Under20 World Cup Groups DrawnEngland given tough group

England have been handed a tough draw this morning after the Group Stages were drawn for the Under-20 World Cup Finals which is being held this year in Columbia.
England begin their campaign against North Korea but then have to play Mexico and arguably the best team at Under-20 level Argentina.
Brian Eastwicks side haven't covered themselves in glory in the past. The best the U20's have achived was a third place finish, beating Australia in 1993. Argentina on the other hand have won five of the last eight competitions so will no doubt be favourites to lift the trophy this year.
Mexico are five-time quarter finalists so are no mugs but England who could play Jack Wilshere, Jack Rodwell and Danny Welbeck should have enough to get past them and then there's North Korea
In the 2010 World Cup North Korea gave their all but just didn't have the skills or experience to put their stamp on the tournament and that is what is expected from their kids.
We are still waiting for the line-up to be completed. One game has yet to be played. New Zealand play Solomon Island for the final place which will see them in Group B with Portugal, Cameroon and Uruguay.

Do you think we should send in the big guns and go for glory or should the Premier League be the main priotity and let the likes of Wilshere and Rodwell get a pre-season under their belt ready for the new season.
Leave a comment.

Group Stages:

A) Colombia, France, Mali, South Korea
B) Portugal, Uruguay, Cameroon, New Zealand/Solomon Islands
C) Australia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Spain
D) Croatia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Guatemala
E) Brazil, Egypt, Australia, Panama
F) Argentina, Mexico, England, North Korea

Tournament begins July 29th until August 20th

Uruguay 2 Germany 3

Scorers:  Cavani (Uru), Forlan (Uru), Muller (Ger), Jansen (Ger), Khedira (Ger)

Attendance: 36007

Germany took bronze for the fourth time at the FIFA World Cup™ after beating Uruguay 3-2 in an entertaining play-off for third place. Sami Khedira got the winning goal with eight minutes remaining as Joachim Low's side repeated their success in this same match four years ago.

There was no shortage of goals as the rain came teeming down in Port Elizabeth with both sides eager to conclude impressive campaigns on a winning note. Thomas Muller and Edinson Cavani traded first half efforts before Diego Forlan and Marcell Jansen did likewise within ten minutes of the restart. Yet it was Germany who came out on top and, in the process, South Africa 2010's leading scorers reached the 16-goal mark, surpassing their total at Italy 1990, albeit falling one short of their tally in 1970, when they also pipped Uruguay to the bronze medal.

For two of the scorers, Muller and Forlan, their strikes took them to five for the tournament, level with David Villa and Wesley Sneijder at the top of the adidas Golden Boot standings. Forlan will rue the injury-time free-kick against the crossbar that denied him a sixth goal, while Miroslav Klose's absence with a back injury left him rooted on five too.

Both teams featured changed lineups after their semi-final losses. Germany coach Joachim Low went for a wholly new forward line from that which began against Spain with starting roles for the trio of Muller, Cacau and Jansen. Further back Dennis Aogo came in for Philipp Lahm and goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt for Manuel Neuer. As for Uruguay, they welcomed back captain Diego Lugano from injury together with Jorge Fucile and Luis Suarez, both suspended for last Tuesday's defeat by the Netherlands.

Muller made his mark early with his fifth goal in South Africa. The 20-year-old had already had one effort ruled out for offside when he fired Low’s side ahead in the 19th minute. Bastian Schweinsteiger sent in a shot from 30 yards that goalkeeper Diego Muslera, seemingly deceived by the swerve and dip, parried straight to Muller who had an easy task to score. A German breakthrough was hardly a surprise given by that stage they had also seen Arne Friedrich head a Mesut Ozil corner against the crossbar yet Oscar Tabarez's side soon responded.

