European hopefuls take world stage

By Andrew Haslam

Spain are bidding to avenge their narrow defeat by Brazil in the FIFA World Youth Championship final two years ago as this year's event in the Netherlands gets under way, although the competition looks stronger than ever.

Late heartbreak
In the 2003 final in the United Arab Emirates, a goal from Brazil's Fernandinho three minutes from time broke Spanish hearts and ended Armando Ufarte's team's hopes of adding to the crown they claimed in 1999. Spanish hopes of another impressive showing over the next three weeks are high, with the likes of Arsenal FC's Cesc Fabregas, Jesús Navas of Sevilla FC and Real Zaragoza's Alberto Zapater, breaking through at club level this season.

Group C test
Iñaki Sáez's team arrive in the Netherlands as holders of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship having won the trophy in dramatic fashion last summer, Borja Valero's last-minute strike earning a 1-0 success against Turkey in Nyon. The forward is absent this time as Spain's 18-man party prepare to contest Group C with Chile - fourth at the CONMEBOL Juventud de América earlier this year - Morocco, who also finished fourth in their continental championships, the CAF African Under-20 Championship, and Honduras.

Two Europeans
Turkey, meanwhile, have been drawn alongside Ukraine in Group B. Striker Ali Öztürk scored four times in the 2004 European U19 Championship finals and is likely to be the main goal threat again, while Ukraine - who unexpectedly reached the semi-finals in Switzerland - will again draw mainly on FC Dynamo Kyiv players. Also in the section are China, runners-up in the 2004 AFC Asian Under-20 Championship, and Panama, who edged out Costa Rica in Central American qualification.

Dutch talent
Tournament hosts the Netherlands are in Group A and coach Foppe de Haan has a wealth of talent at his disposal. The Dutch still face a stern examination, however, with Australia having scored 46 goals in five games to win the OFC Oceania Under-20 World Cup qualifying tournament in January, while Japan finished third in last year's Asian Under-20 Championship and have pedigree in this competition, having reached the 1999 final. Benin claimed bronze at the African Under-20 Championship on home soil five months ago.

German reshuffle
Group D could be the tightest section with Germany having suffered late disruption to their squad, Mario Gomez and Lukas Sinkiewicz pulling out with a ligament injury and tonsillitis, respectively. Michael Skibbe's side are drawn against four-time winners Argentina, although at this year's Juventud de América, Colombia and Brazil pushed the Argentinians out of the top two for the first time since 1995. The United States won all three CONCACAF qualification games, while Egypt reached the final of the African U20 Championship.

Swiss strength
The 2003 European U19 champions Italy are in Group E, which features South American U20 title-holders Colombia, Canada and Syria. Brazil and Nigeria look like being the two sides to beat in Group F, meanwhile, with the holders having won this competition four times while Nigeria are the reigning African champions. Pierre-André Schürmann's impressive-looking Switzerland side, which includes the likes of Johan Vonlanthen, Tranquillo Barnetta, Reto Ziegler and Philippe Senderos, will hope to upset the established order, as will Asian champions the Korean Republic.

July final
The top two sides in each section, together with the four best third-placed sides, progress to the last 16, which will be played on 21 and 22 June. The quarter-finals take place on 24 and 25 June, with the last four teams contesting the semi-finals on 28 June. The final will be held in Utrecht on 2 July.