FIFA World Youth Championship Draw

[Pablo]

Countdown begins to youth draw
Wednesday, 29 January 2003
Spain, Germany, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Czech Republic and England will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of today's draw for the 14th FIFA World Youth Championship, which takes place at 16.00CET in Abu Dhabi.

Six European representatives
Europe's six representatives qualified for this year's event, which takes place in the United Arab Emirates from 25 March-16 April, by virtue of their performances at last year's UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Norway. They will join 18 other countries in the hat. The draw will divide the 24 participants into six first-stage groups, each comprising four teams.

Spain hope to regain crown
Reigning European Under-19 champions Spain were the last European side to lift the trophy back in 1999 when they beat Japan 4-0 in the final. The only other European side taking part in this year's tournament to have lifted the trophy is Germany, who triumphed as West Germany in the 1981 final against Qatar in Australia.

FIFA World Youth Championship participants Confederation Representatives
AFC Korean Republic, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
CAF Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Mali
CONCACAF Canada, Mexico, Panama, United States
CONMEBOL Argentina, plus three more TBC
OFC Australia
UEFA Spain, Germany, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Czech Republic, England
HOSTS United Arab Emirates

[Schumi]

Originally posted by Pablo
Spain, Germany, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Czech Republic and England will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of today's draw for the 14th FIFA World Youth Championship, which takes place at 16.00CET in Abu Dhabi.

Does anyone have the draw?

[eoinh]

heres the site


http://apps.fifa.com/scripts/runisa....0/2003/index+E

[Schumi]

Draw is here .

[fosterdollar]

that group looks ok from a senior team point of view but does that apply to the actual teams involved as well?

[Dodge]

for those of you too lazy here's Ireland's group...

Group E
Saudi Arabia
Ireland Rep.
Mexico
Cote D’Ivoire

Our group games are


27-03-03 Dubai 17:45 v Saudi Arabia
30-03-03 Dubai 17:45 v Ivory Coast
02-04-03 Dubai 20:30 v Mexico

[Shed End John]

Originally posted by Dodge
for those of you too lazy here's Ireland's group...

Group E
Saudi Arabia
Ireland Rep.
Mexico
Cote D’Ivoire

Seems OK on paper (screen??). Then again, you can never tell at underage level.

[pete]

Even if hard to judge under age level that seems a decent draw.

CONCACAF Canada, Mexico, Panama, United States

I know they like to have a geographical spread for under age tournaments but 4 from central & north america seems a bit much when Africa & Asia only get 4 as well.

[Shed End John]

Originally posted by pete
I know they like to have a geographical spread for under age tournaments but 4 from central & north america seems a bit much when Africa & Asia only get 4 as well.

Maybe, but, someone, somewhere will always be unhappy with the geographical spread of the teams.

[SÓC]

Originally posted by pete
Even if hard to judge under age level that seems a decent draw.



I know they like to have a geographical spread for under age tournaments but 4 from central & north america seems a bit much when Africa & Asia only get 4 as well.

Id say thats all to do with getting the bobs. Sure they get three for the World Cup thus ensuring that Mexico and the USA get in to every world cup. FIFA need the money generated by US Networks buying the rights to Mexican and US matches as well as the merchandising etc.

The underage policy is there I'd say for the same purpose, to make sure that the US always have a team in it.

[Shed End John]

Originally posted by SÓCcfc
The underage policy is there I'd say for the same purpose, to make sure that the US always have a team in it.

And don't forget spreading soccer to the less traditional soccer playing countries. As the FIFA logo says "For the Good of the Game".

[Dodge]

Originally posted by SÓCcfc
FIFA need the money generated by US Networks buying the rights to Mexican and US matches as well as the merchandising etc.

No, they don't US Tv pays sod all for the rights to the world cup as they don't really want it. ABC showed about 6/7 games live this year. ESPN showed most but as they have sod all real competetion "sports wise" they can pick up the rights for little or nothing.