Stars of tomorrow on display

Spain win two years ago, but are absent this time

By BBC Sport Online's Durosimi Thomas

The Under-20 World Cup finals kick off in Argentina on Sunday, with the host nation strongly favoured to record a third success at this level in four tournaments.

Argentina are chasing a double after picking up the senior World Cup at home in 1978, but will be fiercely opposed by neighbours Brazil.

The strongest European contenders are France and Germany, who have sides packed with first division players.

Spain are the title holders after winning the trophy in Nigeria two years ago, but they surprisingly failed to claim one of the 24 qualifying places.

Argentina celebrate a second triumph in a row in 1997

Football at this level, however, is much more unpredictable than the senior game and, although the familiar football powers have won on most occasions, the event is always open to surprises.

Players like the European Footballer of the Year, Luis Figo, Diego Maradona and Michael Owen have graced this tournament in the past.

Scouts out in force

Over the next three weeks, the stars of tomorrow will be unveiled, and the scouts are sure to be out in force in Argentina.

One intriguing aspect is to see whether the phenomenal success of France at all levels will continue.

Mirroring their senior counterparts, the side contains many of the players who won the last European Under-18 championship under wily coach Raymond Domenech.

Liverpool's Vignal is in the France squad

The side includes Liverpool full back Gregory Vignal plus Auxerre defender Philippe Mexes and striker Djibril Cisse, both of whom have been strongly linked with Manchester United.

Germany are led by ex-international defender Uli Stielike and are packed with Bundesliga experience.

Former Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal is in charge of the Netherlands side, while the Czech Republic, Ukraine and surprise package Finland complete the European contingent of six.

Barcelona target

South America have won the title six times, with Brazil and Argentina sharing three triumphs each.

Argentina are expected to field regulars from the domestic league, including Leandro Romagnoli and Fabricio Coloccini of Argentine champions San Lorenzo and highly-rated 19-year-old Javier Saviola, a top target for Spanish giants Barcelona.

Saviola is a target for Barcelona

The Brazilian team includes five players from Sao Paulo, including star midfielders Julio Cesar Baptista and Ricardo Izecson dos Santos, as well as Flamengo striker Adriano Leite Ribeiro.

All three have reportedly attracted interest among European clubs.

Chile, Paraguay and Ecuador will all be helped by playing on their home continent.

African challenge

Although Africa has dominated Under-17 football in the last decade, no team from the continent has won the Under-20 title.

Ghana, who clinched Under-17 World Cups in 1991 and 1995, were runners-up at the African championship to shock winners Angola and have controversially left some top players behind with their domestic clubs.

Egypt also displayed some exciting skills at the tournament in Addis Ababa, while Ethiopia would probably not have qualified if they had not hosted the event.

The underdogs are traditionally from the Central America, Asia and Oceania confederations, but out of the pack of minnows, Australia have a wealth of experience at this level as former hosts on two occasions.

Japan are back after a stunning performance at the last edition in Nigeria when they got to the final before crashing 4-0 to Spain.

Six Argentinian cities will stage the youth football fiesta: Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Rosario, Salta, Mendoza and Cordoba.