The U-20 World Cup in Chile will open its most vibrant stage this Saturday with the quarterfinals, in which, in addition to the eight best teams of the tournament, the five most decisive youth stars will fight to conquer the throne and the crown of ‘crack’.
Two of the five players arrived in Chile with the label of stars in their national teams and have confirmed it in the tournament: 20-year-old American Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami on loan to Parma) and 16-year-old Mexican Gilberto Mora (Xolos de Tijuana).
Promises in duel for glory
The 19-year-old Argentine Alejo Sarco (Bayer Leverkusen), 20-year-old Frenchman Lucas Michal (AS Monaco) and 19-year-old Moroccan Gessime Yassine (USL Dunkerque), meanwhile, were in the second line and their performances at this U-20 World Cup have brought them to the top.
The quarterfinal pairings, however, meant that at least two of them will have to say goodbye before the race at this stage because Mora and Sarco will face each other this Saturday.
Cremaschi and Yassine will play on Sunday, while Michal will play against Norway.
All have the challenge of proving that they are up to the pressure in their respective duels.
In addition to leading their teams first to the semifinals of the U-20 World Cup and from there to the glory of the title.
Talent and goals: the U-20 team’s weapons
The U.S. candidate, the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals, plays as a right-sided midfielder, has great vision and a great eye for goal.
Mora -with three goals- has been versatile all along the attacking front, accompanying the striker, and key in offensive transitions.
The Albiceleste has in Sarco a pure ‘9’ with a superior instinct for goal who already has four goals and is in the running for the Golden Boot.
Like Michal, who the French use as a striker and left winger with a lot of speed and is adept at personal duels.
Yassine contributes to the Moroccan attack on both flanks, is unbalanced, has scored a goal and contributed three assists.
What to expect in the quarters?
Cremaschi has character and power, and against the Moroccans he will have the task of dominating the midfield.
Aside from leading the game and taking advantage of his mid-range strike against a defense that knows how to protect its goal.
Mora surprises for his maturity to play and temperance to be decisive in moments of pressure.
He will face an intense midfield like Argentina’s, so his ability to break lines and filter passes will be his weapon.
Sarco imposes his physicality, explosive speed and remarkable definition with which he has opened scores to lead to victories.
His ability to overcome the pressure of the Mexican defense is the turning point to project himself as the competition’s top scorer.
Michal has speed, good ball handling and eye for goal, but he will have a tough task against an impenetrable Norwegian defense.
Yassine, meanwhile, uses his technique and creativity to stand out, although his challenge will be to know how to take advantage of spaces and impose himself in the personal duels against the Americans.
With information from EFE
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