Technical and Tactical Analysis Confederations’ Analysis ites, fell at the first hurdle, eliminated by liked to see the players given more freedom The return of the FIFA U-17 World Champion- Costa Rica on the drawing of lots. However, to act spontaneously and take more risks, ship to European soil (previous tournament those two facts pay great testament to the as China did in their third match (against in Europe: Italy 1991) will forever be asso- success of these football-crazy countries, Mexico), despite having been reduced to ciated with Brazil’s triumph, the number of as well as to their approach to the game 10 men. Yemen, a young team with no goals scored (117, equalling the record set of football. inhibitions, certainly surprised many with in Egypt in 1997), the results of the Latin their enthusiasm and determination to play American teams, and the wonderful football AFC attacking football. They even gave Portugal a of a Spanish team that thrilled us all before After the stunning performances of AFC fright in their opening match. Although they narrowly losing in the Final to a well-drilled teams at the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, it was led the Iberians 2-0 at one stage, they finally Brazilian team. These two teams domi- up to China, Korea Republic and outsiders lost 4-3, the decisive own goal conceded as nated the competition. Both topped their Yemen to further underline the success of late as the 82nd minute. In their final match, respective groups, and Spain were finally the development programmes in place in they also succumbed to the might of Brazil, vanquished in the Final, Brazil claiming an Asia. However, it became clear that it would who proved to be simply too strong for unbeaten record in the tournament. They take time and patience before Asian teams Yemen. also boasted the best attack and defence can truly fulfil their dreams of living with the in their respective groups. While Brazil so-called “giants” on the world stage. Of the CAF underlined their ruthless streak in front of three AFC teams eliminated in the group CAF had two new representatives, Cameroon goal, scoring 15 and conceding only one, stage, China and Korea appeared to be the and surprise package Sierra Leone, as well it was their quality of play and the players’ most prepared for the competition, despite as Nigeria, who were making their seventh technical and tactical abilities that most the disruption caused to China’s plans by the appearance at the event. Their presence impressed and made this tenth U-17 World SARS outbreak. Both teams bowed out, but is almost taken for granted. However, the Championship so entertaining. not before showing their undoubted quality. African youngsters could not emulate the Perhaps the biggest surprise of the whole Both teams worked well as a unit, employed performances of their predecessors two competition was the failure of the African excellent zonal football and a technical years ago (Nigeria 2nd, Burkina Faso 3rd, teams to make it past the group stage, some- game based on good coordination, energy Mali 6th). thing that had never previously happened in and individual skills (ball control and good On the contrary, in fact. This was the worst the 18-year history of the tournament. Even passing). They certainly proved that they are showing from African teams, even in terms Nigeria, one of the pre-tournament favour- moving in the right direction. We would have of performances. In nine matches, the CAF representatives only managed one victory between them, Nigeria defeating Australia. African football is famous for excellent technique and athleticism, qualities that have often been decisive in the past. But this time, the Africans lacked collective organisation and suffered too many defen- sive lapses. Sierra Leone left the most positive impres- sion, their dynamic, attacking football often shining like a beacon. Unfortunately, they did not have the necessary composure in attack, and their defence was often left boast a number of talented players who exposed. In the end, they could not turn excel in counter-attacking moves. However, their dreams into reality. The African teams they tend to struggle to switch quickly from will be able to learn a lot by analysing their defence to attack, and vice versa. This time, poor performances in Finland. it was Mexico that caused ripples. Although they were defeated by Argentina in the quar- CONCACAF ter-finals, Mexico put their South American For the first time, the three CONCACAF rep- rivals under great pressure in the second resentatives qualified for the quarter-finals, half. The Mexicans used quick passing confirming once again that the confedera- movements and had a number of options on tion’s efforts in the area of youth develop- the pitch. They also had pace in abundance