gbosaa:



I disagree with you. Those boys are very good and I wonder how they came fourth in the qualifying tournament.

They created lots of chances, very good dribblers and can shoot as well. They are full of tricks. The Portuguese were ball watching.

Their goal was well deserved and not as a result of defensive blunder. If flying Eagles can defeat this team that I have just watched, then I think half of them should just walk into the Super Eagles.

The Brazilians are very good. The Portuguese team sometimes play a bit like the French under 20. They have tall players with good legs, can run, shoot, dribble and jump. They are technically good as well but the Brazilians made them look like amateurs.

Pls watch that clips again with an unbiased mind. If they had scored half of the clear cut chances they created, they would have won by up to 3-0

terzurum5:
You guys are making me to be scared.

joseph1013:
[b][size=14pt]The Class of 2013[/size]



Two years invariably proves a long time in football, but all the more so when your career is still in its infancy.

As such, the high-flyers from the last edition of the FIFA U-20 World Cup are scaling the landscape of the game, and some of them have climbed an impressive way towards its summit. None more so than Turkey 2013 adidas Golden Ball winner Paul Pogba.

Since captaining France to victory in Istanbul, the commanding midfielder has gone from strength to strength. Three successive Italian Serie A titles at Juventus – including a double this season – have preceded arguably the pinnacle of his club career so far: the UEFA Champions League final.

Should he square up against Barcelona in Berlin there will be few doubting the 22-year-old's pedigree to be stood on that stage. His performances for Les Bleus at 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil earned him the Hyundai Young Player Award and firmly established him as one of globe's most promising players, one who is attracting some of the world's biggest sides.

"I am worth €0," he said, baulking at some of the seven-figure sums linked to his name. "I am worth nothing unless I work on the field in every single game. I want to be one of the best in the world and must do everything to reach that level. I hope for the Ballon d'Or in future, but I have a lot of work for that.”

His fellow French class-mates have also grown in stature. Kurt Zouma broke into the Chelsea first team as part of their English Premier League title-winning side, while the likes of Geoffrey Kondogbia, Florian Thauvin and Lucas Digne are regulars for Monaco, Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain.

Pogba is not the only one to have reached the latter stages of the Champions League, or end the season a champion for that matter. Juan Bernat largely flew under the radar when joining Bayern Munich a year ago, but the left-back now finds himself as one of Europe's most promising defenders. He has been a key figure under Pep Guardiola, and Valencia before that, as his intelligence and decisive breaks forward helped Bayern to German Bundesliga success.

Lighting up La Liga
His former team-mate Paco Alcacer has continued his progress too, with a dramatic final-day winner sealing fourth place in Spain for Los Che – plus scoring three in five for the national side, while Carlo Ancelotti rates Real Madrid forward Jese as an “insane talent”.

Across the city from the Los Blancos attacker, a man at the other end has really been making waves. Jose Gimenez has shone at the back for Atletico Madrid, showing maturity beyond his tender 20 years. Coach Diego Simeone rated the Uruguayan's season as “extraordinary”. Having also made the cut for Uruguay's Brazil 2014 squad and won the league 12 months ago, it has been quite the year.

However, in terms of breakthrough seasons, England's Harry Kane's is hard to beat. The U-20 World Cup was not a happy hunting ground for him or his fellow compatriots, but 2014/15 has been the polar opposite, with the Tottenham Hotspur striker netting 30 goals in all competitions.

So impressive has his year been that he even beat the likes of Sergio Aguero into the PFA Team of the Season – voted for by players in England – as well as clinching the young player award. “He could go on to become a great goalscorer for Tottenham and possibly England as well,” said Gary Lineker, an iconic player for both.

Alongside him in white, the Everton duo of John Stones and Ross Barkley have broken into the England squad, while the latter was in tow as England fell at the first hurdle in Brazil. Faring better in that respect was Colombia's Juan Quintero, who after shining in 2013 got his chance a year later, even scoring on his World Cup debut against Côte d’Ivoire.

