World Championship rearranged
Saturday, May 17, 2003
Article summary
The FIFA World Youth Championship, which was postponed in March, has been rescheduled for 27 November until 19 December 2003.
Article body
The FIFA World Youth Championship, which was postponed in March due to the threat of war in the Persian Gulf region, has been rescheduled for 27 November until 19 December 2003.
Unchanged draw
The new dates will see the tournament run for the same length of time as original dates (25 March-16 April). The groups, venues and kick-off times made at the event’s draw on 29 January 2003 are unchanged.
Spain in Group B
Spain, who qualified for the tournament by winning the 2002 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, will face reigning champions and recently crowned South American champions Argentina in Group B as well as Uzbekistan and Mali.
Eagerly awaited match
Argentina won the 2001 World Youth Championship by beating Ghana 3-0 in the final. In doing so they deposed Spain, who won the 1999 championship in Nigeria with a 4-0 triumph against Japan. The Group B match between the last two countries to lift the trophy will take place on 28 November in Sharjah.
Hope for Slovakia
Germany, beaten by Spain in the European U19 final in Oslo, have been placed in a competitive Group F section alongside Paraguay, United States and the Korean Republic. Meanwhile Slovakia, the surprise package at last summer's U19 event, will be hopeful of advancing from Group A, which also contains hosts United Arab Emirates, Panama and Burkina Faso. The Slovakians will have the honour of taking part in the opening game of the tournament against the hosts in Abu Dhabi on 27 November.
Other European sides
Republic of Ireland, who finished third in the tournament in 1997, will face Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Côte d'Ivoire in Group E while Czech Republic are alongside Brazil, Canada and Australia in Group C. England are in the potentially tight Group D which also includes Colombia, Egypt and Japan.
Tournament dates
The first two sides in each group will reach the last 16, with a further four third-placed sides also progressing. The final takes place on 19 December in Abu Dhabi.
2003 FIFA World Youth Championship draw
(NB: European sides in bold)
|
|
|