TECHNICAL REPORT FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP POLAND 2019 2 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Foreword Technical Study Group Tournament observation 3 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 5 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 6 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 FOREWORD TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP TOURNAMENT OBSERVATION The FIFA Coaching & Player Development Department was responsible for the activities of the Technical Study Group, which comprised the following members: Fernando Couto (Portugal), Ivo Šušak (Croatia), Branimir Ujević (FIFA TSG Project Leader), Pascal Zuberbühler (FIFA Goalkeeping Specialist) and Chris Loxston (Performance & Game Analyst). The FIFA U-20 World Cup has always been a major superiority to conquer the world, make history event in the world of football and for the host and do their people and country as proud as ever. country in particular. For all up-and-coming football My friend Andriy Shevchenko confirmed as much stars, it certainly represents the pinnacle of this in a conversation that reminded me of my own wonderful game at youth level. Moreover, it has feelings after winning the U 20 World Cup with always been synonymous with a array of emotions Yugoslavia in 1987, which was the most wonderful and the passion of the young players involved, and experience of my playing career. Since that edition Poland 2019 was definitely no exception. The great of the competition was staged in Chile, that whole organisation of this fantastic football nation ensured generation of winners were fondly referred to as that the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, like many “the Chileans” for many years afterwards. I am sure other global showpieces before it, was an event to that it will be a similar story for Oleksandr Petrakov remember. Every match secured its place in FIFA’s and his charges: a bright future beckons for them, history books. but no matter what they go on to accomplish, they will always be able to call themselves World We saw great games and brilliant moves in Champions! No one can ever take that away from abundance, but what most caught the eye was the them. unreserved passion of the players. These young men are on the path to stardom in the professional Beyond the Ukrainian fairy tale, I would like to game, meaning that changes aplenty await them, conclude by paying tribute to the country that put but nothing will erase their memories of the U-20 on this great tournament. THANK YOU Poland, World Cup and the six beautiful Polish cities where it thank you to the Polish Football Association and was contested. its President, Zbigniew Boniek, and thank you to the volunteers and all the Polish football fans who From left to right: Chris Loxston, Fernando Couto, Branimir Ujević, Ivo Šušak, Pascal Zuberbühler At the end of the day, Ukraine were the best watched the tournament. It was an unqualified team, and they confirmed it with their dominant success! DZIĘKI for another magical football story... performance in the final against a visibly fatigued Korea Republic. The Ukrainians exhibited excellent Yours in football, leadership, a clear tactical vision and physical Zvonimir Boban 3 4 5 Part 4: Part 5: Part 6: Interviews with the coaches Team profiles Performance insights of the semi-finalists 15 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 31 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 80 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 INTERVIEWS WITH THE COACHES TEAM PROFILES PERFORMANCE INSIGHTS OF THE SEMI-FINALISTS 12 28 78 Part 7: Part 8: Part 9: FIFA awards Match information Technical Study Group support 103 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 106 136 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 FIFA AWARDS MATCH INFORMATION TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP SUPPORT FIFA INTERNAL SUPPORT FIFA Technical Development Branimir Ujevic (Head of Coaching & Player Development) Pascal Zuberbühler (Goalkeeping Specialist) Chris Loxston (Performance & Game Analyst) Prisca Steinegger (Coaching & Player Development) FIFA TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP SUPPORT FIFA Films & Products Christophe Roy (FIFA Films Technical Producer) FIFA Production Philipp Mahrer (Group Leader Production) Rolf Sieboth (Production Manager) FIFA Media Relations David Noemi (Senior Media Relations Manager) FIFA Language Services EXTERNAL FIFA TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP SUPPORT Insight Analysis (Performance data analysis) SBG Sports (Performance data analysis) JAAF (Graphic design support) All data in this report was provided by a third party data provider. 105 108 136 Wherever you see this play button, there is video content available. Please note that to view any associated video in this report, you will be taken to FIFA’s official YouTube page and internet access will therefore be required. 