By DAVID MOSSE
Brazilian soccer was recently pronounced dead by British magazine FourFourTwo, and, frankly, the
senior team did very little to dispel that notion at the Copa America, but Ney Franco's Under-20
side salvaged the summer by capturing Brazil's fifth World Youth Championship.
Brazilians looking ahead to the 2014 World Cup had to be a bit concerned after their national
team flamed out of the Copa America, but some of the confidence and excitement about 2014 was
replenished after Brazil's Under-20 team won the Under-20 World Cup on Saturday.
Brazil rode a hat-trick from Oscar to knock off Portugal, 3-2, in extra time.
By DAVID MOSSE
If Brazil intends to avoid the drama of another penalty shootout on Saturday when it takes on
Portugal in the final of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, Ney Franco's side must become the first team
to find the back of the net against Portugal, whose remarkable shutout streak in this tournament
reached 570 minutes following Wednesday's 2-0 semifinal victory over France.
Mexico's quest to capture the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups in the same summer came up two
wins short.
Brazil beat Mexico, 2-0, in a U-20 World Cup semifinal on Wednesday, getting two late goals from
Golden Boot front-runner Henrique in a four-minute span to eliminate the final CONCACAF
representative in the tournament.
By DAVID MOSSE
No country has been more irritated by the emergence of Spain in recent years than Brazil, which
always took for granted being the main attraction at every tournament and the great purveyor of The
Beautiful Game. A quarterfinal clash at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup might not seem like much, but
Brazilians hope Sunday's triumph over Spain in penalty kicks was a small step towards putting their
universe back in order.
By CALEB SONNELAND
Sergio Aguero is already beginning to look good for his money.
Despite reportedly not being 100% fit, Aguero came in as a second-half substitute for Manchester
City and notched two goals and an assist in a 4-0 rout of Swansea.
Aguero replaced Nigel de Jong three minutes after the hosts were put 1-0 thanks to Edin Dzeko in
the 57th, and it took only eight minutes to mark his debut with a goal — a cool finish following
a low Micah Richards cross at the far post.
By DAVID MOSSE
It would be disrespectful to six-time champions Argentina to call the upcoming quarterfinal
clash between Spain and Brazil the decisive match of the Under-20 World Cup, but the winner will
have incredible momentum heading into the semifinals.
By FRANCO PANIZO
Mexican national teams have won two international tournaments this summer, and El Tri's U-20
squad got one step closer to potentially making it three.
Mexico advanced to the quarterfinals of the U-20 World Cup after defeaing Cameroon in a penalty
shootout following a 1-1 draw.
By DAVID MOSSE
Spain's remarkable run of success recently might carry over into another tournament with Julen
Lopetegui's side looking like a serious contender to capture the FIFA U-20 World Cup after blitzing
through the group stage in dominating fashion.
The field at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup has been narrowed to 16 teams.
Spain, Nigeria and host Colombia were the only teams to win all of their matches in the group
stage, with Nigeria boasting a tournament-best +10 goal differential.
On the other end of the spectrum, Guatemala managed to qualify for the group stage after a late
goal lifted the first-time participants to a 1-0 victory over Croatia in their final group
game.
Host Colombia isn't the only South American team enjoying a strong start to the FIFA Under-20
World Cup.
Brazil routed Panama, 4-0, to win Group E, and Argentina shut out North Korea, 3-0, to win Group
F as both powers advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament Thursday night.
FIFA Under-20 World Cup host Colombia won't be leaving its own party early.
Colombia defeated Mali, 2-0, on Tuesday to become the first team to seal a place in the knockout
stage of the tournament.
Jose Valencia and James Rodriguez scored the goals, and FC Dallas Designated Player Fabian
Castillo made his tournament debut, entering as a 61st-minute substitute for Colombia, which is
almost assured of winning Group A.
By ADAM SERRANO
After a disappointing loss to Argentina, Mexico roared back to life in the FIFA Under-20 World
Cup with an impressive 3-0 victory over a fiesty North Korea side.
An own goal by North Korea moments before halftime gave Mexico the lead. El Tri doubled that
lead in the 54th minute when forward Taufic Guarch launched a laser from 30 yards out, and Mexico
midfielder Diego De Buen added a third goal four minutes into stoppage time to cap off the
victory.
Spain's dominance on the world stage has extended to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
The Spaniards opened their tournament with a thorough 4-1 beating of CONCACAF runner-up Costa
Rica behind two goals from Rodrigo on Sunday. Spain wasn't the only team to impress in the opening
round of games, either.
By DAVID MOSSE
A busy summer of international soccer winds down with 24 countries vying to win the FIFA
Under-20 World Cup in Colombia, which takes place from July 29 to Aug. 20. Argentina and Mexico are
both back in the fold after failing to qualify two years ago, and the two teams clash Friday in one
of the very first matches of the tournament, as the South Americans begin their quest for a record
seventh title.
Photo by Omar Martinez/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
While the U.S. men's national team was attempting to find a way to crack Paraguay's defense in
Nashville, the Under-20 national team was busy pummeling Suriname's in its World Cup qualifying
opener in Guatemala City.
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Thomas Rongen has selected the 20 players for the United States Under-20 World Cup qualifying
campaign that gets underway later this month.
Eight MLS players and 16 professionals in total highlight the roster, which includes the likes
of Sebastian Lletget, Joseph Gyau, Conor Doyle and Omar Salgado but does not include Bayern Munich
youth product Fabian Huerzeler.
By FRANCO PANIZO
The U.S. U-20 national team has learned its foes for the upcoming CONCACAF Championship, which
will determine which four teams from the federation reach this summer's U-20 World Cup in
Colombia.
The United States will take on Panama and Suriname in Group B.
Photo by ISIPhotos.com
BY ADAM SERRANO
The life of a professional soccer player can change in just a moment.
One well-timed pass or run can change a player's life.
Gale Agbossoumonde INT from Soccer By Ives on Vimeo.
Zac MacMath INT from Soccer By Ives on Vimeo.