Uruguay threatened in the 25th minute when Per Mertesacker got a block on Forlan's far-post header. Four minutes later, though, they had their equaliser from a swift counter. Diego Perez dispossessed Schweinsteiger just inside the Celeste half with a powerful challenge and fed Suarez who played in Cavani down the inside left-channel. The Palermo striker took one touch before prodding a low finish into the bottom corner. Suarez should then have put Uruguay ahead three minutes before the break when Forlan picked out his diagonal run but bearing down on Butt's goal from the right, he arrowed his shot wide of the far post.

Futher changes went begging moments after the restart when Butt saved at Cavani's feet and then got a hand to Suarez’s shot on the follow-up. Butt was left helpless when Forlan made it 2-1 after 51 minutes, however. The Atletico Madrid striker connected acrobatically with Egidio Arevalo's cross on the edge of the box, sending the ball into the rain-sodden turf and back up past Butt. Yet the lead lasted only five minutes before Muslera missed Jerome Boateng's deep cross and Jansen headed home.

The game was now wide open as both teams chased a third goal. Butt kept out a flying strike from Suarez and came out to save at the feet of Forlan. At the other end Muslera beat away a shot from Germany substitute Stefan Kiessling, who missed two other inviting chances. The winning goal, when it came, followed an Ozil corner. The ball bounced off Friedrich and then Lugano before rising fortuitously to Khedira who headed home.

Uruguay 2 Holland 3

Scorers: Forlan (Uru), Pereira (Uru), Van Bronckhorst (Hol), Sneijder (Hol), Robben (Hol)

Attendance: 62479

The Netherlands will face either Spain or Germany in the Final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ after beating Uruguay by the odd goal in five in the first of the tournament’s semi-finals at Cape Town’s Green Point Stadium. Bert van Marwijk’s side were worthy of their victory but were made to work hard for it in an eventful last four encounter punctuated by excellent goals from Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Diego Forlan, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Maximiliano Pereira.

Having gone into this match on a record 24-match unbeaten streak, the Dutch started as favourites, and it was a tag they would justify during an entertaining first half. Van Marwijk’s side certainly began in positive fashion, with Robben darting beyond his marker at the first opportunity inside four minutes. Sneijder profited from his former Real Madrid team-mate’s dynamism, curling in a right-foot cross that, following an unconvincing punch from Fernando Muslera, was hurriedly controlled and volleyed just over by the lively Dirk Kuyt.

It was an early moment of concern for La Celeste, but they recovered admirably and, with the pace of the game dropping, looked to be comfortably holding the Oranje at bay. With the Dutch threat minimal, the Uruguayan defenders would have been forgiven for not sensing any immediate danger when Van Bronckhorst picked up the ball over 30 yards from goal, close to the left touchline. Yet it was from this seemingly unthreatening position that the Dutch captain unleashed a stunning left-foot shot that Muslera, despite applying a despairing touch, could only divert into the top corner via the inside of the post.

It was a magnificent strike, a cast-iron contender for goal of the tournament, and it gave the Netherlands an advantage they continued to prove worthy of as the half progressed. However, the Dutch were not the only team capable of conjuring a goal out of nothing, with Forlan providing an equally unexpected equaliser four minutes before the break.

Uruguay’s captain for the night had hitherto been relatively subdued, but the Dutch defence made the mistake of affording him too much space 25 yards from goal – and were ruthlessly punished. Shaping to spread the ball wide, Forlan instead turned inside on his left foot and curled in a superb left-foot shot that, thanks partly to a slight deflection off the head of John Heitinga, deceived the wrong-footed Maarten Stekelenburg.

Uruguay started the second half with something to build on, therefore, and they looked the more threatening of the two sides early on, with Van Bronckhorst forced to head off the line from a Pereira effort and Stekelenburg parrying clear a goal-bound Forlan free-kick.

The Dutch were unruffled, however, and their patient probing at the other end almost paid dividends when Robin van Persie’s intelligent reverse pass teed up substitute Rafael van der Vaart for a shot from the left-hand edge of the box. With the strike accurate and firmly struck, Muslera could only parry clear, but Robben proved unable to gobble up the rebound, blazing over from an acute angle.

