U20 World Cup - South Korea

[John Arne]

Starts on May 20th.

England will be there, and Vietnam qualified for their first ever any age-group World Cup.

https://gyazo.com/182f15ec072c78352f80c595957dfdc8.jpg

[Giggles]

Any chance of this being on TV somewhere (Eurosport maybe)? Wouldn't mind catching some of the games.

[John Arne]

Ideally it would be streamed on YouTube.... I would have though somebody in the UK/Ireland would have the rights.

[John]

How the Dickens are Vanuatu even putting a team out never mind qualifying for the world cup? There must be a couple of Eric the Eels in there.

[Giggles]

Ideally it would be streamed on YouTube.... I would have though somebody in the UK/Ireland would have the rights.

Hopefully by then. Though yeah, YouTube would be ideal.

[John Arne]

How the Dickens are Vanuatu even putting a team out never mind qualifying for the world cup? There must be a couple of Eric the Eels in there.

I also wondered that. Turns out 2 teams from OFC qualify - so despite getting pumped 5-0 in the OFC final by NZ, they still qualified. It could be a cricket score against Germany.

[John]

I wonder which of Germany's strikers will score a hundred goals and never be seen again. Money down on Johannes Eggestein.

[Jimmy Floyd]

These things are usually on Eurosport.

[-james-]

Fiji scored against Germany (conceded 8 though lol) and beat Honduras 3-0 at the last one so you never know.

Burma taking the lead against the USA was probably the lollest thing to happen, mind.

[-james-]

India and New Caledonia are at the u17 one later in the year, that will be lol if they get drawn against any of the African collosi.

[Jimmy Floyd]

How the hell have Brazil not managed to get a side together for this?

[phonics]

Have you seen Brazillian football these days? It's awful. Any game I catch when I'm up to late scrolling channels and I see something on, it always looks like a low tier Championship game.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Oh it is, as is the rest of South American football, but you'd think they still have the talent coming through to be able to beat the likes of Venezuela at under 20 level.

[Weaver]

This thing from the FIFA website suggests Eurosport will be on the case: https://resources.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/tv/02/86/79/66/fifau-20worldcupkorearepublic2017_neutral.pdf

Could be some brutality handed out in France's group.

[-james-]

Fielding Kylian Mbappe vs Vietnamese manlets is going to be really quite unfair.

[John]

Having watched the senior side I imagine the Hondurans will send a guerilla army in place of a football team and murder the French on day one.

[Disco]

Why is it u20 rather than u21 like nearly everything else?

[-james-]

Everything else isn't really u21.

Each confederation has its own bi-annual u17 and u19 tournaments, and the best teams from those qualify for the u17 and u20 world cups. Presumably it's only an u20 world cup because it takes place a bit later. You're meant to bring the same generation of players that qualified for the thing.

There are continental u21 tournaments and the winners of those qualify for the Olympics.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Giving 2/24 places to Oceania is a right laugh/vote harvester.

[Pen]

Great to add at least two more new countries to the list of countries that have qualified a World cup in any age group before us.

[Disco]

Everything else isn't really u21.

Each confederation has its own bi-annual u17 and u19 tournaments, and the best teams from those qualify for the u17 and u20 world cups. Presumably it's only an u20 world cup because it takes place a bit later. You're meant to bring the same generation of players that qualified for the thing.

There are continental u21 tournaments and the winners of those qualify for the Olympics.

Ta. That actually makes some sense.

[John Arne]

This kicks off in 2 days.

England squad;

http://imgur.com/dhzWlHh.jpg

Games on Eurosport

England's matches will take place at the following times:

May 20 - England vs Argentina - 8.30am
May 23 - England vs Guinea - 9am
May 26 - England vs South Korea - 12pm

[Jimmy Floyd]

Only 4 double barrelled names. Disappointing.

Might take the day off work for England-Guinea.

[John Arne]

If Harrison Chapman goes by Harry, it could be a proper return to 1930's footballers.

[ItalAussie]

What's the success rate for players who make these age-level teams?

[phonics]

I haven't got a large sample size but England have been amazing a U17 and U20 level and they're still England.

[niko_cee]

What's the success rate for players who make these age-level teams?

Low, depending on how you define success.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Looking at our 2011 vintage, one (Butland) has played for the full England side, one has played for Scotland, and another two (Berahino and Adam Smith) play regularly in the Premier League.

A lot of the others play for the likes of Boston Utd, Wrexham, Hamilton, Lincoln, Bury, Mansfield, Tranmere etc etc.

[Jimmy Floyd]

A better success rate from 2013 actually. Kane, Dier, Ward-Prowse, Stones, Barkley.

