at every position and a top four finish is a strong possibility.

Coach Gines Melendez won the European under-17 title in 2003 and some of the same players will be with him in Canada. Juan Mata and Alberto Bueno (Real Madrid) can both create and score goals with midfield club mate Javi Garcia running the show in midfield. In defence, Gerard Pique has spent the last season on loan at Real Zaragoza from Manchester United and is normally rock solid.

Mata has been with Real Madrid since he turned 15. He scored a hat trick against Turkey in European qualifying and has drawn comparisons with Real Madrid captain Raul. He is described as possessing excellent vision with a beautiful left foot and an ability to play equally effectively on either side of the attack or through the centre. Spain plays their opening game against Uruguay.

Uruguay made it to the finals by finishing third in South American qualifying. The 1997 runners-up will look to defender Martin Caceres (Defensor Sporting) and striker Edinson Cavani (Danubio). Some considered Caceres the best defender at the South American tournament although it was noted that he had problems with “physically powerful strikers”. He is also described as quick, hard and adept at bringing the ball out of defence. He has been linked with a summer transfer to Villarreal of La Liga.

Edison Cavani scored seven goals for Uruguay in Paraguay and can finish well with either foot and is also strong in the air. Uruguay can be expected to play a 4-3-3 system.

Jordan pulled off a shock win over China in the quarter final of Asian qualifying in order to qualify. All the Jordanian squad is home based which calls into question their overall experience. Midfielder Addallah Salim and striker Loiy Al Zaideh are reputed to be the two players to watch out for.

Zambia grabbed the final African qualifying place after beating Egypt and Cameroon along the way. It will be Zambia’s second appearance at the under-20 finals. The first game for Zambia is critical in that they will be facing the other group outsiders Jordan.

Predicted finish – 1. Spain, 2. Uruguay, 3. Zambia and 4. Jordan.

Team Notes
Desmond writes to say that we should keep an eye on Fwayo Tembo, Sebastian Mwansa, Cliff Mulenga and Simmon Lupiya of Zambia.

And staying with Zambia, last Monday a Richmond City youth team got a real thrill when they proved the opposition for a warm-up game against the Zambians. The score finished up 10-0 but the crowd on hand and the Richmond players will probably be cheering a bit louder for Zambia when Group B qualifying kicks off on Sunday.

Canada received a boost on Tuesday when Simeon Jackson was granted Canadian citizenship. Jackson plays for Rushden and Diamonds on the Nationwide Conference in England. The Rushden and Diamonds site will be keeping track of the youngster’s progress at the Under-20 World Cup.

The planned friendly between New Zealand and Toronto FC has been cancelled as it would have contravened FIFA Under-20 regulations.

Portugal has been allowed to replace the injured Amaury Bischoff with Zezinando.
The same right has been granted to Japan. Toru Hasegawa has been replaced by Kazushige Kirihata.

You can send any information (fsr@mts.net) about the twenty-four countries and I will post a regular selection. If you have a FIFA Under-20 blog go ahead and post your link under comments.