With just under two weeks to go until the Youth Test League starts the fixtures have been announced. The league looks up for grabs for any one of the eight sides. Each have their hot prospects who are expected to show just why they are highly touted.
A quick glance at the teams and players to look out for:
Atalanta:
Atalanta have a lot of good solid players that will surely be a test for anyone. In midfield they have Da Riva who could thread a pass through the eye of a needle. They also have Rinaldi and Panada who can find a pass in there as well. Nivokazi and Kobacki look the likely front pair although there are other options.
Bayern Munich:
Bayern will be there or thereabouts I think. In goal they have Germany's World Youth Cup keeper, Fruchtl, who is one of the best keepers in the tournament. He's not the only one player from the German team as you'd expect, there are a few. Meier is a wide man who has quick feet, a decent passer and an even better crosser of the ball. Add that to a real eye for a goal and you have a real threat on your hands. There's a whole squad we could go on about here but for now we'll leave you with World Youth Cup tournament flop Zirkzee, who to be fair only had one match, but it was a bit of a stinker. You can be sure he'll be looking to show what he's about in this league.
Dinamo Zagreb:
Marin is the obvious go to guy here. A player who had he lasted more than 46 minutes of the WY Cup may now be waiting to play a Quarter Final with Croatia. However Ireland 'removed' him from the game and the rest is history. He will be a thorn in anyone's side in this league.
FC Porto:
The standout up front is another guy who fluffed his lines in the WY Cup. Fabio Silva. With a bit of everything he'll be a menace to any defence he comes up against as long as he doesn't bring his Cup form with him that is. Sousa will most likely do most of the probing in midfield with his typical Portuguese technique and passing ability.
Lyon:
Lyon have some real attacking talent in this squad, more on that in a bit. At the back they have a solid if unspectacular keeper in Girardot. Lyon, though, is a team that gets better the further forward you look. Starting with 15yr old Cherki, an AM/WF who can tip-toe through the tightest of spaces, never mind the tulips. Da Silva and Thomas are also real talents in that midfield area as well. Up front is Griffiths, the current WY Cup Golden Boot leader, Gouiri, who was supposed to lead France to the WY Cup title but didn't and a selection of others that most teams would be happy to field. They may be too top loaded but it should be entertaining.
Marseille:
AM Khetir, is quick, agile and a very accurate passer, probably more likely to be bothering the assists charts than the goal charts. Aouachria is made from the same mould and also out of the same production line comes Phiiponeau who is option three in there. So it looks like making chances should not be a problem for Marseille if any two of these are playing. Who's going to put them away might be the question. There's several candidates that all have their pluses. It will be interesting to see who gets the job.
Tottenham:
Their stand out guy will likely be Irishman Parrot who is set for a Quarter Final match tomorrow. Richards may well accompany him in the front line, although not for Ireland tomorrow. In midfield is Skipp, who already has first team appearances under his belt and is strong at most aspects of the game in midfield. Oakley-Boothe, who's had a fine World Youth Cup with England, is in midfield as well and this could be quite a partnership. Their defence may give them a headache or two but they do have pace their which will help them out.
Torino:
Torino have what could be a potent strike force in Ibrahimi and Millico. The former is strong, surprisingly good in the dribble despite his 193cm's and has a decent leap too which with his head start could cause real problems from set pieces. The latter is the polar opposite. 173cm tall, good in the air (if it comes in low enough), very quick and agile and always ready to pounce on any loose ball. He has a unerring accuracy with his shots to back it all up.
Who will be Top Scorer? Who will be Player of the Season? Who will be the Champions?
A quick glance at the teams and players to look out for:
Atalanta:
Atalanta have a lot of good solid players that will surely be a test for anyone. In midfield they have Da Riva who could thread a pass through the eye of a needle. They also have Rinaldi and Panada who can find a pass in there as well. Nivokazi and Kobacki look the likely front pair although there are other options.
Bayern Munich:
Bayern will be there or thereabouts I think. In goal they have Germany's World Youth Cup keeper, Fruchtl, who is one of the best keepers in the tournament. He's not the only one player from the German team as you'd expect, there are a few. Meier is a wide man who has quick feet, a decent passer and an even better crosser of the ball. Add that to a real eye for a goal and you have a real threat on your hands. There's a whole squad we could go on about here but for now we'll leave you with World Youth Cup tournament flop Zirkzee, who to be fair only had one match, but it was a bit of a stinker. You can be sure he'll be looking to show what he's about in this league.
Dinamo Zagreb:
Marin is the obvious go to guy here. A player who had he lasted more than 46 minutes of the WY Cup may now be waiting to play a Quarter Final with Croatia. However Ireland 'removed' him from the game and the rest is history. He will be a thorn in anyone's side in this league.
FC Porto:
The standout up front is another guy who fluffed his lines in the WY Cup. Fabio Silva. With a bit of everything he'll be a menace to any defence he comes up against as long as he doesn't bring his Cup form with him that is. Sousa will most likely do most of the probing in midfield with his typical Portuguese technique and passing ability.
Lyon:
Lyon have some real attacking talent in this squad, more on that in a bit. At the back they have a solid if unspectacular keeper in Girardot. Lyon, though, is a team that gets better the further forward you look. Starting with 15yr old Cherki, an AM/WF who can tip-toe through the tightest of spaces, never mind the tulips. Da Silva and Thomas are also real talents in that midfield area as well. Up front is Griffiths, the current WY Cup Golden Boot leader, Gouiri, who was supposed to lead France to the WY Cup title but didn't and a selection of others that most teams would be happy to field. They may be too top loaded but it should be entertaining.
Marseille:
AM Khetir, is quick, agile and a very accurate passer, probably more likely to be bothering the assists charts than the goal charts. Aouachria is made from the same mould and also out of the same production line comes Phiiponeau who is option three in there. So it looks like making chances should not be a problem for Marseille if any two of these are playing. Who's going to put them away might be the question. There's several candidates that all have their pluses. It will be interesting to see who gets the job.
Tottenham:
Their stand out guy will likely be Irishman Parrot who is set for a Quarter Final match tomorrow. Richards may well accompany him in the front line, although not for Ireland tomorrow. In midfield is Skipp, who already has first team appearances under his belt and is strong at most aspects of the game in midfield. Oakley-Boothe, who's had a fine World Youth Cup with England, is in midfield as well and this could be quite a partnership. Their defence may give them a headache or two but they do have pace their which will help them out.
Torino:
Torino have what could be a potent strike force in Ibrahimi and Millico. The former is strong, surprisingly good in the dribble despite his 193cm's and has a decent leap too which with his head start could cause real problems from set pieces. The latter is the polar opposite. 173cm tall, good in the air (if it comes in low enough), very quick and agile and always ready to pounce on any loose ball. He has a unerring accuracy with his shots to back it all up.
Who will be Top Scorer? Who will be Player of the Season? Who will be the Champions?