This year has already seen a selection of graduates impressing on the international stage, too. The Iraq squad who finished third in the AFC Asian Cup peppered with those on show in Turkey. Dhurgham Ismael played every minute of that run, while Ali Adnan – something of a revelation two years ago – also made five appearances.

While in Africa, Baba Rahman and Frank Acheampong went one better. The former played all of Ghana's six games on the way to a CAF Africa Cup of Nations silver medal for the pair.

The Copa America and CONCACAF Gold Cup will likely bring more exposure for some of those on show two years ago, you can be sure that the Class of 2015 will put forward more stars for football's biggest stages. [/b]

joseph1013:
[b][size=14pt]The Next Messi? Nine future stars not to miss at the U-20 World Cup, Isaac Success Included[/size]



The FIFA U-20 World Cup, which starts later this week, is always a showcase of tomorrow’s stars.

Here are nine young talents to keep an eye on through the tournament.

Angel Correa, Argentina. A former San Lorenzo teammate of Montreal Impact star Ignacio Piatti, the exciting forward joined Atletico Madrid in 2014. However, a heart tumor discovered last summer kept him out of action. After surgery and a six-month layoff, he has returned and already has four goals in eight matches with Argentina’s U-20 side.

Godfred Donsah, Ghana. A powerful and quick dribbler, the 18-year-old became a regular for Cagliari this season, contributing two goals and one funky celebration.

Bradford Jamieson IV, USA. The LA Galaxy teenager (pictured right) with the silky skills and the bleached hair opened his MLS account in his second career start (after prepping for the first team by scoring goals in USL with Los Dos) and will be expected to do similar things for Tab Ramos’ team.

Marcos Lopes, Portugal. Potentially the next big thing for Manchester City, he holds the club record for youngest goalscorer when he scored in an FA Cup game in 2014 at the age of 17 years, 9 days. He spent this season on loan with French club Lille, where he scored three goals in 18 appearances.

Hirving Lozano, Mexico. Joint leading scorer at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in January, “el Chucky” is an established starter for Pachuca and had eight goals in 34 appearances in the 2014-15 Liga MX season. Dutch giants PSV reportedly recently offered $7m for him.

Hany Mukhtar, Germany. A flashy and relentless attacker, the 20-year-old is the only player on the German squad not playing in the Bundesliga, after transferring to Portuguese club Benfica from his hometown Hertha Berlin this past winter.

Andreas Pereira, Brazil. Born in Belgium to Brazilian parents, the 19-year-old No. 10 (pictured right) was recruited from PSV’s academy by Alex Ferguson personally to join Manchester United in 2011. This season he was voted Man United U-21 Player of the Year and made his EPL debut in March.

Diego Poyet, Uruguay. The son of former Chelsea player and manager Gus Poyet, the West Ham 20-year-old represented England at the U-16 and U-17 levels before joining Uruguay’s U-20 set up in March. He is expected to shine in the midfield.

Isaac Success, Nigeria. On the books with Udinese but on loan with Granada, the 19-year-old forward remains the youngest player ever to appear for the Spanish club. He scored twice, including a goal-of-the-tournament nominee, to help Nigeria win the 2013 U-17 World Cup.[/b]

terzurum5:

So these people no include the Super Awoniyi and the ogbonge goal machine Nacho?
Mcheeeeeeeeeew!

Badosqi:
I just went to bet365 to check the favorites for this tournament. Can't believe this people underate us so much to give us whooping odd of 15. Nigeria to win brazil sef is 3.5.

