30 años... de china a chile
I
n the past fifteen editions of the FIFA U-17
World Cups, 5,568 players have participated. Each one of them has arrived to the
global competition with the hope of starting
the path to a professional career full of glory.
Some have succeeded and others have been
staying on the road, although with the unforgettable honour of being able to defend
their countries in a tournament of this magnitude.
Since 1985 great leading figures have
been known that have called the attention
of the football planet, guiding their teams
with talent, goals, fierce defences or saves
that had stay in the history of the championship.
Precisely in the first edition, played in
China, came to light the first names that
started their way of glory in a FIFA U-17
World Cup. Among the most recognized
outstand the Argentinians Fernando Redondo and Fernando Caceres, the Italian
scorer Mauricio Ganz and the later adult
world cuppers with Bolivia, Erwin “Platini”
Sánchez and Marco Antonio Etcheverry.
In Canada 1987, two were the players that
later became professional stars: the Brazilian scorer Sonny Anderson and the adult
world champion in 1998 with the National
Team of France, Emmanuel Petit.
1989 was a tournament the contributed
even more. There appeared the Nigerian
Victor Ikpeba; the great leading figure of
Portugal, Luis Figo; the American Claudio
Reyna and the Argentinean goalie Roberto
Abbondanzieri.
1991 was the emergence of another that
years later would be champion in the adult
level: the Italian Alessando Del Piero. Also
played the Ghanaian Samuel Kuffour and
Argentineans Juan Sebastian Veron and
Marcelo Gallardo.
Two years later, the generation that gave
Italy its last title, will see the birth of other two of their stars: Gianluigi Buffon and
Franceso Totti. Other leading figures were
Nwanku Kanú of Nigeria and Hidetoshi
Nakata of Japan.
Ecuador 1995, por its part, launched
several leading figures. To know, are the
names of: Tim Howard (United States),
Esteban Cambiasso and Pablo Aimar (Argentina) and the Brazilian goalkeeper Julio
Cesar.
The FIFA U-17 World Cup Egypt 1997 was
the birthplace of two adult champions
with Spain: Xavi Hernandez and Iker Casillas and one with Brazil: Ronaldinho Gaucho. In 1999, played Michel Essien (Ghana), Pepe Reina (Spain), Landon Donovan
(United States) and Adriano (Brazil).
The stars of the new millennium
The arrival of the new century was food
for the FIFA U-17 World Cup will feature
more players then mark history. 2001 in
Trinidad and Tobago, Andres Iniesta took
his first steps as selected Spanish, like Fernando Torres. Argentine Javier Mascherano, Carlos Tevez and Pablo Zabaleta also
began to play in this competition.
The arrival of the new century was the
food for the FIFA U-17 World Cup to have
even more players that later will mark his-
tory. In 2001 in Trinidad and Tobago, Andres Iniesta gave his first steps in the Spanish National Team, as well as Fernando
Torres. The Arrgentineans Javier Mascherano, Carlos Tevez and Pablo Zabaleta also
began to sound in this competition.
In 2003, Spain continued to fill with names
that later will provide glory at the professional level, because there emerged David
Silva y Cesc Fábregas. Portugal had Joao
Moutinho, Argentina with the current runner-ups of the world Ezequiel Garay and
Lucas Biglia and Colombia with Freddy
Guarín.
In the championship of 2005, in Peru, It
was two Mexicans who shone with their
own lights: Giovanni Dos Santos and Carlos Vela, who guided their squad to obtaining the first world title in the history of
their country.
In 2007, the German Toni Kroos was chosen best player of the championship, while
others as David De Gea of Spain, the Belgian Eden Hazard and English Dany Welbeck, also added experience.
Meanwhile, two of the current planetary
stars: the Brazilian Neymar and the German Mario Goetze were the leading figures of Nigeria 2009.
Hidetoshi Nakata (Japón / Japan).
Gianluigi Buffon (Italia / Italy).
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Fifa u-17 World Cup