Technical Study Group starts quest for future stars at Brazil 2019

Harry Awurumibe, Abuja.

Following the success of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017, the world’s best youth players, including Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, are due to meet in Brazil for the FIFA U-17 World Cup beginning 26 October.
As has been the case since the first edition of the tournament in 1985, the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG) will analyse the matches and evaluate key statistical material to identify potential trends that will be included in the final TSG report, which will be distributed to all FIFA member associations.
Under the umbrella of FIFA’s Coaching & Player Development Department led by Branimir Ujević, the TSG in Brazil will also feature Argentinian expert Claudio Vivas, an experienced coach who has patrolled the touchline in his home country as well as Peru and Chile in addition to being a long-time assistant to coaching great Marcelo Bielsa. They will be supported by FIFA’s Goalkeeping Specialist Pascal Zuberbühler and Performance & Game Analyst Chris Loxston.
The TSG will be responsible for deciding the winners of the following awards:
• adidas Golden, Silver and Bronze Balls for the best players
• adidas Golden, Silver and Bronze Boots for the leading goalscorers (if two or more players score the same number of goals, the TSG members will decide the winners based on specific criteria)
• adidas Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper
• FIFA Fair Play Award
Of all editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup to have been played so far, 210 players have gone on to appear in the FIFA World Cup™. Ronaldinho is, to date, the only player to have won both tournaments – the FIFA U-17 World Cup 1997 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup™.
“The FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 featured a number of players who have made headlines since, including England’s Jadon Sancho and Phil Foden, Germany’s Jann-Fiete Arp and Mexico’s Diego Lainez, just to mention a few. We look forward to Brazil 2019, which promises to be a fantastic display of collective and individual talent,” says Ujević.
The TSG reports compiled since the first edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1985 are available on FIFA website.