Fifa Under-17 World Cup squads announced
More than 500 players bidding to emulate greats of the past from October 17 in UAE.
With four days to go before the Fifa U-17 World Cup kicks off in the UAE, the official squad lists for the final tournament have all been announced. A total of 504 players can now set their sights on following in the footsteps many illustrious names to have left a glittering impression at past editions.
The action gets under way on October 17, when the opening match between Brazil and Slovakia will mark the start of three weeks of thrilling football, which climaxes with the final on November 8 in Abu Dhabi’s Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium.
The gifted prodigies selected to represent their nations at UAE 2013 will be based in the tournament’s six host cities: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain, Fujairah and Sharjah.
And, once there, they will be determined to catch the eye like some of the great players who first announced their potential at a Fifa U-17 World Cup, including Argentina’s Juan Sebastian Veron, Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero, Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas and Brazil superstar Neymar, to name but a few.
Having won the last edition on home soil two years ago, Mexico will begin their bid eager to reach the showpiece for the third time in their history. For that to happen, the holders will be hoping for big things from star performer Marco Granados, scorer of four goals in qualifying, and solid defender Jose Almanza, who was voted player of the tournament at the Concacaf U-17 Championship in April.
As for three-time winners Nigeria, they will be attempting to grace their seventh final and become the first side to win the world title for a fourth time, a dream that may depend largely on the form of Success Isaac, who struck eight times during the qualifiers.
Brazil, meanwhile, will look to Robert Kenedy to help them reach the global summit after a ten-year wait.
This Fifa U-17 World Cup will likewise offer a stage to players such as Morocco and Juventus forward Younes Bnou Marzouk, Croatia’s Lukas Culjak — who plies his trade with Borussia Dortmund — and Adrian Grbic of Austria and Stuttgart. In addition, Sweden’s Isak Ssewankambo will attempt to use the experience he has accumulated at Chelsea to aid his team-mates, as no doubt will Slovakia’s Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Filip Lesniak.
All these exciting young talents, and many more besides, will be pushing themselves to the limit to clinch the world title and lay down the first markers of potentially brilliant careers to come.
Tickets are available to purchase at Hallmark stores — Marina Mall (Abu Dhabi), Al Jimi Mall (Al Ain), Manar Mall (Ras Al Khaimah), City Centre Mall (Fujairah), Sahara Mall (Sharjah) and The Dubai Mall (Dubai), or online at www.fifa.com/u17worldcup.
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