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UAE newcomers ready to pounce on possible upsets
Three new teams will grace the world stage at the FIFA World Youth Championship, and all of them represent different confederations.
AFC, CAF, UEFA and CONCACAF all have qualifiers that have yet to compete at the FWYC and at least one will progress through to the second phase of the competition thanks to the draw. Burkina Faso (CAF), Panama (CONCACAF) and Slovakia (UEFA) were all drawn in group A along with tornament hosts the United Arab Emirates (AFC), ensuring that at least one debutant will progress insecond place at the worst. Uzbekistan (AFC) wasn't so lucky drawing group B along side Mail (AFC), Spain (UEFA) and defending champions Argentina (CONMEBOL).
Burkina Faso's squad are mostly made up of their team that represented the nation two years ago in the U/17 championship when their tornament ended with an impressive third place. On the road they beat heavyweights Spain and Argentina, the nation that will be defending it's crown this year. That impressive showing will hopefully translate into a just as good, maybe even better, performance in the FWYC.
Panama secured it's spot in last years qualifying, beating the likes of Mexico on their way. With attack their best form of defence, Panama stormed through the competition thanks to speedy duo Jair Carrasquilla and Rodrigo Tello controlling the flanks. The highlight for their qualifying was definatly defeating Mexico 2-1 which secured their spot in the championships.
Slovakia performed well in qualifying with a strong win in what would have been a meaningful game for both Slovakia and their opponents. A 5-2 win over the Czech Republic, former compatriots, was the highlight. However they bowed out of top two contention when Spain handed them a 3-1 beating only for the plucky Slovaks to come abck and claim third place.
Uzbekistan, as mentioned, have the tough task of facing the defending champions and one of the top two UEFA teams, not to mention a strong african squad. Uzbekistan may have a tough road ahead but they themselves aren't a bad side. The fourth placed AFC side have young Ilyas Zeytulayev who was signed to Moscow Academy Club at the young age of 14. Three years later he was snapped up by Juventus and to top it off is already a fully capped international for Uzbekistan, playing twice in world cup qualifiers for last years FIFA World Cup. However this isn't a one man side and the squad will be out to prove that.
posted 6 March 2003 |
