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FOOTBALL fans across the world are preparing for a summer of international football with the Women’s World Cup, African Cup of Nations and Lionel Messi’s latest tilt at success with Argentina at the Copa America all on the agenda.
But over in Poland, football’s future stars have been playing their own version of the World Cup for the past couple of weeks, with the tournament now reaching the final stages.
The U20 World Cup is a competition which saw Messi burst onto the scene in 2005, and has featured a number of now household names including Dani Alves, Sergio Aguero and Paul Pogba.
It’s not very often one of these tournaments passes without at least one of its participants going on to become a big star.
For France and the United States, who met in a Round of 16 clash in Bydgoszcz on Tuesday, it is a chance not just to see who the stars of their future are but also assess who might be ready to make the step up to the senior side now.
France were the favourites going into the game, and can name the likes of Mickael Cuisance and Yacine Adli in their ranks among a host of potential stars.
The United States, meanwhile, have a promising group of players who provide great optimism for the future of their senior team. On a hot evening in northern Poland they were able to cause an upset, knocking out France thanks to a brace from Sebastian Soto and a late winner from substitute Justin Rennicks.
It is the third time in as many tournaments the US have progressed to the quarter-finals under their long-time coach Tab Ramos.
“It was a great team effort on a very hot day,” said Ramos of this latest win.
“It was difficult to play against what was an amazing opponent, and we came out on top. Hopefully we can keep this going.”
His side face South American U20 champions Ecuador in the quarter-final on Saturday, in what could be one of the highlights of the tournament so far.
The US have never really produced a global men’s soccer star, though the likes of Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and now Christian Pulisic have given it a go. But there’s every possibility this group of U20 players could provide one. The game against Ecuador could determine who.
