FIFA U-17 World Championship and Nik Besagno

AreliusII · 09-16-2005, 10:41 AM

Tomorrow the US and Besagno take on North Korea. Next week, its Italy and Ivory Coast (Tuesday and Friday, respectively).

The US qualified on top of their CONCACAF qualifying Group, thanks to a goal from Nikolas Besagno in the final qualifying match away at Costa Rica.

The USA are the only team to have qualified for every instalment of the U-17 world championship. Of their ten previous appearances at the FIFA U-17 World Championship, the U.S. had their best ever performance in New Zealand in 1999 when they finished 4th thanks to the brilliant play of Landon Donovan and Damarcus Beasley.

At the last U-17 finals, in Finland in 2003, Freddy Adu, Eddie Gaven and Jonathan Spector put in a terrific performance, culminating in a quarter-final loss to eventual champions Brazil.

John Hackworth took over from former head coach John Ellinger in November of 2004. He was Ellinger's assistant for over two years years.

The US' star player is Quavas Kirk. He is the side's top attacking option. In January 2005 he was signed by MLS' L.A. Galaxy and is considered one of the league's top youth prospects.

I wonder what Ellinger is thinking. If he wouldn't have taken the job at RSL, he would be in Chiclayo, Peru with the U-17 team right now preparing for the match tomorrow with North Korea.

http://www.fifa.com/en/comp/U17/tournament/0,4129,U17-2005-24,00.html

AreliusII · 09-19-2005, 09:56 AM

http://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562136340

devNull · 09-20-2005, 04:35 PM

Wow, the US vs. Italy game just ended. It was a very ugly match that featured a number of interesting refereeing decisions. Nik did go off on a stretcher and was subbed shortly after. During the post-game footage I did see him with a crutch and iced up ankle. He didn't seem to be using the crutch. Hopefully we will see him play during the rest of the tournament. He played in central defense today and played a good game from what I saw.

SokkerNut · 09-20-2005, 04:47 PM

He wasn't using the crutches at the end, but he did seem to be in some pain. Hopefully with ice and rest he'll be back for the next game. I hadn't seen him play before. I was quiet impressed.

AreliusII · 09-20-2005, 04:51 PM

Match Report [R]:
http://www.fifa.com/en/comp/U17/U17MatchReport/0,4530,U17-2005-C-03,00.html

HibaIssa · 09-20-2005, 10:01 PM

That was an intense game. Does anyone else think that the goal that was taken away was not really offside. They did the replay and it looked on. Oh well, I guess I can't really complain, US still won.

And what was up with the refs? Wow.

huntingfool12 · 09-21-2005, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HibaIssa

That was an intense game. Does anyone else think that the goal that was taken away was not really offside. They did the replay and it looked on. Oh well, I guess I can't really complain, US still won.

And what was up with the refs? Wow.

There was an Italy player in the goal! I have no idea why it was offsides. That was Nik who scored that goal wasn't it? The one they called offsides.

HibaIssa · 09-21-2005, 07:35 AM

Any update on our little Nik?

devNull · 09-21-2005, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntingfool12

There was an Italy player in the goal! I have no idea why it was offsides. That was Nik who scored that goal wasn't it? The one they called offsides.

Yeah, I am pretty sure it was although one article I read said it was someone else. I was pretty sure it was Nik celebrating though. Bummer to get cheated out of one like that.

HibaIssa · 09-21-2005, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devNull

Yeah, I am pretty sure it was although one article I read said it was someone else. I was pretty sure it was Nik celebrating though. Bummer to get cheated out of one like that.

I thought it was Nik. I wasn't too sure though, too bad for him if it was. And I totally missed how he got injured too. (I can't eat and watch soccer at the same time, it's a disorder I have 😛 )