Argentina begin quest for record seventh Under-20 title against England

SeoUL: Argentina begins a quest to win a record-extending seventh Under-20 World Cup when they play England today.

The Argentines haven’t won the championship, or even reached the semi-finals, in 10 years, and they face an England side who are on a run of 17 consecutive winless matches at the World Cup. England’s last win was 20 years ago.

England bring three players from English Premier League champions Chelsea and five from Everton, but they are not considered the favourites.

Germany, France, Italy, and Portugal are regarded as the frontrunners from Europe, and Argentina and Uruguay are expected to lead the South American charge in the absence of five-time winners Brazil, who failed to qualify along with reigning champions Serbia.

Two of those potential winners meet tomorrow when Uruguay take on Italy in Suwon, just south of the capital Seoul.

Rodrigo Amaral was the top scorer as Uruguay won the Under-19 South American championship. The striker is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in world football.

France won the European Under-19 title last year and are expected to ease into the last 16 from a group containing Honduras, New Zealand and Vietnam.

The United States are at the tournament as Confederation champions for the first time, and kick off Group F against Ecuador, and then go on to face 2015 semi-finalists Senegal and Saudi Arabia.

Asia hopes rest on Japan and hosts South Korea.

Both teams are excited about players with Barcelona experience.

Takefusa Kubo, only aged 15, spent four years playing for Barcelona’s youth team before signing for FC Tokyo in 2016.

Japan’s group, with Italy, Uruguay, and South Africa is tough. South Korea’s look far from easy, too, with an opening game against Guinea followed by Argentina and England.

South Korea’s star is Lee Seung-woo, who is in the Barcelona Under-19s after six years at the club. Seung-woo scored against Uruguay in a warm-up game a week ago.

Sixteen of the 24 teams will progress to the second round, the top two from each of the six groups and the four best thirdplace finishers.

The final is on June 11 in Suwon.