Canada 2007 Youth World Cup - One week to go

Argentina's title defense will start in one week when the Canada 2007 Youth World Cup kicks-off with Brazil facing Poland the 30th of June in Montreal.

Hugo TOCALLI's team will debut that same day against the Czech Republic and will have the difficult task to repeat what Diego MARADONA did in 1979, Juan Pablo SORIN in 1995, Juan Roman RIQUELME in 1997, Javier SAVIOLA in 2001 and Lionel MESSI in 2005 and win the U-20 World Cup.

Argentina have won more FIFA Youth World Cups than any other nation and history will force them to at least get to the final match.

Without Lionel MESSI (technically allowed to play but choosen by COCO to play with the big guys) and Gonzalo HIGUAIN (technically allowed to play but not willing to miss out on his vacations....), the responsibility to lead the team and provide the goals will fall on phenom Sergio AGÜERO.

The Atletico de Madrid forward will wear the number 10 shirt and will be thrilled to take on the anchor-man role after being a substitute of Lionel MESSI two years ago in The Netherlands.

The former Independiente's striker will not be alone, though! Hot-shot Mauro ZARATE, recently sold to Al-Sadd (Qatar) in 16 million dollars, will join him to form one of the deadliest attacking combination of the tournament.

Just sitting behind them we will see play-maker Maximiliano MORALEZ, a key first team member in Racing Club and one of the best players in the U20 South American tournament that saw Argentina qualify for both, the Canada 2007 World Cup and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Eber BANEGA, a starter in a Boca Juniors team that have won the Copa Libertadores last week, will be the star defensive midfielder while Matias CAHAIS, also from Boca, will provide the height and presence as a stand-out central defender.

Sergio ROMERO, recently bought by Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, will be the goalkeeper.

Here are the 21 young lads that will represent the Albicelestes in Canada (to the left you can see the shirt numbers):

1 ROMERO Sergio
Goalkeeper
2 FAZIO Federico
Defender
3 INSUA Emiliano
Defender
4 MERCADO Gabriel
Defender
5 BANEGA Ever
Midfielder
6 CAHAIS Matias
Defender
7 YACOB Claudio
Midfielder
8 SANCHEZ Matias
Midfielder
9 ZARATE Mauro
Forward
10 AGUERO Sergio
Forward
11 ESCUDERO Damian
Midfielder
12 GARCIA Javier
Goalkeeper
13 VOBORIL German
Defender
14 SIGALI Leonardo
Defender
15 CABRAL Alejandro
Midfielder
16 GOMEZ Alejandro
Midfielder
17 MORALEZ Maximiliano
Midfielder
18 DI MARIA Angel
Forward
19 PIATTI Pablo
Forward
20 ACOSTA Lautaro
Forward
21 CENTENO Bruno
Goalkeeper

It is very hard to leave players out of this brief introduction I'm trying to do as this squad have a lot of talent in every position. We have Federico FAZIO (Sevilla), Emiliano INSUA (Liverpool), Angel DI MARIA (Rosario Central), Damián ESCUDERO (Velez Sarsfield)...

Talent is everywhere and on paper, the only thing that worries me is our manager Hugo TOCALLI.

He says he will use offensive tactics and I really hope they are not offensive to our glorious history in this category!

I would hate to see something similar to what we witnessed in February when we qualified for the Beijing 2008 Olympics in complete agony when Lautaro ACOSTA scored the winner against Uruguay in the very last second of the game we needed to win and we did nothing to do so.

For what is worth, I implore to Mr. TOCALLI from this space to go for it! To attack! To use the immense talent he has at his dispossal and to take us to our sixth U20 World Title!

VAMOS ARGENTINITA!

Follow all the adventures of the Young-Argentina in the Canada 2007 Youth World Cup here at Mundo Albiceleste!