Denied on this occasion, the Dutch moved in front a couple of minutes later, as Sneijder scored his fifth goal of the tournament, again benefiting from a telling deflection, this time off the thigh of Pereira, that sent his 20-yard shot spinning past Muslera. Uruguay needed a response, and quickly, but with 17 minutes remaining their hopes were all but ended when Robben doubled the Netherlands’ advantage.

A terrific goal it was too, with the Dutch winger sneaking in unnoticed to bullet a textbook header in off the base of the left-hand post from a measured Kuyt cross. Pereira did score an equally excellent consolation, converting expertly with a curling left-foot shot from a quickly-taken free-kick, but this injury-time effort was to prove too little, too late for the last of the non-European representatives

Suarez Available For The Final

Today it has been announced Uruguay striker Luis Suarez will only have to face a one match ban for his red card against Ghana on Friday
In the 119th minute Suarez cleared the ball of his own goalline to stop Ghana from snatching a 2-1 win.  Asamoah Gyan missing the resulting penalty and it was thought he may recieve a 3 match ban for hus antics.
Uruguay went on to win the match via a penalty shoot out setting up a semi final clash against Holland and should they beat the Dutch on Tuesday then their talisman will be availavle for selection for the final.
Although Diego Forland has been getting teh headlines Suarez's contribution still makes him a vital member of the squad.  He is in lethal form for his club, Ajax, where last season he scored 35 goals in 33 games.  So far he has scored 3 goals in the World Cup finals but he will be hoping to add to his tally in the Final itself.
It is thought Palermo striker Edinson Cavani will take Suarez's place against the Dutch.

Uruguay 1 Ghana 1 (Uruguay win 4-2 on penalties)

Scorers: Forlan (Uru), Muntari (Gha)

Attendance: 84017

Ghana became the final African team to say goodbye to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, losing in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to Uruguay after a 1-1 quarter-final draw at Johannesburg's Soccer City. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved efforts from Stephen Appiah and Dominic Adiyiah, before Sebastian Abreu converted the decisive spot-kick for the South Americans, who reach the last four for the first time since 1970.

The Black Stars will have to be content with having become just the third side from the continent to make the quarter-final stage, although they could have won the match with the final kick of extra time after Luis Suarez handled a goal-bound effort on the line. But with Suarez sent off, their top scorer, Asamoah Gyan, smashed a penalty off the bar that would have tipped the scales to the Africans after Sulley Muntari and Diego Forlan had scored either side of half-time.

Uruguay started the match on the front foot, looking dangerous from dead-ball situations and through the dynamic duo of Forlan and Suarez up front. Suarez had the first real chance in the 11th minute when he beat a Ghanaian defender down the the left. He cut into the box but blasted his shot right at goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

Kingson was the hero for the west Africans twice in short succession. In the 18th minute, from Forlan's corner, he reacted quickly to keep out the ball after it deflected off John Mensah and was seemingly destined for the back of the net. Seven minutes later, he rescued another defender, this time Isaac Vorsah, who missed a tackle allowing Suarez in on goal. But the net-minder just got his fingertips to Suarez's effort to push it over acrobatically.

The Black Stars then settled into the match and only narrowly missed going ahead twice near the half-hour mark. From Ghana's first corner, Vorsah headed just wide of the post. A minute later, Gyan skimmed the other post after a strong run and cross from Kevin Prince Boateng. The Portsmouth midfielder almost opened the scoring himself in spectacular fashion in the 45th minute, but his overhead kick in front of goal spun off his foot. However, the west Africans got their breakthrough on the stroke of half-time as Muntari scored with a curling 35-yard shot that seemed to deceive the goalkeeper before finding the left-hand corner.

