Top Honors at Turkey under 20 tournament adidas Golden Ball: Paul Pogba (France) The very presence of the France captain out on the pitch was enough to command opponents’ respect. Pogba’s attributes, from his intimidating physique, fearless tackling, tireless running and the ability to read and determine the pace of the game, made the 20-year-old the team’s undisputed leader. Furthermore, the Juventus midfielder was crucial to the morale of coach Pierre Mankowski’s side, geeing his team-mates up on countless occasions when their heads dropped. adidas Silver Ball: Nicolas Lopez (Uruguay) Anyone who has seen Nicolas Lopez play will no doubt have realised the forward is no ordinary talent. The 19-year-old has an invaluable knack of conjuring chances from nothing and while blessed with a devastating turn of pace, he is equally adept at biding his time, waiting for the right moment to pounce. Possessing outstanding technique, the unpredictable Roma front man forces defenders to remain permanently on guard. His contributions were often decisive in helping La Celeste into the final. adidas Bronze Ball: Clifford Aboagye (Ghana) While Clifford Aboagye may not be able to match the dynamism and athleticism of many of his West African team-mates, the diminutive 18-year-old was without doubt the team’s creative hub. His impeccable technique frequently allowed him to get the better of opponents in tight situations, while his skilful turns created space, enabling him to demonstrate his wonderful range of passing with sensational through-balls. Aboagye’s four assists at the tournament played a large part in Ghana finishing third. adidas Golden Boot: Ebenezer Assifuah (Ghana / 6 goals, 0 assists) Ghana’s energetic No17 came into his own when the West Africans had their backs to the wall. It was Assifuah’s brace in the 4-1 triumph over USA that helped the Black Satellites shrug off their shackles following two straight defeats, while he also grabbed the equaliser in a tense 4-3 quarter-final victory over Chile, before heading in the last-gasp winner in extra time. The 20-year-old Liberty Professionals FC forward finished top of the scoring charts and was instrumental in the 2009 champions’ upturn in fortunes which culminated with them returning home with a bronze medal. via FiFa
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 00:29:46 +0000
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