U-20 World Cup Roster

The Under 20 World Cup starts this week in Egypt. All of the matches will be on ESPN360.com. The tournament opens on Thursday, however Brazil’s first match not is until Sunday. A complete schedule can be found here. Brazil’s group includes Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, and Australia. The defending champion of this tournament is Argentina, who shockingly did not qualify due to their performance at the South American Sub 20.

Many of Brazil’s promising young players were not released for this team since it’s the middle of the domestic season. This means no Sandro, Walter, and Neymar, not to mention players who signed for big clubs like Rafael, Fabio, and Dodo of Manchester United.

The players of note on this squad are midfielders Douglas Costa, who some have billed a left footed Ronaldinho and Giuliano who is a regular starter for third place Internacional. Both are solid players who have bright futures. Their play will heavily determine the fate of this team in Egypt.

Many of these players were on the side that won the Under 20 South American Championship. Forward Alan Kardec played an important role for the squad in that tournament, scoring a pair of goals in Chile. The weak link on the team is at keeper. Renan and Rafael were more than shaky in Chile, and are susceptible to making key mistakes.

Roster:

1 – RAFAEL, 23.06.89, Goleiro, Cruzeiro E.C.

2 – DOUGLAS, 06.08.90, Lateral, Goiás E.C.

3 – DALTON, 05.02.90, Zagueiro, Fluminense F.C.

4 – R. TOLOI, 10.10.90, Zagueiro, Goiás E.C.

5 – RENAN, 09.10.89, Zagueiro, Atl. Paranaense

6 – DIOGO, 30.12.89, Lateral, São Paulo F.C.

7 – ALEX TEIXEIRA, 06.01.90, Meio campo, Vasco da Gama

8 – MAYLSON, 06.03.89, Meio Campo, Grêmio

9 – ALAN KARDEC, 12.01.89, Atacante, Vasco da Gama

10 – GIULIANO, 31.05.90, Meio campo, Internacional

11 – P. HENRIQUE, 12.10.89, Meio campo, Santos F.C.

12 – RENAN RIBEIRO, 23.03.90, Goleiro, Atl. Mineiro

13 – D. COSTA, 14.09.90, Meio Campo, Grêmio

14 – FABRICIO, 20.02.90, Zagueiro, Flamengo

15 – WELLINGTON JUNIOR, 26.06.89, Lateral, Botafogo

16 – BERTUCCI, 27.04.09, Lateral, Corinthians

17 – SOUZA, 11.02.89, Meio Campo, Vasco da Gama

18 – BOQUITA, 07.04.90, Meio Campo, Corinthians

19 – MAICON, 18.02.90, Atacante, Fluminense F.C.

20 – CIRO, 18.04.89, Atacante, Sport C. do Recife

21 – SAULO, 02.04.89, Goleiro, Sport C. do Recife