But if they ended the first period on a high, the Black Stars started the second on a low as Forlan's free-kick from near the left corner of the box fooled Kingson with its swerve in the 55th minute and bulged the net. The Atletico Madrid hit-man continued to play with confidence and in the 63rd minute he brought the ball down well on the left side of the box in a dangerous position. His cross beat Kingson, but Suarez, who had three goals coming into the match, could only volley into the side-netting at the far post.

As the match opened up and both teams searched for a winner, Suarez had another good opportunity in the 71st minute but from a tight angle on the left he could not beat Kingson, who punched over. Uruguay then threatened twice from Forlan free-kicks. First, he screamed in a shot that beat the keeper but went into the side-netting and next he found Suarez in the box, but the Ajax man's header was tipped over.

Ghana had the clearest opportunities in extra time. Gyan flashed an open header over the bar in the 110th minute, and five minutes later, defender Andres Scotti did just enough to scramble the ball away when it looked like the Ghanaian would score. Boateng almost won it minutes from time, but his header screamed agonisingly wide. And then at the death, from a free-kick into the box, Suarez blocked Appiah's shot on the line only to then stop Adiyiah's headed follow-up with his hand to set up Gyan's penalty miss.

With the gasps of a stunned Soccer City still ringing in the ears, Gyan bravely stepped up to immediately convert the first penalty in the shoot-out. Maxi Pereira missed his spot-kick for the Uruguayans, but two consecutive saves by Muslera set up Abreu to be the hero

Uruguay 2 South Korea 1

Scorers: Suarez (Uru) 2 goals, Chung Yong Lee (SK)

Attendance: 30597

Luis Suarez struck twice as Uruguay beat Korea Republic 2-1 in Port Elizabeth to reach the FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finals for the first time since 1970. The South Koreans pushed hard but Lee Chung-Yong's header in the second half was not enough with Suarez scoring both early and late on for the South Americans.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez made one change to the team that defeated Mexico 1-0 in their final group match, with Diego Godin replacing Mauricio Victorino at the back. Back at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where his side beat Greece 2-0 in their opening game, Korea Republic coach Huh Jung-Moo made a notable change to his midfield, with winger Kim Jae-Sung making his first start in place of Yeom Ki-Hun.

The South Koreans got off to a bright start, with their captain Park Ji-Sung running through the middle of the park to the edge of the area only for Diego Lugano to cut out his attempted through-pass. Minutes later, they came desperately close to taking the lead, Park Chu-Young's curling free-kick from 20 yards smashing the left post as Fernando Muslera stood watching helplessly. Instead it was La Celeste who drew first blood in the eighth minute, when an unmarked Suarez, lurking on the right side of the area, turned the loose ball into an empty net after Jung Sung-Ryong had failed to deal with Diego Forlan's low cross from the left.

The Taeguk Warriors probed away, looking for holes in the stubborn Uruguay defence that had not conceded a goal in the first round. Park Ji-Sung surged down the left but saw his low cross blocked by a timely intervention, then Park Chu-Young tried his luck with an effort from 25 yards that went just wide of the left post. It was Cha Du-Ri's turn next but he saw his audacious shot from 30 yards sail just over the crossbar.

With the rain pouring down in the second half, Kim Jung-Woo almost paid for a sloppy pass across the back, with Suarez intercepting but failing to trouble Jung with a tame shot. At the other end, Lugano's attempted clearance from a Lee Jung-Soo cross fell into the path of Park Chu-Young, who fired a powerful volley over the bar. Park Ji-Sung then managed to connect with a Cha cross from the right, but Muslera did well to hold on to his header, jumping to his left.

South Korean coach Huh had no other option but to reinforce the attack, and brought striker Lee Dong-Gook on for Kim Jae-Sung on the hour mark. The Asian side finally broke through after 68 minutes, when Lugano's headed clearance from Ki Sung-Yueng's free-kick fell to an unmarked Lee Chung-Yong, who headed home the equaliser from close range to finally end Muslera's lengthy unbeaten run. However, the Uruguayans fought back. Suarez saw his shot from an acute angle parried over by Jung, before the Ajax forward then miscued his header with only the keeper to beat. But the Uruguay No9 made no mistake when the ball came to his way on the edge of the box following a Forlan corner, sidestepping a white shirt and curling a spectacular shot in off the far post to make it 2-1.

