FRANCE: France finished second in the European U-16 Championship, after being upset by Spain, 1-0, on a controversial penalty kick in the final May 6. The “Mini Bleus” were so dominant in their eight games leading up to the final that they outscored their opponents, 38-0. The wins included a 4-0 victory over host England in the semifinals of the European U-16 Championship to qualify for T&T 2001. The French team includes three of the most highly touted young players in Europe: ò Playmaker Mourade Menghi, signed by Italian club Bologna from INF Clairefontaine (French equivalent of Bradenton) and called the little Zidane; ò Reunion-born striker Florent Sinama Pongolle, who had six goals at the U-16 Euro finals; ò Le Havre striker Anthony Le Tallec (five goals), who is courted by Arsenal and Manchester United. JAPAN: The Japanese finished third in the 2000 Asian Youth U-16 Championship. They lost to Oman in the semifinals before rebounding to top host Vietnam in the third-place match. Khozo Tashima’s team started the 2000 Asian Youth Under-16 Championship by going undefeated in four group play games to advance to the semifinals. Japan lost, 3-2, to Oman in the semis after blowing a 2-0 lead but rebounded to top Vietnam, 4-2, to grab the AFC’s final spot in Trinidad & Tobago. Japan was led by Sho Kitano and Yutaro Abe, who tied for the Asian U-16 scoring title with six goals apiece. Japan’s other key player is Naoya Kikuchi. The U.S. fell to Japan in the only meeting in the Under-17 World Championship, losing, 2-1 at Ecuador ’95. NIGERIA: The Golden Eaglets, winners of the first under-17 title in 1985 and again in 1993, won the African championship, beating Burkina Faso, 3-0, in the final. Nigeria clinched one of three berths with a victory over rising African youth power Mali in the semifinals. The Nigerian player to watch is striker Collins Osunwa, who tied for the scoring title at the African tournament in the Seychelles.