South American U-20 Championship Profile: Brazil

Brazil are the undisputed kings when it comes to international football and at youth level, they are the unrivalled princes. Seven World Cup titles in the U-20 and U-17 categories and a further seventeen championships in South American tournaments in the same age groups are concrete testament of just how frighteningly and consistently good they are.

Along with perennial rivals, Argentina, the Brazil Sub-20 side will arrive in Venezuela as one of the hot favourites, as they always are in international competition, and they will be eager to parade their next generation of young superstars who will one day take Europe by storm.

In spite of the massive exodus of players from the country last year (1,176 footballers left to play abroad), a legislation which prevented players under the age of 18 to leave the country has bore fruit as A Seleção will compete in the U-20 South American Championship, which they have won a record nine times, with a squad comprised entirely of home-based players.

Fixtures

20/1 vs Paraguay

22/1 vs Bolivia

26/1 vs Chile

28/1 vs Uruguay

Key Players

Douglas Costa (Grêmio) – 18 years old

Without doubt the biggest star and the most influential figure in the squad. The left-sided attacking midfielder is considered a phenomenon in Brazil, even during his early years in the Grêmio youth team.

As is a pre-requisite for all Brazilian wingers, Costa is an expert dribbler and a free-kick specialist, but he also has exceptional technique for such a young player. Realising they have a jewel in their ranks, Grêmio offered him an improved contract in September, one that would tie him down to the Porto Alegre club until 2013 with an estimated $33 million (€25 million) buy-out clause attached.

Costa is expected to be one of the shining stars in this tournament but for his employers, they know all to well that if he blitzes his competition, the likes of European behemoths, Arsenal, Barcelona, Manchester United and Real Madrid will come knocking even louder.

Welinton Souza (Flamengo) – 19 years old

The defender was one of the key players in Flamengo’s youth team’s triumph in the Belo Horizonte Cup and the Champions Youth Cup in Malaysia, both in 2007. In 2008, despite missing out on the São Paulo Cup due to injury, Welinton still made the Brazil Sub-20 team to compete in the International Mediterranean Championships and the L’Aldúcia Tournament in Spain. 

Maylson (Grêmio) – 19 years old

The versatile midfielder was one of the stand-out players for Grêmio’s youth side in the U-20 Brazilian Championship in 2006.

He is already considered one of the rising stars at the club after he was promoted to the senior squad in 2007. He was given his first team opportunity in November against São Paulo after numerous key players fell injured and although he played only three games in total, he has had a significant impact on the team.

German company, Rogon Sportmanagement, offered Grêmio €3.3 million to purchase the player’s rights but the club rejected the bid.  

Dentinho (Corinthians) – 19 years old

A very pacey, opportunistic target striker with great technique, Dentinho (pic) was one of the revelations in Brazil’s Serie B in 2008 with Corinthians. He has already attracted the interest of Real Madrid and he will be one of the more experienced players for the Seleção in this tournament. And along with Douglas Costa, they are expected to be the two big stars of the competition.

Other Notable Players

Tales (Internacional)

From the same generation as Alexandre Pato, Tales was one of the more pivotal figures in Internacional’s youth team. Usually a livewire in the middle of the park, he is everything a midfielder should be: great vision, excellent passer of the ball, skilful and a killer right foot.

Marquinhos (Palmeiras)

His big two weapons are his speed and his audacious dribbling skills. He was one of the revelations of last year’s Brazilian Championship, making 31 appearances for his former club, Victória despite being only 18 years of age at the time.

His impressive performances earned him a transfer to Palmeiras and his ability to play either as a winger or a second striker has earned him the nickname, ‘The New Denilson’.

Walter (Internacional)

A natural born goalscorer, Walter is a typical ‘Number 9’ who is very powerful and very effective. Like all target strikers, he may not be the most skilful or agile but he has that killer instinct inside the area and he is comfortable playing with both feet.

Coach

Rogério Laurenço

The 37-year-old may not be the most experienced of coaches but he is the perfect man for the job. The former defender was a player himself not that long ago and when he hung up his boots in 2001 at just 30 years of age, he went straight to coaching, starting off in the youth divisions of his old playing club, Flamengo.

Today, part of his job description includes helping Brazil’s national senior team coach, Dunga while also taking charge of the country’s under-aged teams.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Renan (Atlético Mineiro), Rafael (Cruzeiro)

Defenders: Dalton (Fluminense), Welinton Souza (Flamengo), Rafael Toloi (Goiás), Leandro (Coritiba), Douglas (Goiás), Patric (Criciúma), Everton (São Caetano), Diogo (São Paulo).

Midfielders: Sandro (Internacional), Zé Eduardo (Cruzeiro), Maylson (Grêmio), Giuliano (Paraná), Douglas Costa (Grêmio), Tales (Internacional)

Forwards: Renan Oliveira (Atlético Mineiro), Walter (Internacional), Marquinhos (Palmeiras), Dentinho (Corinthians)

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