[John Arne]

Yeah, this is the 2013 England squad - not a bad conversion rate.

http://imgur.com/UuNUYAH.jpg

Those bolded have represented a senior national team.

[-james-]

Yeah I think success at this level is a pretty poor predictor, though obviously you do get some outstanding success stories.

http://i.imgur.com/hMUOm4V.png

Lol at Ismail Matar. Iniesta, Tevez, Mascherano, (Milner) didn't stand a chance.

[phonics]

Was Adriano so good they refused to name anyone alongside him?

[John Arne]

Kasey Fucking Keller.

[hfswjyr]

This kicks off in 2 days.

England squad;

http://imgur.com/dhzWlHh.jpg

Games on Eurosport

England's matches will take place at the following times:

May 20 - England vs Argentina - 8.30am
May 23 - England vs Guinea - 9am
May 26 - England vs South Korea - 12pm

Kyle Walker-Peters who plays as a defender for Tottenham?

[Weaver]

Was Adriano so good they refused to name anyone alongside him?

No space on the podium for anyone else.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Is that even the same Adriano? Seems a bit early for him.

[ItalAussie]

I still reckon that if Yugoslavia hadn't broken up, there's a good chance that France would still be looking for their first World Cup victory.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I didn't know (or had forgotten) they were banned from 1994 and 1996 due to UN sanctions. Could have threatened at either even as they were. Mijatovic and co probably a bit past it by 1998.

[ItalAussie]

I didn't know (or had forgotten) they were banned from 1994 and 1996 due to UN sanctions. Could have threatened at either even as they were. Mijatovic and co probably a bit past it by 1998.

Mijatovic was the runner-up to Ronaldo for the Ballon d'Or, and scored the winning goal in the CL final (:moop:) leading into the tournament. He was 29 at the time.

Not sure how you'd have balanced a combined XI in that tournament, although it'd be a fun exercise.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They'd probably have bombed out in the quarter-finals as per tbh. Croatia were on a bit of a mission in 1998. Although people forget they were also handy at Euro 96, taking everyone by surprise.

[Baz]

Fielding Kylian Mbappe vs Vietnamese manlets is going to be really quite unfair.:roflol:

[John Arne]

Fielding Kylian Mbappe vs Vietnamese manlets is going to be really quite unfair.

Thankfully his Monaco commitments kept him out of the squad.

[John Arne]

England - Argentina kicks off in 40 minutes.

Venezuela currently 2-0 against Germany with 5 mins left :D

[Samadini]

Adam Armstrong to run riot.

[-james-]

Argentina - England is a huge mismatch. England players can't get a touch.

[John Arne]

1-0 England. Calvert-Lewin.

[-james-]

And England lead. :cool:

[John Arne]

Adam Armstrong to run riot.

2-0.
Adam Armstrong :)

[niko_cee]

That was shocking from the 'keeper.

[John Arne]

Ohh... video replay for a dirty Argy elbow.....

[John Arne]

And he's sent him off :D

Bit harsh - yellow would have been fair.

[-james-]

Argie has just smashed England's Brave Fikayo Tomori in the face with an elbow. Ref missed it, got a line from the video ref, went over and checked the footage himself, and sent the guy off.

Not sure that's standard protocol.

[-james-]

Vanuatu. :cool:

[John Arne]

Argie has just smashed England's Brave Fikayo Tomori in the face with an elbow. Ref missed it, got a line from the video ref, went over and checked the footage himself, and sent the guy off.

Not sure that's standard protocol.

Apparently that's what they agreed would be the process for this tournament. VAR let's the ref know something happened - the ref then goes and checks the footage on the side of the pitch.

[-james-]

Vanuatu :drool:

[Giggles]

How did Vanuatu end up in this?

[Mellberg]

Argentina - England is a huge mismatch. England players can't get a touch.

3-0 England :D

[Weaver]

Get yourself over to the Betting Thread, dino, we could use your predictions for this weekend.

[Giggles]

3-0 England :D

That's the Qatar World Cup sewn up already then.

[Mellberg]

I've heard Ireland have pulled out due to a chronic factor 50 shortage?

[Giggles]

I've heard Ireland have pulled out due to a chronic factor 50 shortage?

I would be almost certain they wouldn't qualify so there's probably little need to pull out.

[John Arne]

Zambia beat Portugal 2-1 today :D

Elsewhere.,..

Iran 1-0 Costa Rica
Italy 0-1 Uruguay
S.Africa 1-2 Japan

[John Arne]

Approaching halftime, Vietnam are all over New Zealand... but still 0-0.

[hfswjyr]

I'm not even sure who are favourites in that match-up.

Hopefully we're a bit fitter than the Viets, and will run rampant in the second half.

[John Arne]

I'm not even sure who are favourites in that match-up.