ment are certainly bearing fruit. Great expec- and fantastic technique. However, when tation is often placed upon the shoulders defending, Mexico’s man-to-man marking of the US team on account of its athletic policy tended to struggle in the face of rapid 50 and dynamic brand of football. The US also counter-attacks launched by powerful offen- 51 Technical and Tactical Analysis Confederations’ Analysis sive teams. The third CONCACAF team, Costa ceded) merely underlined the success of last four U-17 World Championships, 2003 marqués et un seul concédé) pour obtenir Rica, advanced to the knockout stage on the the team as a whole. proved to be Spain’s best year to date, with ce titre, c’est avant tout la qualité du jeu et drawing of lots. Against Nigeria, the Costa Argentina so very nearly reached the the Iberians just missing out on the very top des habiletés technico-tactiques individuel- Ricans battled valiantly and never gave up Final, a golden goal from an excellent Span- prize. Throughout the tournament, the young les des joueurs qui ont retenu l’attention des hope. Although well organised in defence, ish team signalling the end of the road in Spaniards impressed with their collective techniciens et rendu ce 10e Championnat du they lacked composure in attack. However, the semi-final. Still under the guidance of organisation, patience and composed play, Monde très attrayant. as expected, Colombia were just too pow- the same coach, Argentina always impress especially in attack. They adopted a brand L’événement de cette compétition finale a erful in the quarter-finals. The CONCACAF in youth competitions, bearing testimony of zonal football, quickly moving from a com- été l’élimination dès le tour qualificatif des three teams all tended to deploy a three- to the excellent training schemes and the pact defence to a team who exploited space trois équipes africaines, et ceci pour la pre- man defence and man-to-man marking, quality of football in the Argentine national to apply pressure. The Spanish players all mière fois depuis le début de l’organisation with a free man and a defensive midfielder teams. excelled in terms of technique and tactical de ce championnat U-17 en 1985. Même le operating in front of the back three. The third CONMEBOL team, Colombia, awareness, while some are already stars in Nigeria, l’un des favoris, 2e en 2001, n’a surprised many. They were a compact unit, their own right. pas passé le cap du premier tour, éliminé au CONMEBOL comfortable in possession and finished in Portugal, the reigning U-17 European tirage au sort par le Costa Rica. De ces deux For the first time in the history of this compe- a deserved fourth place. They were well- champions, were returning to the U-17 constats essentiels, il faut relever le succès tition, the three CONMEBOL teams reached organised defensively and quickly turned world stage for the first time since 1995. des pays à grande tradition footballistique the semi-finals. Brazil claimed the title, defence into attack. The Colombians also Their football throughout the tournament et surtout leur philosophie de jeu. while Argentina finished 3rd and Colombia boasted an excellent strike force, the strik- was pleasing on the eye, but there were 4th. This remarkable feat can be attributed ers scoring 10 of the Colombians’ 14 goals. severe defensive shortcomings, perhaps AFC to the quality of the South American teams’ They fully deserved to finish fourth, a feat attributable to insufficient physical prepa- Après les performances des grandes équipes play and their high level of technique. that confirmed that Colombian football is in ration. Portugal conceded a total of 18 goals, de cette confédération lors de la Coupe du Brazil adopted the same tactics as the good health. The U-17 team’s spirit mirrored 13 in the second half, and 11 in the final Monde 2002, la relève du football asiatique senior national team, using zonal football, that of the senior national team. 20 minutes of matches. After an excellent représentée par la Chine, la Corée et le sur- strict defensive organisation and attacking showing at the FIFA World Youth Champion- prenant Yémen a confirmé que les program- moves that started in defence, or, depend- OFC ship in Argentina in 2001, there were high mes de développement mis en place sur ce ing on the state of play, by playing the ball This was Australia’s ninth appearance in hopes for the Finnish team, especially as continent se poursuivent, mais que l’objec- quickly behind the opposition defence for the final competition of the U-17 World they were at “home” and had been prepar- tif visant à rivaliser avec les meilleurs pays the technically-gifted, explosive strikers. Championship, but the youngsters repre- ing meticulously for months ahead of the demande encore du travail et de la patience.