The USA is making its eighth appearance at the U-20 World Youth Championship. HereÆs a look at the tournament, By the Numbers By PAUL KENNEDY
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The United States has advanced as far as the quarterfinals twice. In 1989, it beat Iraq, 2-1. In 1993, it fell to Brazil 3-0.
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Brazil and Argentina have won three under-20 titles apiece, the most by any team. The Brazilians won in 1983, ’85 and ’93. The Argentines won in 1979, ’95 and ’97.
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The best U.S. finish at the Under-20 World Cup came in 1989 when the Americans finished fourth. The team was led by goalie Kasey Keller, who won the Silver Ball, finishing second in MVP balloting.
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Five of six Argentine cities that are venues for the World Youth Championship were venues at the 1978 World Cup: Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Cordoba, Rosario and Mendoza, where the United States will play in the first round. Salta is the sixth host city for Argentina 2001.
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Wolfgang Suhnholz’s U.S. squad includes seven players who were on the team that finished fourth at the 1999 Under-17 World Cup: D.J. Countess, Oguchi Onyewu, Alex Yi, Nelson Akwari, DaMarcus Beasley, Bobby Convey and Landon Donovan.
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Seven members of Canada’s U-20 team attend U.S. colleges: goalie Wojtek Zarzycki (Dartmouth), defenders Victor Oppong (Mobile), Bernard Ouassa (St. John’s), Chris Williams (Mobile) and strikers Rob Friend (Western Michigan), Justin Thompson (Fairfield) and Gaspare Borsellino (Mobile).
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The United States is making its eighth appearance in the World Youth Championship. Other appearances came in 1981, ’83, ’87, ’89, ’93, ’97 and ’99.
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Eight Americans have played in the World Youth Championship and then gone on to play in the World Cup: John Stollmeyer (1981 WYC); Paul Caligiuri, Hugo Perez, Tab Ramos (1983 WYC); Tony Meola, Marcelo Balboa (1987 WYC); Kasey Keller, Mike Burns (1989 WYC).
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FIFA expanded the under-20 championship from 16 to 24 teams in 1997.
Soccer America senior editor Scott French will be covering the World Youth Championship in Argentina for Soccer America Magazine and will be providing updates for SoccerAmericaDaily, which is available to Soccer America subscribers, who can sign up at www.mysocceramerica.com.
