Monday, September 19, 2005

FIFA U-17 World Champions

The 11th FIFA U-17 World Cup started in Peru this weekend. Traditionally, these tournaments have been dominated by African teams, although the defending champions are Brazil. The table shows the history of the tournament that started in 1985:

China
1985

Nigeria

West
Germany

Brazil

Guinea

Canada
1987

USSR

NigeriaIvory
Coast
Italy

Scotland
1989

Saudi
Arabia

Scotland

Portugal

Bahrain

Italy
1991

Ghana

Spain

Argentina

Qatar

Japan
1993

Nigeria

Ghana

Chile

Poland

Ecuador
1995

Ghana

Brazil

Argentina

Oman

Egypt
1997

Brazil

Ghana

Spain

Germany

New
Zealand
1999

Brazil

Australia

Ghana

USA

Trinidad
& Tobago 2001

France

Nigeria

Burkina
Faso

Argentina

Finland
2003

Brazil

Spain

Argentina

Colombia

Peru
2005






This time, the Africans are also some of the teams to watch. Actually, the defending champs from Brazil, started by losing 1-3 to the African champions from Gambia.
Netherlands, Mexico, Italy and USA have also started with victories, while the Peruvian hosts started by playing 1-1 with Ghana in a very tight group A.
The tournament might not reflect as much the real football strength at senior level asfor instance the U-21 World Cup. However, many young stars have played this tournament before, and it is likely that more than one future football star is playing for the glory of his country in Peru these days.

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