FOOTBALL’S BEST TEENS
Many won’t make the transition from being a young star to being a pro but should they, India will be a reference point for where it started
Vinicius Jr will be conspicuous by his absence for no one among the 503 footballers here for the under-17 World Cup has been deemed worthy of a 45 million euro investment. Yet. But, as any coach would say in the absence of a top gun, this is also an opportunity for others to get noticed.
So step forward Josh Sargent, Abel Ruiz, Amine Gouiri, Angel Gomez, Mohammed Dawood and Jadon Sancho among others. Or someone, the world does not know much about. Such as Komal Thatal who is the only Indian to have scored against Brazil in an international. Or Ghanaian goalie Ibrahim Danlad who is still not 15.
“The World Cup is a great experience,” said Mexico coach Mario Arteaga here on Thursday and the man for whom this will be the second under-17 World Cup was perhaps understating the obvious.
“If you want to go Real Madrid, then this is your opportunity. All the big scouts and agents will be watching,” Carlos Valderrama said last month during a visit to India.
FIRST SIGNS OF GREATNESS
Nicolai Adam may not be a very popular man in India now but when he was the national under-17 coach, he had said the level of football in this competition would be amazing. After seeing three under-17 World Cups live, the German had said he wouldn’t be good enough to be a ball boy at this level!
Adam had also said this is where the first signs of greatness are visible, explaining why it would be exciting to be part of this World Cup. True, at this age Pele had won the first of his three World Cups but then that is also why he is said to be the world’s most famous four-letter word.
So, five or seven years down the line there could be an addition to the 12 who have won this and a men’s World Cup. It’s an elite club that has Ronaldinho, Mario Goetze, Toni Kroos, Iker Casillas, Gianluigi Buffon.
And when that happens, India will become a reference point for where it all started. Just like the Salt Lake stadium is with Lionel Messi and the Argentina captain’s armband. Or the Eden Gardens is with Enzo Francescoli’s international goals.
In the mix here is Brazil’s Lincoln who has been tipped to be a No.9 to watch out for by none other than Zico. “He’s devilish!,” Zico has been quoted as saying of the Flamengo player in The Guardian. Also here is Paulinho, who is said to be Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho in the making.
IN THE MIX HERE IS BRAZIL’S LINCOLN WHO HAS BEEN TIPPED TO BE A NO.9 TO WATCH OUT FOR BY NONE OTHER THAN ZICO. “HE’S DEVILISH!” HE SAID
THE ADU SYNDROME
Countinho and Neymar played in the 2009 edition of under-17 World Cup and Brazil crashing out in the group stages is proof that not everyone is a star at this age and stage. Kaka too was a late bloomer, according to a coach with the Sao Paulo team on a tour of India in 2007.
In 2009, Dominic Adiyah impressed enough at the under-20 World Cup to get a contract with AC Milan. Now, 27, the Ghanaian striker plays in Thailand. Perhaps the biggest example of a wunderkind who never lived up to potential is Freddie Adu. At 14, he was the youngest athlete in the USA to have a professional contract. At 28 now, he doesn’t have a club.
And such high attrition levels are not just in football. Only Virat Kohli has made the transition from being an under-19 World Cup champion in 2008 to one on whom greatness sits lightly.
“Development at this level is a continuous process and needs constant monitoring. Many of these players may not even be playing professionally after this. It is not just about talent,” said Shaji Prabakaran, a former Fifa Development Officer.
But irrespective of whether they make it as professional footballers, playing the World Cup is an experience they will savour for long. This, after all, is a competition involving the world’s best football teens.