France Favored to Win FIFA U-20 World Cup Poland 2019

• Twenty-four teams battle in soccer’s best youth competition
• Many of soccer’s future stars made first international splash on U20 World Cup Stage
• Argentina a six-time tourney winner; France favored

Some of the biggest stars in the football world have first made their name at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. Diego Maradona was the star of the tournament in 1979.

Ronaldinho of Brazil first emerged in 1999. More recently, Manchester United’s Paul Pogba was the leading figure as France won the 2013 tournament in Turkey.

France is favored to win again when the next edition of the biggest competition in youth football kicks off in Poland (May 23-June 15, 2019).

FIFA Under-20 World Cup Odds

(Odds taken 05/19/2019)

Six-Time Winners

Portugal are rated second at +650, while the host nation Poland are ranked at +700 and six-time winners Argentina are at +1000.

Among the other highly-fancied teams, Nigeria and Uruguay are given +1200 odds and Italy is +1400. Mali are +1750 and the USA are +2000. The top 10 is made up by Senegal at +2100.

England, the holders, will be absent as will Brazil.

Led by Tim Weah and Paxton Pomykal, how far can the USMNT go at the under-20 World Cup? https://t.co/vHW67fBsqb #usmnt

— canhvavbongda365 (@canhvavbongda31) May 14, 2019

The French star could be Borussia Dortmund’s Dan Axel-Zagadou who has made over 20 appearances for the German club in the past season.

France, coached by 1998 World Cup winner Bernard Diomede, will be missing Lyon’s Amine Gouiri. He scored twice against both England and Turkey in qualifying. But he is required for the UEFA Under-21 tournament this summer.

The French star could be Borussia Dortmund’s Dan Axel-Zagadou, who has made over 20 appearances for the German club in the past season.

Reigning European Under-18 Champions

Portugal last won the tournament in 1991. They defeated Italy in the final of the European under-18 championships but are in a tough group along with Argentina. They have defeated both England and Saudi Arabia in the build-up to the competition.

Argentina were second in South American qualifying but have recently lost against Paraguay, Ecuador and Colombia while also drawing with Chile.

Poland have to be taken seriously as hosts. Their group looks well balanced. But they have been beaten during the past two seasons by Italy. Germany, England and Portugal.

Manchester City youngster Alpha Diounkou has been included in Senegal's final 21-man squad for the Under-20 World Cup in Poland.
The 17-year old, who is also a Spanish citizen, has featured for his club's under-18s 19s, 21s and 23s this season. pic.twitter.com/2CqLLLOPEb

— SportAfrican (@sportafrican1) May 14, 2019

Argentina have won the prize six times but the last win was in 1997. They were second in South American qualifying but have recently lost against Paraguay, Ecuador and Colombia while also drawing with Chile.

Group A Odds

As hosts, Poland did not have to qualify. But their form is not impressive and they have been beaten this year by England and Germany in the U-20 Elite League. Colombia finished fourth in the South American U-20 Championships to secure their place. Senegal, the first African team to qualify, were semi-finalists in 2015 and have won five of their last six fixtures, with one draw. Tahiti, massive outsiders, will be playing for pride alone.

Pick: POLAND

BBC CC: Under-20 World Cup: Mali make one change to squadhttps://t.co/cRSBLi7w0S pic.twitter.com/SmX0X302xR

— logicsport (@logicsport) May 16, 2019

Group B Odds

This will be one of the most competitive groups. Ecuador won the South American qualifying tournament. Their forward Leonarda Campana was the tournament’s leading scorer with six goals. Italy are rated but have lost recently to Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Holland. Japan were third in the Asian qualifiers. Mexico were runners-up in the CONCACAF regional competition.

Pick: ECUADOR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XdCB8P6sE0

Group C Odds

Uruguay have twice been finalists in 15 appearances in the competition, so they will be favored. New Zealand reached the last 16 in the previous two tournaments and won the Oceania U-19 qualifying group last year to reach these finals. Norway beat reigning U-20 World Cup holders England in a playoff to reach these finals. Honduras will be wide outsiders.

Pick: URUGUAY

Group D Odds

This will be the “Group Of Death.” The USA have won consecutive CONCACAF U-20 championships and have players such as Paris St Germain’s Timothy Weah. Ukraine finished ahead of both England and France when reaching the semifinals of the European U-19 championships last year. Nigeria, runners up in 1980 and 2005, finished fourth in this year’s U-20 African Cup of Nations. Qatar are improving ahead of hosting the 2022 World Cup.

Pick: USA

Timothy Weah says his loan deal at Celtic has been cut short after he was selected by the United States for the Under-20 World Cup.

More here: https://t.co/PDOIydxWuS pic.twitter.com/qU2MafJt0o

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 10, 2019

Group E Odds

Much-favored France have beaten Argentina and Korea Republic this year. They were winners in 2013 and hope to emulate their senior team’s World Cup triumph last year. Mali won this year’s U-20 African Cup of Nations in Niger and hope to improve on a third-place finish in 2015. Panama won all five of their qualifiers in the CONCACAF tournament and believe, too, that they can make an impact. Saudi Arabia reached the last 16 in 2017 and qualified as 2018 Asian U-19 champions –  their third success in the competition.

Pick: FRANCE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvgglVHIS8g

Group F Odds

Argentina are six-time winners and are well-fancied again. They were second behind Ecuador in the South American championship qualifying competition this year. Portugal are the 2018 European U-18 champions. They beat current U-20 World Cup holders England 1-0 in March. South Africa were third in the 2019 U-20 African Cup of Nations. Korea Republic will find it tough after being defeated by both Ukraine and France in fixtures earlier this year.

Pick: ARGENTINA

How a star-studded Argentina, featuring Riquelme, Aimar and Cambiasso, lifted the Under-20 World Cup in 1997. https://t.co/D7kNWXS2gs #AFA #Argentina

— These Football Times (@thesefootytimes) October 8, 2018