U-20 World Cup Final: Argentina Face Historic Morocco
Argentina and Morocco face off in the FIFA U-20 World Cup final, with Argentina seeking a record-extending 7th title and Morocco aiming for their first-ever U-20 World Cup trophy.
“Our boys have done exceptionally well to reach this stage of the competition, and they truly have nothing to lose as no one expected them to get this far...”
Former youth international Yassine Zouchou is backing Morocco to pull off an upset against Argentina in the FIFA U20 World Cup final. Morocco has been a surprise hit in this year's tournament.
The Atlas Lions have shown impressive form, advancing to the knockout rounds after overcoming strong teams like France, Spain and Brazil in the group stage. Their determination and skill will be put to the test against Argentina's experienced side.
Morocco's journey to the final has been remarkable, and with the right mindset, they could make history by defeating Argentina. Will they be able to overcome the favorites and bring home their first U20 World Cup title?¹
Morocco's U20 team has had an impressive run in the tournament, starting with a 2-1 win over South Korea in the Round of 16. They then stunned pre-tournament favorites the United States and France to reach the final. Now, they're one step away from making history, but Argentina stands in their way. Former youth international Yassine Zouchou acknowledges Argentina's strength, but he's confident Morocco can still pull off an upset.
Zouchou, who has experience in major tournaments, having finished fourth with Morocco in the 2005 Netherlands edition, understands the challenge ahead. However, he believes Morocco's determination and skill could be enough to overcome the favored Argentine team. With their recent performances, Morocco is undoubtedly capable of causing an upset.
Morocco has made history by becoming the third African nation to reach the FIFA U20 World Cup final, joining Ghana and Nigeria. Their previous best finish was fourth place in the 2005 edition, held in the Netherlands.
Argentina, meanwhile, boasts an impressive record in the tournament, having reached the final seven times and winning six titles, with their most recent victory in 2007. They'll be looking to add to their legacy as the most successful nation in the competition.
“Our boys have done exceptionally well to reach this stage of the competition, and they truly have nothing to lose as no one expected them to get this far.”
“I want them to go out there and give everything against Argentina, who are undoubtedly a strong team with a rich history in this tournament.
“The Argentines may be the favourites for another world title, but football has always been a game of surprises, and I’m backing Morocco to pull off another upset.
“It won’t be easy, but this team has shown great spirit, discipline, and quality throughout the competition. If they can stay composed and prevent Argentina from scoring early, then I believe they stand a very good chance of making history.”
A win would mark a historic milestone for Argentina, making them the first team since their own 2001 side to win every match in normal time at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals. This achievement would underscore the team's exceptional performance throughout the tournament.
If Argentina manages a clean-sheet victory, they would join Uruguay (2023) as the second team in the tournament's history to lift the trophy without conceding a goal in the knockout stage since its expansion to 24 teams in 1997. Given Argentina's impressive defensive record, having conceded just two goals and maintained three consecutive clean sheets in the knockout stage, this feat seems within their grasp.
Morocco is on the cusp of history, aiming to be the first African nation to claim the title since Ghana's dramatic penalty shootout victory over Brazil in the 2009 final held in Egypt. This marks a significant milestone, with African teams now having reached the final six times, five of which were against South American opponents. The lone exception was in 1989 when Nigeria lost 2-0 to Portugal in Riyadh.
Argentina's Mateo Silvetti has a chance to etch his name alongside football legends Ramon Diaz, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi. If he scores against Morocco, Silvetti would join this exclusive group as one of the few players to have scored in all four knockout matches in a single tournament.
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