Names to remember...

Apologies that it has taken me nearly two weeks but here is a (fairly extensive) list of all the players that GUSU will be tracking as a result of their performances in the 2011 South American under-20 Championship from Peru. As with previous posts the players are based only on games that GUSU has watched and therefore comments are much appreciated...

(Players are arranged alphabetically and by country)

Argentina
Esteban Andrada (Lanús) (GK)
Leonel Galeano (Independiente) (Def)
Germán Pezzella (River Plate) (Def)
Michael Hoyos (Estudiantes) (Mid)
Bruno Zuculini (Racing Club) (Mid)
Facundo Ferreyra (Banfield) (Att)
Rogelio Funes Mori (River Plate) (Att)
Juan Iturbe (Cerro Porteño) (Att)


Bolivia
Alejandro Chumacero (The Strongest) (Mid)
Darwin Rios (Guabirá) (Att)


Brazil
Alex Sandro (Santos) (Def)
Bruno Uvini (São Paulo) (Def)
Danilo (Santos) (Def)
Casimiro (São Paulo) (Mid)
Lucas (São Paulo) (Mid)
Henrique (São Paulo) (Att)
Willian José (São Paulo) (Att)
Neymar (Santos) (Att)
Diego Mauricio (Flamengo) (Att)


Chile
Bryan Carrasco (Audax Italiano) (Def)
Luis Gallegos (Universidad de Chile) (Mid)
Alejandro Márquez (Unión Temuco) (Mid)
Yashir Pinto (Ñublense) (Mid)


Colombia
Santiago Arias (La Equidad) (Def)
Juan Cabezas (Deportivo Cali) (Mid)
Javier Calle (Independiente) (Mid)
Edwin Cardona (Atlético Nacional) (Mid)
Fabián Castillo (Deportivo Cali) (Att)
Andrés Escobar (Deportivo Cali) (Att)


Ecuador
Jonathan de la Cruz (Universidad Católica) (Mid)
Edson Montaño (Gent) (Mid)
Marcos Jackson Caicedo (Emelec) (Att)


Paraguay
Nelson Ruiz (Rubio Ñú) (Def)
Diego Benítez (Olimpia) (Mid)
Oscar Ruiz (Free Agent) (Mid)
Iván Torres (Cerro Porteño) (Mid)


Peru
Jorge Bazán (Alianza Lima) (Mid)
Christian Cueva (Universidad San Martín) (Mid)
Angel Ojeda (Melgar) (Mid)


Uruguay
Diego Polenta (Genoa) (Def)
Pablo Ceppelini (Cagliari) (Mid)
Adrián Luna (Defensor Sporting) (Att)


Venezuela
Yohandry Orozco (Wolfsburg) (Mid)

The state of play going into the final round of games

There are some great contests lined up for tonight's final round of games from this Championship in Peru.

The evening kicks off (warms up) with Colombia/Argentina. Colombia have nothing to play for in terms of qualifying for other tournaments: they are bottom of the group and automatically qualify for the U20 World Cup as hosts. However this tournament is of course about much more than finishing positions and there are a large number of Colombian players who impressed particularly in the first stage of the tournament and will be keen to shine once more before the end. Argentina's chances of qualifying for the Olympics look slim and they will need a bagful of goals against Colombia to stand even a narrow chance; they also require Brazil to lose.

The second game sees Ecuador take on Chile in what is basically a play-off for U20 World Cup qualification. Ecuador will make it with just a draw whereas Chile need to win. Edson Montaño (Gent & Ecuador) and Bryan Carrasco (Audax Italiano & Chile) have been scoring consistently throughout and will be the two to keep an eye on.

The final game of the evening is wonderfully set up in that the winner on the night will win the tournament. Uruguay sit on top of the group with 10 points and Brazil are just one point behind. So it will be similar to the final of a knockout competition only Uruguay will obviously be victorious should they draw.

Here is the final group stage table and a summary of all the possible outcomes:

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Uruguay	4	3	1	0	4	1	+3	10
Brazil	4	3	0	1	9	3	+6	9
Argentina	4	2	0	2	5	5	0	6
Ecuador	4	1	2	1	2	2	0	5
Chile	4	1	0	3	6	9	−3	3
Colombia	4	0	1	3	1	6	−5	1

Team qualified for both the 2012 Olympics and 2011 U-20 World Cup

Team qualified for the U-20 World Cup but not the Olympics

Team eliminated from Olympic qualifying but may still qualify for U-20 World Cup

Team eliminated from both the Olympics and U-20 World Cup

• Brazil will qualify for the Olympics if
  • they do not lose to Uruguay or
  • Argentina do not defeat Colombia or
  • the total margin of Brazil loss and Argentina win is fewer than 6 goals (or exactly 6 if Argentina do not score at least 4 goals more than Brazil)
• Argentina will qualify for the Olympics if
  • they defeat Colombia AND
  • Brazil lose to Uruguay AND
  • the total margin is at least 7 goals (or 6 if Argentina score at least 4 goals more than Brazil)
• Ecuador will qualify for the U-20 World Cup if they do not lose to Chile
• Chile will qualify for the U-20 World Cup if they defeat Ecuador

At the half-way stage: the top performers so far...

