I will heading to the stadium in the next hour or so and I will not be able to "live" blog during the game because of FIFA rules. Feel free to post your thoughts pre-match, match and post game thoughts.
I watched the Spain - Uruguay game again on the plane this morning and the South Americans looked very good in going 2-0 up. But after that they really did show signs of falling apart and I don't think they have come close to playing that well again in the games against Jordan and Zambia.
Based on what I have seen during group play if the USA can control Uruguay's big guns Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez then I can't see how else Uruguay can beat them - with the one proviso that they don't come to the game over confident.
The USA’s opponents will be the third place finisher from group B (Uruguay), group E (North Korea) or group F (Scotland or Costa Rica). There is 1 permutation out of 15 that it will be Uruguay and seven each that it will be North Korea or Scotland or Costa Rica.
The permutation chances should not be mistaken for probability which at this stage would be far more complicated.
Group B
In the late afternoon games Zambia beat Uruguay 2-0 with both teams playing most of the game with ten men. I had suggested on the FSR last night that the Uruguay Goicoechea was a bit of a disaster and he was sent off in the first half and Zambia scored from the resultant penalty. The keeper miss-kicked and then pulled the Zambia player down.
Zambia had Nyambe sent off for a second yellow card just before half time. A second goal put Zambia well in control and the foul count of 23 to 4 would indicate that Zambia went out to take no prisoners. By finishing second Zambia will play the runner up from group F which will be Japan or Nigeria. Japan holds the edge if these two teams draw tonight and would then play the Czech Republic.
At times Spain made heavy weather of their win over Jordan. They jumped into a three goal lead thanks to a hat trick from Lopez. But Jordan put together a plucky second half and scored a nice goal from Loiv Al Zaideh and a perfectly struck free kick from Abdallah Salim within eight minutes of each other.
The Spanish defense for a time looked like a boxer that had taken one too many on the chin. Spain was forced to bring on Capel and Stephen in an attempt to regain control and it worked as Marcos Garcia gave them a two goal cushion with ten minutes or so to go.
Spain will play Canada or Congo, Portugal or Gambia, or Brazil in the last sixteen.
Update - What Canada must do to move on. 1. Must beat Congo and… 2. Hope Scotland and Costa Rica draw or if Scotland or Costa Rica win….. 3. Canada must then win by enough goals to finish with a better record than the other countries that finish third with three points.
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 FIFA Under-20 blog go ahead and post your link under comments.
Canada huffed and puffed but they could make no impression on a vastly superior Chile side. Chile was fleeter-of-foot, quicker-of-mind and dominated Canada in every area of the field.
With flicks, one-two’s, nutmegs, faints and dribbles Chile put on an exhibition for a full house at BMO Field (or the National Soccer Stadium as it is referred to during this tournament).
There was never a point in the game when Canada was able to hold the ball for any extended period of time – as Chile showed poise and patience on the ball, Canada treated it as if it was part of a pass-the-parcel game with punishment forthcoming if they held on to it for more than a second.
It took 66 minutes for Canada to get their first attempt on goal and as the game progressed the Canadian got more frustrated with their inability to mount attacks of any consequence. If there were any positives to take out of this game for Canada it would be Begovic in the goal who could not faulted with any of the three Chile goals and at least the Canadians kept working throughout the ninety minutes.
Numerous Chilean players impressed with Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen) and Mathias Vidangossy (Villarreal) the best of the bunch.
Day 2 Wrap Five games and fourteen goals today made for a better day’s football. Although I only caught thirty minutes of the Spain – Uruguay game it looked to be an outstanding match with Diego Capel (Sevilla) scoring a great injury time equalizer that capped a two goal comeback for Spain.
Player of the day was a tougher pick to make than on day 1. Yosuke Kashiwagi was outstanding against Scotland but my player of the day is Mathias Vidangossy of Chile.
Day 3 Three games tomorrow, Austria vs. Congo, Portugal vs. New Zealand and Gambia vs. Mexico.
Update from the Canadian West Coast
Kevin called me from the two games held in Burnaby today – say it quick and it sounds a bit like the home of Real Madrid. The stadium which looked good on TV looked just as good in real-life. The overall organization in and around the stadium was also very good and the spectators were having a good time. The Spain - Uruguay game was particularly well received by the crowd.
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 FIFA Under-20 blog go ahead and post your link under comments.
Player Updates Brazil’s captain Lucas who was part of the Group D preview is injured and has been replaced by Marcone. Gambia’s Abdourahman Dampha has replaced by Ken Jammeh.
Officials Sent Home Media release issued by FIFA – “On 26 June 2007, the referees selected to officiate matches during the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 had, as usual for FIFA competitions, a fitness test to evaluate their speed and endurance. Their performances confirmed their excellent physical condition during this very demanding exercise.
Jerome Damon (RSA), Enock Molefe (RSA), Siphiwo Jibiliza (RSA); Hector Baldassi(ARG), Ricardo Casas (ARG), Walter Velaz (ARG); Leonardo Gaciba (BRA), Altemir Hausmann,(BRA), Roberto Braatz (BRA), were all sent home as one in each trio failed the test.
In one of the steps FIFA has taken to significantly improve refereeing standards, instructions issued to the referees prior to the competition made it clear that entire trios would be forced out of the competition if any of their members failed the fitness test. Consequently, FIFA will replace the departed referees with 3 FIFA Canadian referees who will be acting as 4th officials during this tournament; Steven Depiero (CAN), Silviu Petrescu, (CAN), and Paul Ward (CAN)”.
Officials for first 12 Games Barclay’s Premiership referee Howard Webb will be in charge of the opening game (Poland vs. Brazil) of the tournament. Webb will officiate along with two other Premiership officials Darren Cann (the assistant referee at the centre of the Arsenal Carling Cup Final controversy) and Michael Mullarkey.
The USA opener against South Korea will be officiated by Joel Aguilar (El Salvador) assisted by Roberto Giron (Honduras) and Daniel Williamson (Panama). An all-Spanish crew has been allotted Canada’s opening game against Chile. Mallenco Undiano, Fermin Matrinez and Juan Carlos Jimenez Yuste will take charge.
An USA crew consisting of Terry Vaughn, Chris Strickland and George Gansner with Canadian Silviu Petrescu have drawn the Jordan vs. Zambia game on Sunday in Burnaby.
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.
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.
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.
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