3 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 FOREWORD The FIFA U-20 World Cup has always been a major superiority to conquer the world, make history event in the world of football and for the host and do their people and country as proud as ever. country in particular. For all up-and-coming football My friend Andriy Shevchenko confirmed as much stars, it certainly represents the pinnacle of this in a conversation that reminded me of my own wonderful game at youth level. Moreover, it has feelings after winning the U 20 World Cup with always been synonymous with a array of emotions Yugoslavia in 1987, which was the most wonderful and the passion of the young players involved, and experience of my playing career. Since that edition Poland 2019 was definitely no exception. The great of the competition was staged in Chile, that whole organisation of this fantastic football nation ensured generation of winners were fondly referred to as that the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, like many “the Chileans” for many years afterwards. I am sure other global showpieces before it, was an event to that it will be a similar story for Oleksandr Petrakov remember. Every match secured its place in FIFA’s and his charges: a bright future beckons for them, history books. but no matter what they go on to accomplish, they will always be able to call themselves World We saw great games and brilliant moves in Champions! No one can ever take that away from abundance, but what most caught the eye was the them. unreserved passion of the players. These young men are on the path to stardom in the professional Beyond the Ukrainian fairy tale, I would like to game, meaning that changes aplenty await them, conclude by paying tribute to the country that put but nothing will erase their memories of the U-20 on this great tournament. THANK YOU Poland, World Cup and the six beautiful Polish cities where it thank you to the Polish Football Association and was contested. its President, Zbigniew Boniek, and thank you to the volunteers and all the Polish football fans who At the end of the day, Ukraine were the best watched the tournament. It was an unqualified team, and they confirmed it with their dominant success! DZIĘKI for another magical football story... performance in the final against a visibly fatigued Korea Republic. The Ukrainians exhibited excellent Yours in football, leadership, a clear tactical vision and physical Zvonimir Boban 4 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 TECHNICAL STUDY GROUP The FIFA Coaching & Player Development Department was responsible for the activities of the Technical Study Group, which comprised the following members: Fernando Couto (Portugal), Ivo Šušak (Croatia), Branimir Ujević (FIFA TSG Project Leader), Pascal Zuberbühler (FIFA Goalkeeping Specialist) and Chris Loxston (Performance & Game Analyst). From left to right: Chris Loxston, Fernando Couto, Branimir Ujević, Ivo Šušak, Pascal Zuberbühler 5 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 TOURNAMENT OBSERVATION 6 FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019 GOAL ANALYSIS Goals were prevalent in this edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, with only two matches (both in the group phase) ending in goalless draws. We witnessed 153 goals – 13 more than at the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2017, the rate of 2.9 goals per game was in keeping with the majority of previous editions. The numbers for Poland 2019 were certainly assisted by Norway’s 12-0 win over Honduras, the biggest victory in the competition’s history, which featured a nine-goal haul for striker Erling Håland (19). Effective use was made of the lateral areas, with a large proportion of goals occurring from crosses, cut- backs or precise balls whipped in to the dangerous zone between the goalkeeper and retreating defenders. Driving runs from the wide areas and great technical ability created these openings, which the At the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, which attacking players in the box did not fail to capitalise represents the highest level of competition, 37% of on. goals were scored from set-plays, whereas dead-ball dominance was not as prominent in Poland, with only Although organised high pressing was not 27% of goals being scored in this manner. We did, widespread, when teams did manage to regain the however, witness three critical game-changing set- ball they were ruthless in their conversion of these play goals in the knockout stage: two quickly taken openings with only a few touches needed to break free kicks by Mali and Korea Republic caught their through the opponent’s lines. Catching teams at opponents off guard, the latter taking the Asian team their most vulnerable when unbalanced and open by through to the final. Korea Republic had previously exploiting their mistakes allowed the launching of required a perfectly delivered corner deep into rapid transitions and provided the opportunity to find second-half stoppage time to force extra time in their space and time in front of goal.