Football Radar: Five Forwards to watch at the Under-20 World Cup
Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 24 September 2009 - 12:57
Author: Nigel Brown
Egypt is ready to welcome the top starlets from around the globe for the Under-20 World Cup. The tournament is set to be an eye opening football feast of the next Kaka's, Henry's and Ronaldo's – so it's time to get your scouting glasses on. The likes of Luis Figo, Diego Maradonna and Guiseppe Rossi have made waves in the tournament, and despite the timing, ruling out a number of stars including Arsenal's Jack Wilshere, Manchester United's Danny Welbeck, and an unfortunate injury to Barcelona's Bojan, there are a number of diamonds in the rough who are well worth a watch. For the first stage of Sport.co.uk's coverage of the tournament we bring you five forwards that are set to light up the pyramids.
Alan Kardec
Country: Brazil
Club: Vasco de Gama
Date of Birth: January 12th 1989
Position: Forward
Squad Number: 9
Height:6ft 1 in
Sport.couk Rating: 9/10
The imposing Brazilian front man, apparently named after the 'systematizer of spiritism' Allan Kardec, has already scored ten goals in Brazil's top tier for his club Vasco de Gama, having made his debut on Valentine's day at the tender age of 18. Alongside his powerful physical attributes Kardec offers even more than the usual samba beach skills and could well surprise a few opponent centre-backs with his turns and tricks. The big man has also played 8 youth games for Brazil in the South American Youth Championship notching two goals – a record which proves he posseses good experience for a tournament of this magnitude. The talented forward was loaned to rival Brazilian club Internacional earlier this month. There is no doubt this young Brazilian has the raw attributes to mature into a world class striker.
Opoku Agyemang
Country: Ghana
Club: Al- Sadd
Date of Birth: June 7th 1989
Position: Forward
Squad Number: 9
Height: 5ft 8.5 in
Sport.couk Rating: 7/10
The 20-year-old forward has been tipped to shine at this World Cup having been the star of the 2005 Under-17 African World Championship, and having gained squad experience at the 2005 Under-20 Fifa World Cup in Peru. A number of Europe's top clubs will be sending scouts to watch the young Ghanaian who is currently contracted to Qatari side Al-Sadd, but currently plays on loan for Abu Dhabi based outfit Al-Wahda to gain further first team experience. The wily striker began his career at the reputed Ashanti Gold Soccer Academy, a centre of excellence which has also produced compatriot and Real Madrid starlet Daniel Opare. From here Agyemang moved on to Club Sportif Sfaxien, who also have a good reputation for producing talent, such as former Ajax, Manchester City and Tunisian captain Hatem Trabelsi. If Ghana are to progress in the tournament, this man will have to carry the burden of getting the goals for the Black Satellites.
Richard Sukuta-Pasu
Country: Germany
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Date of Birth: 34th June 1990
Position: Forward
Squad Number: 9
Height: 6ft 2in
Sport.couk Rating: 8/10
Hotly tipped for a bright future with the German national team is the pacey and un-predictable Bayer Leverkusen frontman Richard Sukuta – Pasu. Plucked from the provincial German town of Wuppertai, the striker, of Congolese descent, moved to German giants Bayer Leverkusen in 2000. Pasu has a flawless record at youth level for Germany; from Under-16 to Under-21 level he has notched 17 goals in 35 appearances. Leverkusen rate the forward extremely highly garnishing him with the number 17 shirt for the current campaign. The starlet burst to prominence hitting the headlines at the FIFA Under-19 European Championship last year, leading his homeland to victory with a hattrick, and the winner in the final against Italy. Powerful, fast, and arguably the best finisher in the competition – Pasu is hotly tipped to become a German legend, so expect a chorus a plaudits and a plethora of journalists linking the striker with Europe's best.
Krisztian Nemeth
Country: Hungary
Club: Liverpool
Date of Birth: 5th Janaury 1989
Position: Forward
Squad Number: 9
Height: 5ft 10.5 in
Sport.couk Rating: 9/10
The Hungarian frontman, who is so highly regarded by Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez that the Spanish coach was led to remark, “big things are expected,” is joined by fellow Anfield teammates Andras Simon and keeper Peter Gulacsi in the Hungary squad. Currently on loan gaining first team experience at Greek giants AEK Anthens, Nemeth is a certainty to be among the top scorers of the tournament boasting the best goal-getting record during a series of youth qualification matches in which he hit the net 38 times in 34 appearances. He scored regularly for Liverpool's reserves last term and Kop fans should be excited – rumour on the wires is he is the reason Benitez never swooped for a forward in the summer.
Odion Ighalo
Country: Nigeria
Club: Udinese
Date of Birth: 16th June 1989
Position: Forward
Squad Number: 8
Height: 6ft 2 in
Sport.couk Rating: 8/10
Ighalo, is a personal favourite in the Sport.co.uk office. We expect the 20-year-old to become a household name in the not too distant future having been spotted at Norwegian side Lynn, where at the tender age of 17 Ighalo scored 9 goals in 20 appearaces in the Norwegian top flight. Furthermore, with John Obi Mikel already coming off the same conveyor belt, he has an impressive lead to follow. Offers from Dutch giants Ajax and rivals Brann were rejected, until Italian giants Udinese prised Ighalo away from Lynn for a figure believed to be in the region of £2.1 million. Already used by the national team in the 2008 qualifiers for the Beijing Olympics, Ighalo is a dynamic and controlling forward in the mould of Didier Drogba – he may not have same level of natural finishing ability as others in the tournament, but he will certainly provide a handful for defenders in Egypt.