As the final group stage gets under way, here is a chance to re-cap on some of the tournament's top performers so far from every country represented. Regretfully there are several more players not featured in this post as there simply isn't room/time to talk about them all. Note that these choices are based largely on the games that GUSU has watched for 90 minutes therefore comments on omissions are very welcome...

Michael Hoyos

Argentina & Estudiantes

Argentina have been largely underwhelming so far yet they topped their group with 10 points from 4 games and were unbeaten in the first group stage. Hoyos has arguably been their best attacking player displaying great skill and ability from time-to-time. He has yet to hit his best form but has contributed well so far and has just one goal to his name. Watch him closely next round as he is capable of stepping up a gear.

Esteban Andrada

Argentina & Lanús

Really impressed with Andrada. He's been solid in goal and is a calming influence on his defenders. The Argentina back line was largely to thank for their unbeaten status in the first round of the competition defending very well as a unit with good shape and discipline. Andrada has been central to this. 

Bryan Carrasco

Chile & Audax Italiano

GUSU had been disappointed with Chile's performances before victory over Venezuela in their last game. This man had not been majorly hyped before the tournament and had gone under the radar undetected until the Venezuela game when he exploded into life. Playing in a right wing-back role he was key to nearly every Chilean attack and a constant menace to Venezuela assisting Chile's first two goals. That performance alone has ensured eyes will be firmly on him next game.

Diego Polenta

Uruguay & Genoa

Definitely Uruguay's best player so far and one of the top performers overall in the first stage. Really good at dribbling and has two goals to his name so far. A penalty and this brilliant solo effort.

Lucas

Brazil & São Paulo

Fantastic so far, Lucas has proved irrepressible in Brazil's midfield. He unfortunately didn't get a goal in the first group stage but should have done on more than one occasion, that is perhaps the only criticism that can be aimed at him. He has assisted many and is a constant live wire making Brazil a joy to watch in this tournament along with...

Neymar

Brazil & Santos

Neymar didn't need to announce himself to anyone before the tournament, people are well aware of what an exciting prospect this guy is. Still that failed to dissuade him from bagging four goals in Brazil's opening game against Paraguay in what was a truly glittering display. He scored a good counterattacking goal in Brazil's next game, an entertaining victory over Colombia, and he has just netted two in the first round of final stage games against Chile (but this article was designed to focus on the first round.) Probably the only player so far that we can safely say is destined for great things.

Edson Montaño

Ecuador & Gent

Ecuador have looked like a good team so far. They qualified for the final stage comfortably losing only to Brazil (and have just beaten Argentina). Several of their players have showed promise but GUSU has been most impressed with this man. Three goals to his name so far and assists to go with that make him an exciting player to track throughout the final stage.

Edwin Cardona

Colombia & Atlético Nacional

As mentioned before on this blog, Colombia have been one of the most enjoyable teams to watch and Edwin Cardona has been their best player. Already has four goals this tournament (two penalties) but there is much more to this attacking midfielder's game. Very skilful, very good passer, good at shooting from range and free-kicks.

And it's the end of the line for...

Here are the players whose teams have failed to progress to the final stage meaning we will not get to see any more of them at this tournament. However they will continue to be tracked by GUSU and hopefully reported on with progress.

Christian Cueva

Peru & Universidad San Martín

Peru were an enjoyable team to watch at times and it's a shame the hosts are out of the tournament. Cueva was their best player and was very lively throughout the first group stage. Didn't score himself but assisted several and looks like a technically gifted and creative player.

Yohandry Orozco

Venezuela & Wolfsburg

Due to his constantly impressive performances throughout the first round Orozco has been one of the most talked about players at the tournament. He played well every game for Venezuela and looks like a special talent. How about this goal against Peru? Sealed a deadline day switch to Wolfsburg and is without question a name to remember

Darwin Rios

Bolivia & Guabirá

Apologies for poor quality picture on this guy. Bolivia have had a pretty forgettable tournament only picking up one point (albeit against Brazil) and only scoring three goals. This man got all three and he will be watched in future games.

Oscar Ruiz

Paraguay (Free Agent)

Paraguay were perhaps a little unlucky to go out at the first stage, they have a few talented players with Oscar Ruiz among them. Regularly links-up the play very nicely, has a good shot and can run with the ball. Got himself two goals against Colombia in the last game. Currently without a club so will be interesting to see who comes in for him.