Hopefully we're a bit fitter than the Viets, and will run rampant in the second half.

Good game, that. It was probably an even game in the end. I was a little surprised by the attitude of some of the Kiwi's - constantly moaning at the ref, refusing handshakes from the Viets, and gobbing off every 2 minutes. The guy up front, Devan, appears to be a monumental fucking prick - I really hope he gets smashed by the French. That said, Vietnam must have conceded about 40 fouls... it was constant :D

[-james-]

England are second best to an average Guinea side here. They will get pasted if they end up facing anyone decent.

[John Arne]

Absolutely stunning own goal by England :D

[John Arne]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCfDpWDaRwY

[John Arne]

South Korea have just scored a beaut to go 1-0 up against the Argies.

[John Arne]

A good example of why the Video Assistant Ref won't necessarily always work... a French player just went down in the box, clearly a dive, yet the ref decided to award a penalty and not bother with the VAR. Fortunately, Thuram's son tried a panenka and hit the bar.
0-0.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Zambia and Fashion Sakala absolutely donning this senseless, I see. Heroes. Followed up the win over Portugal by coming from 2-0 down to beat Iran 4-2.

'Turn to the left... turn to the right...'

[-james-]

France at any youth level are a vile entity. Just won a penalty against Vietnam 10 minutes in and Kean-Kevin Augustin has hit a Panenka off the bar and onto the keeper, which about sums them up.

Lillian Thuram's son has just put them ahead from a corner by virtue of being half a metre taller than anyone else in the box.

[John Arne]

Men against boys, physically and technically. 2-0, could be 5-0.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Any white players?

Although you could say that about the adult league there tbh.

[John Arne]

Any white players?

Although you could say that about the adult league there tbh.

2.5 or 3.5 - difficult to tell on this awful stream I have.

[-james-]

The keeper, the left back and one of the central midfielders, I think. About half the side are Ligue 1 regulars which makes this a bit unfair really.

They're probably the best team in it, really hope they cock it up.

Every other European side looks crap. I'd have Uruguay and Venezuela as the other stand out sides. Hosts look handy too.

[John Arne]

England were pretty clinical against the Argies. Didn't play particularly well, but did the job.

[John Arne]

Actually, completely forgot about the Guinea game - that was fucking awful.

[-james-]

For clinical, see: lucky.

I can't quite believe how shit England are.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I can. None of the players out there will be remotely interested. The public isn't remotely interested.

[-james-]

It's a valid point in the sense that the Guineans are playing for a move out of poverty. The gulf in ability was pretty evident though, not beating that lot is very embarrassing.

The French are definitely a lot better than these Vietnamese and care a lot less, but they're still beating them 4-0.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Dominic Solanke has already had some contract war with Chelsea, Lewis Cook has already been bought for £6 million, Ademola Lookman for £10 million, the list goes on. English football is money-oriented and these guys have nothing to gain even from winning and starring at this tournament, because nobody in their market (English top flight) is watching. Not caring leads to disjointed, half arsed football.

Even the French have more to gain.

[John Arne]

Was it Daniel Sturridge who sulked out of City as an 18 year old because they wouldn't give him $40,000-a-week?

For reference, most of the Vietnamese players won't be picking up a salary at all - and the one who are, will be earning around $200-$800 a month.

[John Arne]

South Korea v England just kicked off. Bright start by both teams. The ref is blowing for absolutely everything.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Germany 3-2 Vanuatu sounds like a laugh.

[John Arne]

1-0 England :drool:

[John Arne]

Video replay for a dirty Korean stamp....

[John Arne]

3 minutes and counting.

It wont interrupt the flow of the game, they said......

[John Arne]

4 minutes later... the ref waves play on. Brilliant.

[John Arne]

England 2-0 up against Costa Rica in the last 16.

[John Arne]

Why is every young black England player a God botherer?

England 1-0 against Mexico in the quarters.

Onomah sent off for absolutely nothing - he had the ball, the Mexican puts his foot under Onomah's and somehow Onomah is yellow carded. Again, this makes a bit of a mockery of the VAR - how is a sending off not game changing incident?

[Browning]

That video referee decision Vs Italy is a complete farce. How can they get the same decision wrong twice in two different ways?

[John Arne]

The whole VAR has been a bit of a mess. It takes too long (3-5 minutes), and seemingly they still haven't always made the correct decisions. Then you have one of England's best players missing the semi's because the ref made the wrong decision, but it didn't get referred to the VAR.

In the Italy-Zambia, like you said, the Italian player should never have been sent off, and also the free-kick that led to Italy's goal was a massive dive - it just seems like if we have Video Replays - you have to have them for almost everything - why are certain situations more important than others??

[Jimmy Floyd]

We will end up having them for everything and a game of football will last about six hours (lots of ads, everyone's happy).