The Koreans responded by bringing on another forward, Yeom Ki-Hun, for midfielder Ki, and within two minutes, Lee Dong-Gook spurned a glorious chance to equalise as the Jeonbuk Motors marksman saw his low shot half-stopped by Muslera before Lugano cleared the ball as it trickled slowly towards the net. With that, the South Koreans' final opportunity had passed as La Celeste held on to book their place in the last eight.

Mexico 0 Uruguay 1

Scorer: Suarez (Uru)

Attendance: 33425

Uruguay finished top of Group A thanks to a hard-fought 1-0 win over Mexico at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg, but the defeat was ultimately sufficient for El Tri to join their conquerors in the Round of 16.

Joint-leaders Uruguay and Mexico went into their final group match safe in the knowledge that a draw would be enough for both of them to reach the knockout phase. But it was a must-win for the Mexicans if they were to avoid a likely encounter with the formidable Argentinians in the last 16. Both coaches opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with the only one notable change being veteran Mexico forward Cuauhtemoc Blanco starting for the first time in place of the injured Carlos Vela.

The stadium was filled with a large contingent of El Tri supporters hours before the kick-off, and the Mexicans soon began to find their rhythm with the the waves of 'ole' coming from the stands. However, it was the Uruguayans who had the first attack of note. Luis Suarez missed a glorious chance to put his side ahead on five minutes, when the Ajax marksman sent his shot just wide of the left post after collecting a loose ball from a defensive mistake from Hector Moreno.

Mexico fought back midway through the first half, with Andres Guardado hitting the crossbar with an audacious left-foot drive from 30 yards. Guardado and Giovani dos Santos then managed to find space on the left, but were unable to create clear-cut chances to break down one of the meanest defences in the competition. With half-time approaching, Carlos Salcido tried his luck from distance but the ball sailed well over the bar.

Just as the first half seemed to be ending goalless, La Celeste seized their opportunity on 43 minutes. Edinson Cavani broke down the right channel to send a looping cross to the far post, where Suarez headed home from close range to make it 1-0.

With South Africa leading France 2-0 at the interval in Bloemfontein, Mexico could not afford to concede more goals. But the Uruguayans surged forward right after the break, with Diego Lugano’s point-blank header off a Diego Forlan free-kick forcing a brilliant save from Oscar Perez. At the opposite end, substitute Pablo Barrera sent an inviting cross from the right, only for Francisco Rodriguez to send a glancing header just wide of Fernando Muslera’s goal.

Although Mexico put the pressure on by bringing Javier Hernandez on for Blanco after the hour mark, Uruguay's defence looked even more impenetrable as time wore on. And despite enjoying more possession of the ball, Mexico failed to find a way through as Uruguay completed a hat-trick of clean sheets for the first time in their FIFA World Cup™ history.

South Africa 0 Uruguay 3

Scorers: Forlan (Uru) 2 goals, A.Pereira (Uru)

Attendance: 42658

Diego Forlan silenced the crowd for the first time during South Africa 2010 with a wonder-strike worthy of any stage, and was on target from the spot as Uruguay took a step closer to the last 16 with a 3-0 win over the hosts. Alvaro Pereira sealed a comfortable victory for the South Americans with a stoppage-time tap-in.

South Africa, who hadn't beaten Uruguay in their previous two meetings, headed into this game in Pretoria knowing the hopes of the Rainbow Nation rested upon their shoulders, with both sides having picked up a point in their openings game in Group A. Carlos Alberto Parreira brought in Tsepo Masilela for Lucas Thwala in the hosts' starting line-up, while Uruguay opted to make two changes, with Edinson Cavani and Jorge Fucile coming in for Mauricio Victorino and Ignacio Gonzzlez.

