His rounded defensive nous has real high-level upsides. His reading of play and defensive footwork was rock-solid throughout, controlling attacks through the wider channels and standing firm to clear deliveries into the box. South Korea followed up their final appearance in 2019 with a fourth-place finish in Argentina, and the 18-year-old played all but 46 minutes of that run.ĭespite being the youngest in the squad, Kim played with remarkable composure and assurance – he never seemed rushed nor flustered in his work. Kim Ji-soo was one of the players we picked out to watch before the tournament and he certainly lived up to expectations. His save against Colombia, who were just starting to get momentum as they looked to come back from 3-1 down in their quarter-final clash, was a great example: Tomas Angel gained possession with a yard of space on the left side of the box and whipped a well-directed snap shot across Desplanches, who dropped low with lightning speed and extended a strong left hand to deflect the ball outside the far post. The Milan goalkeeper was always quick to get low to palm away shots across his body. His reflex saves and impact coming off his line were the basis for his success, with one critical save in the final - racing off his line to face down five Uruguayan attackers in stoppage time - the major highlight. Desplanches, who derives his last name from his French father, was deservedly awarded the Golden Glove by FIFA for his performances – particularly in two crucial knockout games against England and Uruguay in which he held Italy together in pivotal moments. While Italy were collectively strong, a big factor in their success at this tournament were the exploits of Sebastiano Desplanches in goal. Outstanding performances by Gambia saw them top their group and effectively knock out France, while an undermanned Italian team stormed to the final on the back of Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner Cesare Casadei.Īnd there was also the emergence of the South American next generation from outside Brazil and Argentina, with Colombia and Ecuador unveiling a host of young stars to a global audience. South Korea solidified their appearance in the final of the Under-20 World Cup in 2019 with a semi-final appearance here in 2023. In a tournament loaded with quality at both ends of the field, that bombarded young legs with game after game and subjected them to increasingly difficult pitch conditions, it was the Garra Charrúa – the overwhelming intensity and tenacity of the Uruguayan team – that eventually won out.īut there was so much to like wherever you looked: Israel backed up their finals appearance at last year’s Under-19 Euros with a third-place finish. 52 games later and we have a new Under-20 World Champion: Uruguay.
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