Uruguay, Brazil among those standing out so far at South American U20 Championships – uBetMobile – 2023

Because the South American Beneath-20 Championships strikes into its remaining week in Colombia, it appears clear that the competitors has suffered a change because the final model. The 2021 event was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic and whereas Ecuador have been continental champions in 2019, that is unlikely to occur once more this time. It isn’t essentially because of Ecuador going backwards, however as a result of they’ve turn into a sufferer of their very own success.

As a consequence of their 2019 achievements — they completed third in that 12 months’s Beneath-20 World Cup — their abilities, in explicit those produced by the outstanding membership, Independiente del Valle, are actually on the radar of European golf equipment. Extra have subsequently moved overseas. European golf equipment are actually seeking to purchase younger South Individuals as early as doable and because the Beneath-20 Championships don’t fall on an official FIFA date in the calendar, golf equipment are beneath no obligation to launch.

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This 12 months’s Ecuador squad have suffered from this expertise shift; so too have Brazil and Argentina. Host nation Colombia misplaced star striker Jhon Duran on the eve of the competitors when he moved from the Chicago Fire (Main League Soccer) to Aston Villa. He stays on the squad listing, and there is hope that he would possibly return for the previous couple of games, however there’s been no signal of him so far. (Additionally, an eight-minute cameo in Villa’s 4-2 defeat to Leicester on Saturday may be an indication of him remaining together with his new membership.)

This implies, then, that the squads of the 4 qualifiers for this 12 months’s Beneath-20 World Cup would possibly properly be very totally different from those now on show. Nevertheless, it additionally signifies that new faces have had an opportunity to shine at this competitors as an alternative. The most important revelation of the event, for instance, spent final season in the Uruguayan second division.

Luciano Rodriguez was with tiny Progresso in 2021-22 and has since moved on to Uruguay’s Liverpool, a primary-division staff, however not much larger. But he will not be there for lengthy. A striker who can play via the center or on both flank — he is been at his finest on the appropriate in this competitors — Rodriguez is a robust, has two good ft and boasts the capability to analyse the state of affairs rapidly and select an choice. He appears to be like like an enormous find.

His new clubmate is additionally his worldwide captain — central midfielder Fabricio Diaz, who has been a function in the Liverpool first staff for some time. His maturity reveals, too: Diaz appears to have correct ft when distributing the ball, and he runs the engine room with real aplomb. Among a formidable group of players, elegant centre-again Sebastian Boselli has additionally caught the attention.

Uruguay and Brazil have been the stand-out sides so far, by a long way. Brazil centre-ahead Vitor Roque may properly be the perfect participant on show, although after enjoying for Athletico Paranaense in final 12 months’s Copa Libertadores remaining, he can hardly be classed as an unknown.

What makes him particularly fascinating in his place. In current times, Brazil have produced reams of broad forwards, however few who function via the centre. The looks, then, of a central striker who is sturdy, mobile and with a wealthy technical repertoire is good news certainly.

Latest Chelsea signing Andre Santos has completed exceptionally properly as a midfield powerhouse who can play out from the again, compete in the center and break ahead to attain targets. His former Vasco da Gama teammate Marlon Gomes is a midfielder with a wonderful eye for a move; to make a Chelsea comparability, there’s one thing of Mason Mount about him.

One other central midfielder who has caught the attention is Colombia captain Gustavo Puerta, who can immediate his staff with dynamism from deep and possesses a depraved shot that has introduced him two great targets. Proper winger Oscar Cortes has additionally completed properly: his operating with the ball has been each highly effective and elusive, and his splendid aim in opposition to Paraguay on Friday was maybe crucial Colombia have scored in the event so far.

Talking of Paraguay, they seem to have unearthed one other rugged, combative centre-again in Gilberto Flores, who additionally offers a risk from set items in the opposing penalty area. Ecuador have an fascinating goal man centre ahead in Justin Cuero, and a set of difficult wingers in Yaimor Medina, Alan Minda and Jose Klinger. The latter is solely 17, together with centre-again Davis Bautista, and is a left footer who appears to be like like an fascinating prospect.

Venezuela have been one thing of a disappointment so far, failing to attain from open play in six straight games, however there is some expertise on show. In a event stuffed with promising goalkeepers, Frankarlos Benitez can more than maintain his personal, whereas Rafael Uzcategui is a peaceful central defender with an thrilling future.

Already, Brazil and Uruguay have all however booked their locations in the Beneath-20 World Cup in Indonesia in Could of this 12 months. Colombia additionally look a great bet, leaving Paraguay, Ecuador and Venezuela to battle for the remaining slot.

4 sides have already been eradicated so far and the large shock was Argentina, bundled out after shedding three of their 4 group games. In a really disappointing group, central midfielder Gino Infantino, left-footed and versatile, was their finest prospect.

Chile have been additionally dismayed by the performances of what they nonetheless hope may be their finest technology in properly over a decade, however attacking midfielder Lucas Assadi, skilful with a low centre of gravity, is one to look at. Peru misplaced all of their matches regardless of alway being aggressive, and attacking midfielder Kevin Cabrera added to the fame he constructed with Melgar in final 12 months’s Copa Sudamericana. Although their event is over, Bolivia have grounds for hope in feisty attacking proper-again Yomer Rocha and Fernando Nava, a strapping left winger, based mostly in Brazil with Athletico Paranaense, who carries a risk slicing inside onto his proper foot.