By Carlos Drechsler
July 7 2005

Argentina has won the trophy for the fifth time, leaded by Best Player and Top Scorer Lionel Messi. Although the football was not that great, we could have a good look at the next great players that will rule the scene in the years to come. If there ever was something nice about watching the U-20 tournaments, it is that you get to foresee the players that may become the best of the world in the following years. In past years, this cup meant for the youngsters involved their chance to be shown to the rest of the world and maybe get a more important team to be interested in them. Now, most of these players are already part of those important teams.

18-year-old Argentine Lionel Messi has been playing for Barcelona since he was 15; Arsenal is already counting on Dutchman Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Swiss defender Phillippe Senderos and Spanish Cesc Fabregas; and many others are already playing in big teams outside their native country.

While big teams are trying to land younger and younger players, especially Argentine, Brazilian and African kids around 15, in what seems to become the final degradation of small teams who often receive these players, form them and need to sell them since they live on their transfers’ money, anybody can still appreciate the diamonds in rough that may appear, and also possibly think of future professional World Cups, like the one to be played in 2010.

Argentina won again, without playing good football, that’s true, but with a fully talented squad that wasn’t able to show the best, mostly due to tactical restraints imposed by the trainer. However, the team got better with every game played, showed great condition and it would be wrong to say they are unfair champions. The team’s game relied clearly on its two bases: a very strong and safe central defense composed by Gustavo Cabral and Gabriel Paletta, and Lionel Messi’s creativity and skills. Defensive midfield got a lot better when Fernando Gago was allowed to show some his class and style, and he also proved to be a good partner to both the defense and the attack.

On the other side, Brazil showed a very poor side, with a style totally opposite to the one people are used to, when watching the 'verdeamarelha'. Right full back Rafael came out as the best in the team, in which the lack of abilities and talents forced the team to deploy a game of order and battle in the midfield, and defending in numbers. That way, with much more discipline and organization than creativity and skills, they made it to the semifinal. Anyway, if that is Brazil’s future, then they should start thinking about changes.

Then there is Spain, a group with some great players like Cesc, Juanfran and Joseba Llorente that played very nice and was tipped by many as the champions, but suffered Messi’s game. Holland also had great values in its squad in Maduro, Owusu-Abeyie, Babel, Afellay, Vincken and Emanuelson. They were eliminated in an incredible penalty shootout by Nigeria, who reached the final and showed a mixture of both talent and order. John Obi Mikel was the spark in the midfield that made thing possible for the team, now he has been linked to Manchester United.

Finally, as a way to sum up, this tournament’s Dream Team could be drawn, the players in it will probably be the next great stars, so it might be useful to remember some of their names.


GK: René Adler (GER) / Mohammed Bourkadi (MOR)
RB: Rafael (BRA)
CB: Gustavo Cabral (ARG)
CB: Gabriel Paletta (ARG)
LB: Taye Taiwo (NIG)
DM: Hedwiges Maduro (HOL)
MR: Juanfran (SPA)
ML: Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (HOL)
AM: John Obi Mikel (NIG)
AM: Lionel Messi (ARG)
CF: Joseba Llorente (SPA)