Colombia will look to make a statement as they face Qatar in the opening game of Group C in the FIFA U20 World Cup.

Carlos Restrepo's side come into their opening game off the back of a 2-0 loss to Peru. Meanwhile Qatar U20 come in off the back of two consecutive losses, to Mexico and Panama.

  • Location: Hamilton
  • Stadium: Waikato Stadium (19237)
  • Officials
  • Referee: Matt Conger
  • Assistant Referees: Tevita Makasini, Simon Lount
  • Fourth Official: Istvan Vad
  •  

Restrepo's Colombia aren't on the favourites to win the competition or reach the the final. Yet with the star players like Andres Tello, Davinson Sanchez, Alexis Zapata and Jeison Lucumu, Colombia should be able to reach the latter stages of the competition.

Los Cafeteros Jovenes finished runners up to Argetina in the January SudAmericano U20 tournament, having gone into the competition as the holders. Yet that performance was highly unexpected, if they can produce another competition performance like that, we could be seeing them far further than pre-tournament predictions. You could somewhat call them a dark horse.

Meanwhile, this U20 Qatari side are unlikely to progress beyond the group stage with Colombia, Portugal and Senegal all proving better sides in the build up to the competition.

Colombia squad

Carlos Alberto Restrepo has selected a squad with just two youngsters playing abroad in it. Andres Tello and Alexis Zapata are the partnership playing in Italy who have been selected and the team will look towards them for the experience of facing Europe's best youth players.

Tello is currently learning his trade at Juventus and has already laid a marker down for a successful career in Europe. He moved to the Italian Champions, their fourth victory in a row, on a loan move in January and will return to Envigado on June 30th. In his 6 month spell at the club he played 7 times for Juventus B in the Primavera A. There is a view for a permanent move to Juventus in his loan deal at the club but even if he returns to Envigado, he will be in safe hands. James Rodriguez, Fredy Guarin and Juan Quintero all developed in their youth system.

His Colombia teammate, Zapata, has had a longer spell on the biggest footballing continent. In January 2014 he moved from Envigado, like Tello, to Granada. Within the day, he was loaned out to Sassuolo, where he made 4 appearances for the club in the Viareggio cup, scoring thrice.

On his return to Granada, he quickly had to pack his bags again. Once more, an Italian club wanted him. Yet this time, Udinese wanted him on a permanent basis and signed him in July 2014 for an undisclosed fee. At the club, he's made his senior football debut in Serie A, coming on as a substitute for Udinese against Empoli last August. He also played 6 times in Primavera B, scoring twice, as well as making two appearances in the Coppa Primavera, where he scored once.

Tello and Zapata are two of the best members of the squad, having earned their way into the European football scene already. Yet there are two more talents in the squad that have been playing well in Colombia recently. 

Jeison Lucumi will be one of the player's to look out for in May/June's competition. After a brilliant first half to the season with America de Cali, Lucumi (often known as Steven Lucumi) has now been tipped to become the latest in the succession of South American players to be hand picked for Atletico Madrid. He had a stunning SudAmericano, scoring 4 times, and Diego Simeone is chasing him according to Tutto Mercato. The right-winger has also been of interest to PSV Eindhoven, which could be seen as another brilliant move, the Dutch champions often nurturing young talent well. If you're watching the tournament and see the player running with speed at the opposition of through the channels, waiting for the ball from his teammates, it could likely be Lucumi.

Davinson Sanchez hasn't been tipped on any other website but his performances in the Colombian First Division should spur him onto another impressive tournament. He was vital for Los Cafeteros in the 2015 SudAmericano, starting 8 games out of 8. He plays at Atletico Nacional and has played 8 times for them in the past two years, at the age of 18.

Predicted XI: Alvaro Montero; Jeison Angulo, Daniel Londono, Aldayr Hernandez, Juan Quintero; Andres Tello, Davinson Sanchez, Alexis Zapata, Jeison Lucumu; Carlos Ibarguen, Santo Borre.

Squads

  • Qatar

  • 1 Y. HASSAN
  • (GK)
  • 2 T. ALMUHAZA
  • 3 F. SHANIN
  • 4 ABDULLA
  •  
  • 5 S. ABDOU
  • 6 S. ALHAJRI
  • 7 J. ALJALABI
  • 8 MOEIN
  • 9 BRAHMI
  • 10 AFIF
  • 11 ALKUWARI
  • 12 J. MOHAMMED
  • 13 M. ALBAKARI (GK)
  • 14 A. ALSADI
  •  
  • 15 S. ALBRAKE
  • 16 A. ANAD
  • 17 B. HISHAM
  • 18 A. MADIBO
  • 19MOEZ
  •  
  • 20 TAREK
  • 21 Y. NAIM (GK)
  •  
  • Coach
  • Felix SANCHEZ (ESP)

COLOMBIA

Goalkeepers
Alvaro Montero (No club)
Luis Vasquez (Independiente Medellin)
Yasser Chavez (Bogota)

Defenders
Aldayr Hernandez (Bogota)
Jeison Angulo (Deportivo Cali)
Daniel Londono (Envigado)
Juan Quintero (Deportivo Cali)
Davinson Sanchez (Atletico Nacional)

Midfielders
Andres Tello (Juventus - Italy)
Deinner Quinones (Deportes Quindio)
Alexis Zapata (Udinese - Italy)
Joao Rodriguez (Vitoria Setubal Portugal)
Sergio Villarreal (Millionarios)
Jeison Lucumu (America de Cali)
Rodin Quinones (Atletico Nacional)
Jhoan Ayala (Deportivo La Equidad)
Jarlan Barrera (Atletico Junior)
Juan Otero (Fortaleza)
Victor Gutierrez (Atletico Paranaerse - Brazil)
 
Forwards
Carlos Ibarguen (Deportivo Cortulua)
Santo Borre (Deportivo Cali)

Coach: Carlos Restrepo