T&T in tough U-17 group.
Compiled By: Flex Mohammed.The Official Draw for the FIFA U-17 World Cup took place at the Grand Ballroom of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul on Thursday 17 May at 18:00 local time. FIFA's Director of Competitions Jim Brown presided over the event, which was attended by representatives of the 24 teams.
vs GhanaThe young Soca Warriors will open to Ghana on the 20th of August. Ghana have two FIFA U-17 World Cup titles in 1991 & 1995 and were runners-up in 1993 to Nigeria and 1997 to Brazil respectively. In 1991 and 1993 Ghana's Nii Odartey Lamptey and Daniel Addo took the adidas Golden Ball award. Now in 2007 Kelvin Owusu Bossman who plays with English Premiership outfit Reading is one of the Black Starlets star players. The attacker is also bullish about his chances of breaking into the first team of Reading. Ghana have played at seven past FIFA U-17 World Cups, the first of which was in 1989. Ghana have twice been African champions at U-17 level and were runners-up two years ago. Coached by Fred Osam Duodu who is one of African football’s coaching legends.
vs ColombiaThe young Soca Warriors then face-off with Colombia who will be keen to emulate their first phase exploits the last time they made an appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, when they eased through a competitive Group A at Finland 2003 en route to the semi-finals. In deadly Cristian Nazarith, they certainly have a player capable of illuminating the tournament. T&T will definitely have to come good in order to contain the America de Cali ambitious youngster. They qualified for Korea as runners-up to Brazil. Coached by Eduardo Lara of Argentina. T&T will face the Colombians on the 23rd. Colombia return to the FIFA U-17 World Cup after a four-year absence, having failed to qualify for Peru 2005. Korea 2007 will be Colombia’s fourth appearance at the competition, following previous outings at Scotland 1989, Japan 1993 and Finland 2003. Colombia’s best performance came at Finland 2003, current coach Eduardo Lara guiding them to fourth spot.
vs GermanyThen up next for the young Warriors will be none other than Germany a game set for the 26th. Germany, who was the last team to qualify for this tournament after defeating the Netherlands in the match for fifth place. They were 2006 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Semi-finalist. Their key players is Hertha BSC Berlin midfielder Sascha Bigalke who has been the centre of attention since he provided three of Germany’s six goals in the Algarve Cup, and he has seven goals in 12 caps at this level. Bigalke is partnered with FC Bayern München playmaker Toni Kroos, already up to 23 U-17 caps and nine goals. Add to that winger Henning Sauerbier from Bayer 04 Leverkusen, and defensive organisator Marvin Pachan of FC Schalke 04. Germany have a robust frame that enables them to take on any opposition. Hertha's Marvin Knoll form Hertha BSC Berlin is the youngest player in the team, but can play on the wing or up front and struck three times in the Elite round.
Former BV Borussia Dortmund striker Heiko Herrlich will lead Germany at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea Republic after being named as Paul Schomann's successor. German Football Association sporting director Matthias Sammer made the decision to appoint the 35-year-old Herrlich from 1 July, after Schomann led his side to a fifth-placed finish at the UEFA European Under-17 Championships in Belgium to earn a World Cup place. "The change is normal," insisted Sammer. "Because of our long-term work and future planning with this team I decided that Herrlich should be Schomann's successor."
Schomann will now take charge of the Under-15 side, saying: "I am disappointed about this decision because I would have loved to be in charge during the World Cup. It would have been the highlight and conclusion of my three years of work with this team but I have to accept the sporting director's decision."
NoteThe teams were divided into four pots according to various geographic and sporting considerations. Argentina, Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, the USA and Korea Republic were the seeded teams, due to their pedigree of their teams at this particular age group. Prior to the draw it was agreed that as hosts of the competition, Korea Republic would be assigned in position A1. It was also announced that the group containing Korea DPR will be assigned to Seogwipo and that none of the groups would feature more than one team from each geographic region.
Anton Corneal told the TTFF media. “It’s a draw that we can work with. We will by no means feel as though this is a group of death or beyond us,” Corneal told TTFF Media. “It is our first time playing in an Under 17 Finals outside of when we hosted in 2001 and we will look forward to every challenge that comes our way. We will prepare and we will have our best go at these teams. We will now plan our preparation phase going into the tournament before arriving in Korea for the first game,” he added.
T&T Match Schedule.20-Aug 07, 20:00-Cheonan, TRI - GHA
23-Aug 07, 20:00-Cheonan, TRI - COL
26-Aug 07, 19:00-Changwon, GER - TRI
FIFA U-17 World Cup Korea 2007 Official Draw
Group AA1. Korea Republic
A2. Peru
A3. Costa Rica
A4. Togo
Group BB1. Korea DPR
B2. England
B3. Brazil
B4. New Zealand
Group CC1. Honduras
C2. Spain
C3. Argentina
C4. Syria
Group DD1. Nigeria
D2. France
D3. Japan
D4. Haiti
Group EE1. Belgium
E2. Tunisia
E3. Tajikistan
E4. USA
Group FF1. Colombia
F2. Germany
F3. Trinidad and Tobago
F4. Ghana
Click here to view the full match schedule.
Warner pulls T&T at U-17 draw.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).[/size]
FIFA Vice President Jack Warner issued a warning to the team's in T&T Under 17 Championship group as he pulled Trinidad and Tobago during the draw for the Finals on Thursday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul.
"Beware of Trinidad and Tobago!" Warner said.
The T&T delegation of head coach Anton Corneal and manager Christo Gouveia were in praise of Warner for pulling T&T as they looked ahead to the tournament with optimism. Warner took part in the draw as chairman of the organising committee for the tournament.
Following the draw and a sumptuous dinner, Warner invited Corneal and Gouveia to his suite where they planned strategies for the team for the next two months involving several camps and matches in South America and Europe. Warner has also arranged for Corneal and Gouveia to visit T&T's Korean venue on Friday as well as the team's hotel and has assured them that he will leave no stone unturned to ensure the team's comfort in Korea as well as their best performance on the field.
"We shall take nothing for granted as it relates to this team and its preparation for the Championship. This is the future of Trinidad and Tobago before us and while we would have made our mark in Germany last year, now this is our opportunity to remind the same Germans what we are capable of on the field of play. Our flag will once again be flown at the highest mark in Korea for the world to see and we shall leave no stone unturned in the build up to our appearance in Korea," Warner told TTFF Media.
Warner has also arranged a thank you celebration for the team and the members of their families as well as friends of the local football fraternity for 10am this Sunday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. He has also advised the host country, Korea, that T&T will be interested in having a charter flight for T&T, especially its young people, to attend the tournament and plans are now afoot to make this a reality. There are no visa restrictions between T&T and Korea. Warner returns to T&T on Friday night and Corneal and Gouveia on Sunday morning.
