U20s World Cup Qualified nations

This is an interesting selection in Argentina's training squad announced above:

Emiliano Buendia (Getafe, Spain) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Buend%C3%ADa

One of those funny ones where he's already played three games for Spain u-19 - but only in friendlies last year.

Seems he's now switching back to the land of his birth.

Six appearances in la Liga this season for Getafe and five in the Copa del Rey:

http://int.soccerway.com/players/emiliano-buendia/...

All his la Liga appearances from Feb. 1 onwards.

Came on last weekend as a 77 min. sub vs. Granada

26 reserve appearances.

Uruguay's squad for friendlies in Europe in March:

http://www.conmebol.com/en/03242015-1053/uruguays-...

NB: "Liverpool FC" means Liverpool of Uruguay, not England.

One star player to watch for is Kevin Mendez of Roma (Italy) currently on loan to Perugia.

They also have Gus Puyet's son Diego, Winston Reid's team mate at West Ham (and a Charlton Athletic product - my team)

Brazil 26 Man Provisional Squad Named April 29:

Coach Gallo has gone with older players than the 17 and 18 year-olds that scraped through in qualifying as fourth team in CONMEBOL:

http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/news/y=2015/m=4/ne...

Seleção Brasileira    @BrazilStats    Apr 29

"The biggest upset is the exclusion of Gérson. He's probably Brazil U20's best player. Has been impressive for Fluminense in 2015 even in big games."

[Note: apparently Gérson doesn't get on with Brazil u-20 coach Gallo]

26 man provisional training squad named 29 April:

Andreas Pereira - Manchester United: midfielder signed a three year deal at Man Utd last week; highly-rated by van Gaal:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Pereira

Jean Carlos - Real Madrid: http://www.realmadrid.com/en/football/academy/unde...

Alef - Marseilles: Bill Tuiloma's team mate, plays pretty much the same position:

http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=f...

Jesus is coming: Gabriel Fernando de Jesus: up-and-coming Palmeiras striker turned 18 last mont

http://translate.google.co.nz/translate?hl=en&sl=p...

Caio Rangel - Cagliari, Serie A: 19 year-old striker in his first season in Serie A and already in Cagliari's first team - six apps this season: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caio_Rangel

Danilo - Sporting Braga (Portugal): defensive midfielder who scores some cracking goals (see YouTube) signed for 4.5 million Euros last July. 21 apps for Braga this season. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danilo_Barbosa_da_Sil...

Seleção Brasileira @BrazilStats May 1

Van Gaal: "I believe in Andreas Pereira. I want to develop him into an important first team player at Man United."

Called him right. Yaw Yeboah. Signed by Man City.

USA name their team, including German born Ethiopian player Gedion Zelalem (on Arsenals books) considered a big up coming star. http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/66/united-states/2015/05/13/11716332/zelalem-cleared-as-ramos-finalizes-us-under-20-roster

Fiji just played Mexico in Sydney and lost by a respectable 0-3.  Not too bad for Fiji.

They have some decent speedy attacking players judging from the OFC Champions League last month:

I thought Waqa (tournament top-scorer with Ba) and Nikel Chand (Suva FC winger) looked decent. 

Chelsea have just signed a player dropped from Brazil's u-20 squad, namely Nathan, a midfielder from Brazilian club Atlético Paranaense for 4.5 million pounds:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/6...

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/577280/Che...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Allan_de_Souza

Brazil u-20 must have a lot of talent if Nathan isn't considered good enough.

Has played 14 times for Brazil u-20, including the South American qualifiers, and was a star at u-17 level.

But was discarded a few weeks ago from coach Gallo's preliminary squad.

"Tim Vickery, a reporter on South American football, called Nathan "a playmaker who can thread a little pass". He said that although he performed well as an under-17 international, his performances at under-20 were below standard, concluding that "it’s difficult to see what he has done in the last season to justify" interest from Chelsea."

Latest reports on the Ghana team:

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/h/Sport/Football/Internat...

Provisional Squad:

Includes 12 who play in Europe (Man City, Porto, Granada, Salzburg etc.)

http://ghanasoccernet.com/ghanas-u20-side-to-leave...

