Top clubs eyeing Canadian teen
There are rumblings at this World Cup that Vancouver’s Alphonso Davies might be the best 17-year-old prospect in the world.
The Ghana-born Canadian international tops the target lists of some of the top clubs in the world — all of which are looking to lure Davies away from Major League Soccer.
A well-placed source with knowledge one UEFA Champions League club’s scouting list said Davies currently is the world’s most coveted player in his age group.
Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, PSV Eindhoven and Manchester United all are interested in acquiring MLS’s top prospect.
This after Davies’ planned three-week trial at United was called off last December when the Whitecaps grew wary of sending their star young player overseas.
The aforementioned clubs have been tracking Davies since he appeared for Canada at last summer’s Gold Cup, where he claimed the Golden Boot Award.
Davies’ blistering pace combined with his ability to unbalance defenders has caught the watchful eye of the best clubs in the world. His composure in and around the penalty area hasn’t gone unnoticed as he’s continuously demonstrated an ability to play provider and score.
Whispers here in Russia indicate it’s not a matter of if Davies will leave Vancouver to continue his development in Europe. It’s just a matter of when.
NEYMAR VS. MEXICO
Brazilian star Neymar scored a goal and created another in a 2-0 Round of 16 win over Mexico.
But it’s his antics that continue to be front and centre at this tournament.
Neymar was lambasted post-game for exaggerating an injury that stemmed from an incident with Mexico’s Miguel Layun.
“This is football. If he does not want to be touched he should try doing something else,” Layun said, according to Goal.com.
“He is more concerned about being on the floor. If he wants to lie down, he should go home and sleep.” Fair enough. Neymar should be mocked for his play-acting, which I wrote following Brazil’s 2-0 win over Costa Rica in Saint Petersburg.
It is, however, a bit strange that Layun has more or less escaped criticism for purposely raking his cleats over Neymar’s ankle — a decision that could have seen him red carded.
Like any good villain, Neymar got the last laugh.
“They talked too much, and they are going home,” Neymar told reporters.
TO BE YOUNG AGAIN
It has been 11 years since the FIFA U-20 World Cup was staged in Canada.
An Argentina side led by Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero, the tournament’s top player, topped the Czech Republic in the final back in 2007.
Thirty-two players who appeared at that youth tournament were rostered for this World Cup.
Some of the prominent names include Pique, Cavani, Suarez, Chicharito, Vela, dos Santos, Patricio, Marcelo, Willian and Szczesny.
Argentina (5) retained the most players from that U-20 World Cup, while Mexico (4) was close behind.
Uruguay, South Korea, Poland, Panama and Costa Rica included three players each that also played in Canada more than a decade ago.
Brazil (2), Japan (2), Nigeria (2), Portugal (1) and Spain (1) round out the list of 32.
THINGS I’M THINKING
The Japanese national team shouldn’t be satisfied with its showing at this World Cup.
They should feel like they squandered an opportunity to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
While some praised Japan for its honesty during this tournament, I think it’s the reason they lost to a superior team.
Leading 2-0 midway through the second half, Japan never attempted to slow down the game.
Ask yourself this: What would a more experienced team have done in that situation?
They should have tacked an extra 20 seconds on to every restart. They should have walked to every throwin.
Dare I suggest the Samurai Blue would have benefitted from performing some of the game’s dark arts?
Finally, what were they thinking committing so many men forward with less than a minute remaining?
THIS AND THAT
Nigerian captain John Obi Mikel revealed to The Guardian his father was kidnapped hours before a decisive group stage meeting with Argentina. The ex-Chelsea midfielder played through the ordeal because he didn’t want to let down his countrymen. The Guardian reports Mikel’s father has since been released and is receiving medical treatment … German manager Joachim Low will stay on as coach through the next European Championships after guiding Die Mannschaft to its first group stage exit in 80 years. It’s good for Low, of course, who gets a chance to exit the international stage with a better showing in 2020 … Meanwhile, Polish coach Adam Nawalka intended to step down next month.