U20 Men's World Cup Soccer

Seven countries have tasted World Cup victory with Argentina and Brazil leading the way.

Argentina (5) - 2005, 2001, 1997,1995, 1979
Brazil (4) - 2003, 1993, 1985, 1983
Portugal (2) - 1991, 1989
Spain (1999)
Yugoslavia (1987)
German Federal Republic (1981)
USSR (1977)

In the 9 tournaments since 1989, only 4 teams have won - Argentina (4), Brazil & Portugal (2 each) and Spain (1).

The question is: Can anyone stop a South American team from making it four straight wins for that region?

Diego Maradona. Luis Figo. Thierry Henry. Messi. Ronaldinho. Kaka. Adriano. Saviola.

Besides being brilliant football players, they all represented their country in the FIFA U.20 World Cup.

If you're not in Canada, where several of the games are being broadcast on CBC, you may be able to watch the games live on Fifa.com TV!

It's live and free in 78 countries! The main countries not on the list were North, Central, and South American ones.

Visit FIFA.com to see if your country is one of the 78!

Czech Republic vs Austria
The Czech Republic scored in the 4th and 15th minutes to beat Austria in semi-final #1. With only 1 shot (out of 8) on goal, Austria was hard-pressed to find an equalizer against the Czechs.

The Austrians were without defender Thomas Panny, who broke his fibula and ankle the previous day, as well as Michael Madl (defender) and Michael Stanislaw (mid-fielder), who were ineligible to play after receiving a second yellow card in the previous match.

The Czechs are a physically strong team with good passing skills. They only had 3 shots (out of 10) on goal but put them in the back of the net.

Argentina vs Chile
South Americans are passionate about football and they often bring this emotion onto the pitch. This game was no exception.

Despite going into the game without a goal against them, Argentina scored in the 12th, 65th, and 93rd minutes to beat Chile.

Medel of Chile was given a red card in the 15th minute, for aiming (but missing) a kick at a prone Argentinian after the whistle. Despite playing with 10 men, Chile had numerous attacking runs and scoring opportunities! They were down to 9 men when Currimilla received his 2nd yellow of the match in the 77th minute.

The Argentinians will surely not win any Fair Play awards with their antics. The referee fell for their numerous theatrical dives to the turf resulting in yellow cards to the opposition and free kicks in the Argentine's favor. Why a team with so much talent would utilize such unsportsmanlike tactics is beyond me. It makes a mockery of the game.

Cahais and Yacob of Argentina and Czech Repulic's Janda are ineligible to play in the final on Sun. July 22nd after receiving cautions in their respective matches.

Both matches, on day one of the quarter-finals, needed overtime and one needed penalty kicks. On day two Chili had a scoring flurry in overtime while Argentina built a defensive wall.

• Austria scored a goal in overtime to edge the USA. A second yellow card in overtime sent Anthony Wallace out of the match and the Austrians scored on the resulting free kick to send the talented US team home.


• Spain and the Czech Republic each scored a goal during regulation time but needed overtime and penalty kicks to decide the game. The Czechs won 4-3 in kicks.


• Chile scored 4 goals against Nigeria in extra time to advance to the semi-final round. Yes you read that right. All four goals were scored in extra time.


• Argentina scored the lone goal of the match in the 45th minute to edge a talented Mexico side. The Argentinians played defensively in the second half to protect their lead and the Mexicans struggled to break the wall.

Semi-final #1 (July 18): Austria vs Czech Republic
Semi-final #2 (July 19): Chile vs Argentina

Three of the first four Round of 16 games required over-time to decide who would advance to the quarter-final round.

• Spain scored 4 straight goals, including 2 in overtime, to come from behind and defeat Brazil 4-2.


• The USA edged a feisty Uruguay team 2-1. It looked as though Uruguay were going to advance when an own-goal allowed the USA to tie the game in the 89th minute and send it into overtime.


• The Czech Republic and Japan were tied 2-2 after overtime and went to penalty kicks, which the Czechs won 4-3.


• Austria edged Gambia 2-1 with the winning goal scored in the 82nd minute.

Quarter-final match-ups for Sat. July 14:
Spain vs Czech Republic
USA vs Austria

None of the Round of 16 matches on the 2nd day went into overtime.

• Chile scored the lone goal of the game just before half-time to defeat Portugal. Tempers did flare as two Portuguese players and one Chilean were given red cards in the final minutes and sent off the pitch.


• Nigeria edged Zambia 2-1 in a fairly even match statistically speaking.


• Despite scoring the first goal of the match, Poland lost to Argentina by a score of 3 to 1.


• Mexico outscored Congo 3 to nil in their Round of 16 match.

Quarter-final match-ups for Sun. July 15:
Chile vs Nigeria
Argentina vs Mexico

At the completion of pool play, the top two teams and the best four 3rd place teams advance to the Round of 16. The teams that advanced, with their win, tie and loss records in brackets, are:

• Gp A: Chile (2:1:0), Austria (1:2:0) and Congo (1:1:1)
• Gp B: Spain (2:1:0), Zambia (1:1:1) and Uruguay (1:1:1)
• Gp C: Mexico (3:0:0), Gambia (2:0:1) and Portugal (1:0:2)
• Gp D: USA (2:1:0), Poland (1:1:1) and Brazil (1:0:2)
• Gp E: Argentina (2:1:0), Czech Republic (1:2:0)
• Gp F: Japan (2:1:0), Nigeria (2:1:0)

Interesting Facts:

• Mexico was the only team to go undefeated in pool play.


• Two regions had all their teams advance to the Round of 16: All 4 Africa and all 4 South American teams advanced. 5 of 6 European, 2 of 5 North/Central American, 1 of 4 Asian and 0 of 1 Oceanic advanced.


• Gambia has a population of 1.5 million people in 4,361 square miles. The Big Island of Hawaii is 4,038 square miles.

Need a new car? If you're a Canadian resident you can enter a contest at CBCSports and win a Hyundai! Doesn't that almost make up for not having access to the live online feed provided by FIFA?!

CBC Sports.

Almost 1 million tickets have been sold for the World Cup. The record is 1,155,160 set by Mexico City in 1983.

500,000 tickets had been sold by March 2 despite purchasers not knowing where the teams would be playing. Visit TicketMaster Canada or the
FIFA site for more information.

The FIFA and CBC Sports websites are the best places for the latest scores, videos, and information on the event (current and past).

FIFA Official U20 World Cup Site
CBC Sports

Most goals scored: 27 by Argentina (2001)

Most cards: 25 yellow and 3 red for Portugal (1995)

Top individual goal scorer: Saviola (Arg) scored 11 goals and 3 penalty goals in 2001. Argentina won the cup that year.

Diaz and Maradona combined to score 14 of Argentina's 20 goals in 1979. Argentina won the cup that year as well.