The 2011 Portugal U-20 World Cup team. Photo / Getty Images
The 2011 Portugal U-20 World Cup team. Photo / Getty Images
Counting down to the Fifa Under-20 World Cup, which begins in three days, the Herald looks at how each group stacks up. Today, Daniel Richardson casts his eye over Group C
Teams
Colombia This will be Colombia's ninth appearance at the Under-20 World Cup, and they qualified for this year's instalment with a second at the South American Youth Football Championship earlier this year. The perennial contenders are yet to lift the crown - their best result was third in 2003.
Portugal Portugal booked their third-straight appearance at the U-20 World Cup by finishing runner-up at last year's European U-19 Championship. They won the title in 1989 and 1991 and were also runners-up in 2011. This is their 10th appearance.
Qatar The Gulf nation will return to the U-20 World Cup after a 20-year absence, courtesy of victory at last year's AFC U-19 Championship. They were the surprise packages of the 1981 event in Australia when they lost the final 4-0 to West Germany. Qatar didn't qualify again until 1995.
Senegal The Africans round out an exciting group after they qualified for their first U-20 finals after making the semifinals of the African U-20 Championship earlier this year.
Favourites
Portugal have players on the books of many top clubs in their homeland. They also came through a tough qualification process in Europe, so will be battle-hardened. They're the fourth-equal favourites with the bookies to take the title.
Underdogs
Senegal will start as outsiders in the group, given they sneaked through qualification in Africa. They have never been to a U-20 World Cup and New Zealand's winter might not appeal.
Star man
Portuguese attacking midfielder Marcos Lopes promises to be a player to watch. Known as "Rony", the 19-year-old is contracted to Manchester City but was loaned to French club Lille this season. Lopes became Manchester City's youngest goal-scorer in a competitive match when he netted during an FA Cup match against Watford in 2013, aged 17 years and eight days.
Stat
Forward Joao Rodriguez became the first Colombian to sign a professional deal with English giants Chelsea when he agreed to terms in 2013.
Senegal scored two goals in the final three minutes of their last pool game at the African U-20 champs in March to beat Congo and qualify for the U-20 World Cup. Down 3-2 in the 87th minute, Senegal fought back to win 4-3 to earn their ticket to the semifinals and to New Zealand.
Prediction
Colombia and Portugal look primed to get out of the group as the direct qualifiers, with Qatar the surprise package.