1 Argentina U20 4.5

2 Germany U20 4.5

3 Brazil U20 7.0

4 Colombia U20 10.0

5 Portugal U20 13.0

6 Nigeria U20 15.0

7 USA U20 21.0

8 Mexico U20 21.0

9 Uruguay U20 21.0

10 Ghana U20 26.0



Abeg which Nigerian site is offering this type of market, this can be a money making opportunity. A big win win(Nigeria champ. and I smile to the bank too) situation.

confun:
we will shock the world

bigblangston:
We played mexico first and then played SWEDEN in d finals of d U.17 fifa world cup, how come many people think we played Mexico in d finals. I ve seen many people write that we played mexico in d finals on this thread

dwag:
chai ! U can 4get easily o! Have u forgotten when that mexican punk was crying.........weda na ocho abi na watin sef !!!!! Dude Wake up !!!naija played the finals with mexico in the 2013fifa un17 world cup and not tahiti!!! U don hear? ** use hand hold is ears**

phrezzz:
Flying eagles has arrived in new zealand and have joined iheanacho. here is a pic of awoniyi,chidera and iheanacho

Mrcapability7:
are they teammate at man city

AIG07:
UHmmm, i've missed alot(from 96-103). This fuel scarcity of a thing has just made me to have a taste of what is to live in a medieval era. No power, no fuel(petrol-transportation, gas-cooking, kerosene-cooking) no communication, no nairaland to mention afew. I came to realise the importance of fuel in our day to day activities... Various business have been shut down, house of worship can't use speakers... I think this is happening so that Nigerians We know that we need each other to survive-no matter your tribe. I do laugh most times when some folks say 'LET EACH TRIBE GO T WAY n see who will suffer most'-Mehn we never leave sef n we de experience this. i think t will be disastrous if we disintegrate. the hausas-foodmakers, Ibos-oil producers n Yorubas-consumers(lol). Well, Its Well. I'm sorry for d deviation. One thing we need to learn from Garba is UNITY- this man has shown his boys the power of unity-can't u see that in d camp... Nigeria will only be great if we stand united!
#FLYflyingEAGLES.

mikron:
Where is my good friend AIG07?

phrezzz:
The flying eagles have arrived plymount the place where they take on brazil. here is a picture of kelechi with manu garba and ugbede lol dunno the assistant coach name.

mikron:
Another good news is the announcement by BON that the under 20 world cup and that of the female senior world cups will be beamed live to all BON affiliate stations nationwide. What a good news. Buhari must drink water with this under 20 trophy. That will be his inauguration gift from our gallant boys. Meanwhile big up to the deadliest female striker on planet earth queen Aseesat oshoala for emerging the BBC woman footballer of the year. Talents abound in naija

mikron:
that is not nduka ugbade

phrezzz:
Hehe thanks tbaba don correct me o

AIG07:

the two national teams(SuperFLYINGEAGLES N D SUPER FALCONS) representing us at dis yr summer worldcups wil be motivating each other as both teams r vying for major honours in their respective tournament. They will be putting in their best to impress d new government givin t a reason to support the sport. Cos, Any impression left after these tournaments will go a long way in government support 4 d sport for d next 4yrs.

safarigirl:
no offence, but Iheanacho over Isaac Success anyday. *awaiting list of the next James Rodriguez*

AIG07:

i'm good o, thank you sir for d concern.. I was fully back yesterday from a two day unwanted break wey I recieve from this naija gov-n I no be civil servant o. The wey d thread de move forward no be waza. If person no refresh in 30min-person don miss be dat. How your side n family?

Leon2036:
iheanacho who has only played for mancity's eds over success who has played against messi,ronaldo, sergio ramos and pique to name but a few, shey if I talk again now u go say I talk. I don dey watch. U since oh!

safarigirl:
Just re-watched Iheanacho's first goal against United. City fans were hyping it so I had to go see it and it really is a beautiful piece of work on slow motion.

Re-watch it guys. He's got some ghost moves. Even Messi can't touch that

www.youtube.com/watch?t=36&feature=youtu.be&v=keisBGvwGfA

mikron:
My broda I dey gallant o. True the thread is going 130km per hour. The thread will be busier when the competition starts proper