Ghana’s 35-man provisional list:

Goalkeepers: Kwame Baah (Heart of Lions), Mutawakilu Seidu (Hearts of Oak), Michael Sai (Berekum Chelsea), Lawrence Ati Zigi (Red Bull Salzburg)

Defenders: Kingsley Fobi (Right to Dream), Owusu Bempah (Hearts of Oak), Joseph Aidoo (Inter Allies), Joseph Adjei (Wa All Stars), Nicholas Opoku (Berekum Chelsea), Emmanuel Ntim (Valenciennes), Latif Abubakar (Egypt), Yakubu Mohammed (Tema Youth), Patrick Asmah (BA United), Patrick Kpozo (Inter Allies), Agbenyenu Lumor (F.C. Porto)

Midfielders: Thomas Agyapong (Man City), Aseidu Attobrah (New Edubiase), Emmanuel Oti-Essigba (Sporting Braga), Kennedy Boateng (WAFA), Godfred Donsah (Calgliari), Kofi Yeboah (Wa All Stars), Michael Otoo (Unistar), Prosper Kasim (Inter Allies), Emmanuel Antwi (Liberty Professionals), David Atanga (Red Bull Salzburg)

Forwards: Issah Abbas (Asokwa Deportivo), Benjamin Tetteh (Dreams FC), Samuel Afful (Hasaacas), Yaw Yeboah (Man City), Ebenezer Ofori (AIK Stockholm), Clifford Aboagye (Granada), Osabutey Jonah (Tema), Emmanuel Boateng (Rio Ave), Samuel Tetteh (WAFA), Osei Barnes (Pacos Ferriera)

Fiji played Colombia today and only narrowly lost 1-2, so they must have really trained well over the last few months.  It would be good for Oceania if they have respectable results in the World Cup under 20s.

but not quite as "respectable" ,as Junior All Whites eh...;>)

Official announcement of squads by FIFA this evening:

http://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/news/y=2015/m=5/ne...

"The New Zealand skipper is one of just seven players at the 2015 edition who have previously played at a U-20 World Cup. Yet despite this kind of experience, the Kiwis' squad is one of the competition's youngest, though Nigeria top this particular table with an average age of 18 years and nine months. The oldest, meanwhile, are provided by the European duo of Germany and Ukraine."

Stars to miss out include highly-rated Davie Selke of Werder Bremen, Germany's top-scorer in qualifying, who was injured in a Bundesliga game on May 2 and hasn't recovered adequately. A real shame for the tournament.

FULL OFFICIAL SQUADS:

http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2015/pdf/FWY...

Nigeria's finalised squad contains only 13 players from the African qualifying tournament with eight new players brought in from European clubs etc.:

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=119804

Players have been added from Man City (two), Spurs, Porto, Granada (Spain), Genk and Gent (Belgian clubs).

Glad to see that Success has been added to the squad, and Z Bello from "Dabo Babes" club (cool name for a club).

Strongest squads in my opinion in order of strength:

http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2015/pdf/FWY...

(1) Argentina

(2) Germany

(3) Portugal

(4) Brazil      (because they only qualified fourth in South America though they have replaced some of the younger players aged 17 and 18 with older ones for the finals)

(5) Uruguay

(6) USA       (nine players from UEFA clubs in Germany, Spain, France, England, Holland plus two from Liga MX, Mexico, one from Boca Juniors, Argentina and the rest from MLS sides, with one university player) 

(6) Nigeria

(7) Mexico

(8) Colombia

(9) Serbia

(10) Austria

That's a strong-looking top ten - and then sides like Panama, Honduras, Ukraine, Hungary, Mali and Senegal will be good

Portugal look strong with four players from Porto, five from Sporting Lisbon, four from Benfica, one from Lille (France), one from Heerenveen (Netherlands).

Couple of sick goals in this warm up match with USA (NZ's second match) playing Australia.

http://tvnz.co.nz/football-news/us-under-20-team-d...

Just saw this fact:

For the fourth consecutive edition, the ‪Under 20 reigning champion has not qualified to defend their title. France, winners in 2013, will be absent in New Zealand 2015, following in the footsteps of Brazil in 2013, Ghana in 2011 and Argentina in 2009.

Any reason for this? Do footballing nations prepare elite squads to compete every 2nd year or what?