FIFA U-20 World Cup: 5 players to watch out for in the tournament

FC Barcelona U18 v Real Zaragoza U18 : News Photo
The Asian Messi

Saturday saw the beginning of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in South Korea, a tournament where many of the stars of the future will have the opportunity to strut their stuff on a global stage.

24 teams from across the globe will take part in the competition, with prospects from all over the world seeking glory. It is, however, a strong France side who are favourites to win the competition, followed closely by a Uruguay side that boasts a strong contingent of domestic players.

Here are six starlets that it will be particularly worth keeping an eye out for during the competition, which runs until June 11.


#1 Lee Seung-woo (Barcelona, South Korea)

The host nation’s great hope lies with Barcelona youngster Lee Seung-woo, who has the rather intimidating reputation of being ‘Asia’s Messi’ to live up to. Although he has not featured for the Catalans’ first team, he has become famous courtesy of YouTube clips that have shown him dazzling opposing defenders with his speed and ball control.

The 19-year-old has been earmarked by Barca as one of their top prospects, although he was victim to the club’s infringement of FIFA’s Youth Eligibility Rules and banned from playing competitive football until he turned 18 in January 2016.

Seung-woo signed for the Catalans in 2011 after impressing at the Danone Cup in South Africa aged just 13. He briefly played for Barcelona B, but he caught the eye most prominently in the UEFA Youth League, in which he scored once and set up two as his side reached the semi-finals.

Barcelona club-mate Paik Seung-ho is another youngster with a good deal of expectation upon him, though having been dubbed his nation’s Messi, it is clear who the burden of expectation lies heaviest upon.

#2 Jose Gomes (Benfica, Portugal)

SL Benfica B v Sporting CP B - Segunda Divisao : News Photo
Gomes is prolific in front of goal

To have played Champions League football by the time you turn 18 is no small feat, yet Portugal’s Jose Gomes has done just that, albeit turning out for only eight minutes as his side suffered defeat against Napoli in matchday 2 of this season’s competition.

He certainly looked more at home in the UEFA Youth League, in which he scored two and set up another for the Portuguese champions; he also played a role as the top team won the domestic title once more, gaining a handful of minutes off the bench at the start of the season, becoming the club’s third-youngest player in the process.

The Guinea-Bissau-born attacker has carved himself a reputation as one of the most exciting players to watch at international level, having finished the 2016 European Under-17 Championship as the top scorer, claiming the Golden Player award in the process.

He is a penalty-box predator and liable to be his nation’s biggest threat in this competition – and great things are expected of him in the future.

#3 Rodrigo Bentancur (Boca Juniors, Uruguay)

Boca Juniors v Arsenal - Torneo Primera Division 2016/17 : News Photo
Bentancur has already made over 50 appearances for Boca Juniors

When Carlos Tevez moved from Juventus to Boca Juniors in the summer of 2015, the Italian side put, in that deal, the option to sign a then 17-year-old Rodrigo Bentancur from the Argentine side. They have since lifted that option, and he will make his way to Italy on July 1 to begin pre-season training with a team still in contention to become European champions.

Juve rate the player highly, having been willing to spend €9.5 million (plus bonuses) on him, but he already has a good deal of top-level experience in South America, having turned out more than 50 times at senior level for Boca.

Standing over 6ft 1in, he has been tipped as a player in the mould of Nemanja Matic or Paul Pogba, due to his box-to-box capabilities, and he will be central to Uruguay’s challenge for silverware this summer.

#4 Lucas Tousart (Lyon, France)

Montpellier Herault SC v Olympique Lyonnais - Ligue 1 : News Photo
Tousart will be France’s midfield engine

Lyon have been renowned for producing quality young players in recent years, and Lucas Tousart is the latest off the production line. With Corentin Tolisso set to leave the club in the summer, the ball-winning midfielder, whose energy has led him to be likened to N’Golo Kante, has been groomed for first-team duties.

He is not yet as dynamic or as complete as Tolisso, but he has been solid at the base of their midfield and is surprisingly capable in the air given his height. With Kylian Mbappe left at home this summer, Tousart will be expected to lead a solid France side that also includes the likes of Alban Lafont in goal, Issa Diop in defence and Paris Saint-Germain striker Jean-Kevin Augustin leading the line.

#5 Gedion Zelalem (Arsenal, USA)

Arsenal v Derby County: Premier League 2 : News Photo
Zelalem will represent the USA in the U-20 World Cup

Gedion Zelalem has had quite the globetrotting start to life. He was born in Germany to Ethiopian parents but moved as a nine-year-old to the United States of America, who he will represent at the Under-20 World Cup, despite having previously featured for Germany at younger age brackets.

The midfielder, a creative one by trade, is on the books at Premier League giants Arsenal and has played in the FA Cup for Arsene Wenger’s side. Additionally, he has had a loan spell in Scotland with Rangers as well as with VVV in the Netherlands’ second tier this season.

The Gunners recently tied him down to a new deal, indicating their desire to persist with a young man regarded to be very technically able, but who excels in his game awareness and passing. A strong tournament in South Korea would be another step towards the top for the 20-year-old, who will be one of the oldest players in the competition.

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Edited by Staff Editor