[John Arne]

We will end up having them for everything and a game of football will last about six hours (lots of ads, everyone's happy).

Unfortunately, you're probably right.
I have never been a fan of video replays - bit if we do have to have them - perhaps we need to "each team gets 2 appeals" or something - to limit the number of times that it is used.

[Jimmy Floyd]

A 2 appeal system would be quality. If Shane Watson's bad at reviewing, imagine how bad Mark Hughes will be.

[Browning]

Is the England game on TV anywhere?

[-james-]

Eurosport and beIN.

[John Arne]

Venezuela await the winner in the final.

[John Arne]

0-1 already :face:

[John Arne]

The left back Kyle Walker has the positional sense of a toad. He was caught out a lot against the bean counters, and was caught out again for the Italy goal.

[John Arne]

Fucking hell the Italians are a bunch of diving, feigning injury twats.

[John Arne]

1-1. Well deserved, too.

[John Arne]

Get the fuck in.

3-1 to England.

[-james-]

:cool:

[John Arne]

Italy deserved that simply for the way they celebrated that first goal.

[Jimmy Floyd]

England v Venezuela final. Does not compute.

[John]

Venezuela appear to have made four subs in their game earlier. Is this tournament played under friendly rules or something?

[Browning]

I assume one was in Extra Time, where certain tournaments are allowing a 4th sub (including the FA Cup) but if not then I have no idea.

[Danny]

I think they are using the extra sub in extra time rule

[John]

Yeah it was deep into extra time, so that explains it. I didn't know the FA Cup was using that rule too. I like it.

[Browning]

Yea, I think it was only from the Quarter Finals or something, but Man City used it against Arsenal. Hopefully it gets extended further next year.

[niko_cee]

I'm liking the SSN spin on this being a 'Merseyside' inspired win. Erm, alright.

[Shindig]

Shame these lads are all at clubs that don't know what to do with them. Ourselves included.

[Baz]

That Penaranda bloke looks handy for Venezuela.

[John]

Plays for Watford, bizarrely.

[John Arne]

1-0 England.

[Ian]

Whoops, I was posting about this in the other thread. This midget who's just come on for Venezuela is comedically small.

Nearly a fucking peach for 2-0.

[John Arne]

I'm glad Penaranda missed that. He's a petulant little runt.

[Ian]

That penalty save from Woodman, and the way it bounced right back along the goalmouth, is the sort that'd have you fuming "That never happens" if your goalie did it on FM. Great save though to get the hand there.

Also whoever the co-commentator is is fucking annoying.

[-james-]

Apparently Fariñez in goal for Venezuela is only 5ft9. Shame, he's looked really good to me.

[John Arne]

Tim Vickery reckons he's very, very good. He's the senior number 1 already, at 19.

[Samadini]

Soteldo does seem to be about 1 foot 4 :cool:

Think he's tackled himself more than an England defender has tackled him.

[Kikó]

This is the greatest group of England players for twenty years.

[Shindig]

All hail our double-barreled overlords.

[Yevrah]

Nice.

Knew we'd win a World Cup in my lifetime.

[Kikó]

Nice achievement that. England never win anything notable at any level.

[John Arne]

Surprised that Maitland-Niles isn't closer to the Arsenal first team - he's been great all tournament.

[John Arne]

Why does the commentator think that penalty decision was a normal VAR process. "Only 38 seconds".... well yeah, it didn't go to Video Replay - when it does, it takes 3-4 minutes, and they still don't get the decision right.

[Shindig]

Only caught the last 15 but it seemed like a good effort. Venezuela had a touch of flamboyance whilst England carried strength and composure. Both sets of teams have a decent future ahead of them.

[Bam]

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the first non-West Ham player to score in a football World Cup final for England. :nodd:

[John Arne]

Soteldo does seem to be about 1 foot 4 :cool:

Think he's tackled himself more than an England defender has tackled him.

He was brilliant when he came on though.

[Ian]

Yeah, Venezuela seemed to improve a lot as soon as he came on, even if it wasn't like he was single-handedly doing it all.

[Giggles]

Will that fact that England are champions elect for the main one now mean they can finally cancel Qatar?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

The all new Golden Generation :drool:

[Pleb]

This match should be taped and shown in a dark locked up panic room to the senior side and Southgate.

[Dquincy]

All hail our double-barreled overlords.
:D Made me lol.

[Disco]

I heard this lot refered to this morning as the 'next golden generation' of English players. Surely the last lot gave up the right to be called that after not winning anything at all.

[phonics]

Surprised that Maitland-Niles isn't closer to the Arsenal first team - he's been great all tournament.

Think he'll be Coquelin for next year. Rolled out in the defensive games.