Pretoria had been a lucky place for Bafana Bafana, who had not yet lost at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, but it was Uruguay who started the brighter. In the 23rd minute, Luis Suarez teased his way past Bongani Khumalo before stinging the palms of Itumelenge Khune. It was clearly a warning shot of what was to come and, within 60 seconds, the South Americans were ahead through Forlan.

Khune had clearly not been expecting the Atletico Madrid forward to unleash a shot from 30 yards out, and stood rooted to the spot as his stunning drive, taking a slight deflection off the back of Aaron Mokoena, dipped over his head and into the back of the net.

The second half started as the first had finished, with Oscar Tabarez's side threatening to add to their lead. Cavani was first denied an opportunity to strike at goal thanks to some smart defending by Tsepo Masilela, Diego Lugano might have been wheeling off in celebration had he made any kind of decent connection with Forlan's inviting corner-kick, and, in the 67th minute, the lively Pareira was guilty of scuffing a gilt-edged chance wide.

Bafana Bafana were still being frustrated in their search for an equalising goal, but when the chances did present themselves, the South African failed to profit. Tego Mphela couldn't direct a header from Sibiniso Gaxa's cross, Pienaar's attempted shot was blocked, and Modise's 68th minute shot, South Africa's first on target, was easily smothered.

The host nation's hopes of making it past the group stages for the first time in their FIFA World Cup history were dealt a hammer blow in the 76th minute when Khune was adjudged to have brought down Suarez, prompting the referee to point to the spot, before flashing a red card at the South African keeper. Forlan stepped up to take the resulting penalty and made no mistake in smashing the ball past the deputising Moneeb Josephs.

Mphela and Tshabalala both had chances to reduce the deficit in the closing stages but, in the end, there was little the hosts could do to deny Uruguay a deserved and vital three points. Indeed, the South Americans added insult to injury in stoppage time as Alvaro Pereira was given the space to tap in Suarez's inviting cross.

South Africa: 16. Khune, 2. Gaxa, 3. Masilela, 4. Mokoena, 8. Tshabalala, 9. Mphela, 10. Pienaar, 11. Modise, 12. Letsholonyane, 13. Dikgacoi, 20. Khumalo

Subs Used: 1. Josephs, 19. Moriri

Uruguay: 1. Muslera, 2. Lugano, 3. Godin, 4. Fucile, 7. Cavani, 9. Suarez, 10. Forlan, 11. A.Pereira, 15. Perez, 16. M.Pereira, 17. Arevalo Rios

Subs Used: 5. Gargano, 20. A.Fernandez, 21, S.Fernandez

Uruguay 0 France 0

Scorers: None
Attendance: 64,000


After the high of the first game we were all brought back down to earth with an almighty bump.  These two teams were tipped as everyone's favorites to finish 1st and 2nd.  I personally expected a very open and entertaining match but what we got was a dull, dour and disappointing affair.  There was the occasional shot which threatened to wake up the watching public but the people that watched this match will not be remembering it for too long.
Only real highlight was in the second half.  Substitute Nicholas Lodeiro daft challenge on Bacary Sagna after already being booked mean't he became the first player of the tournament to see red.
Thats all that can really be said in this game really.
All in all it was an OK start to the World Cup.  Lets hope tomorrow's matches are more like the first game today then this dross.


Uruguay:  1. Muslera, 2. Lugano, 3. Godin, 6. Victorino, 9. Suarez, 10. Forlan, 11 Alvaro Pereira, 15. Perez 16. Maximiliano Pereira, 17. Arevalo, 18. Gonzalez
Subs Used: 8. Eguren, 13. Abreu, 14. Lodeiro


France: 1. Lloris, 2. Sagna, 3. Abidal, 5. Gallas, 7. Ribery, 8. Gourcuff, 10. Govou, 13. Evra, 14, Toulalon, 19. Diaby, 21 Anelka
Subs Used: 11. Gignac, 12. Henry, 15. Malouda