Youth football on the rise, says FIFA group

ISTANBUL

Youth football is one of the rising trends of the sport, acccording to a statement that was posted on the FIFA website after the U-20 tournament. DHA Photo

Two members of the FIFA’s Technical Study Group (TSG) have briefed their initial reflections on the action at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 at an Istanbul meeting on June 1.

The experts commented on the emerging trends and dominant tactics.

For Muhsin Ertugral, the quality of the football has been particularly pleasing, and the Ajax Cape Town manager has also enjoyed watching the divergent styles of play on show, FIFA said on its website.

“Youth football improves from year to year – in physical, technical and tactical terms – but what’s really pleased me is that cultural influence has been playing a huge role,” the site quoted former Kaizer Chiefs and Congo DR coach as saying. “The South Americans continue to produce excellent No10s, and African sides also have a special type of player in midfield, whose function is tied up with a concept that’s almost naive, and which I’d call: ‘Express yourself.’”

As for Finland coach Mixu Paatelainen, the former striker with the likes of Bolton Wanderers, Aberdeen and Dundee United has been keeping a close eye on the pre-eminent strategic approaches. “The formation that’s been used the most is 4-2-3-1,” he said. “That’s undoubtedly because it’s a flexible system that allows teams to protect their defence with two holding midfielders while also spreading the play wide by using wingers. Lots of sides have also changed their system during games in response to the scoreline.