As Zambia faces Portugal in the Opener
And therefore Zambia has since been drawn against a great footballing nation in the form of Portugal and once darkhorses but slowly emerging to make the right noises in the shape of Iran and Costa Rica in this World Cup.
Now that the path is known and what remains is to find a way to mesh out of that pool. On paper it looks like Portugal are the firm favourites to walk out with maximum points but modern day football has strange way making the impossible very possible.
This is a magnificent tournament that emerging future football greats have tended to announce their arrival on the international scene. This tournament has produced exemplary talent in the past that have gone on to make headlines at respective countries and the world football at large. Off hand legendary Portuguese star Luis Figo and Brazilian laughing magician in Ronaldinho. All announced their arrival there. Zambia itself has had a share in Andrew Sinkala and Moses Sichone who went on to play in the Bundesliga in Germany. Therefore its a tournament to look out for, for any avid football follower.
I will take you through Group C were the newly crowned African junior Champions Zambia have been placed with two time world junior champions Portugal, Iran who have been to the World cup on two occasions not forgetting the Costa Ricans who have been at this world cup on 8 occasions .
Its not as easy as it looks on paper as all teams have world cup experience and actually Zambia is the least in appearances in this group.
Portugal
Without a doubt will be favourite to win this group pertaining to their experience at this level . Portugal won this competition in 1989 and defended it in 1991. They were runners up in 2011 and came out third in 1995.
In 1979 and 2015 Portugal were eliminated in the quatre finals.
In 1999, 2007 and 2013 they were eliminated in the round of 16 and their worst run was in 1993 when they couldn’t make it out of the Group stage.
Their last participation in 2015 Portugal were eliminated in the quater finals by Brazil via penalty shoot outs after a 0-0 draw in regulation time.
They will be coming into this tournament to better that position and they find Zambia, Iran and Costa Rica waiting at gails gate to negotiate their passage into the last 16. With that pedigree at this level they appear as favourites. Don’t underestimate these other group members. They are capable of spoiling the party for the Portuguese youngsters.
Costa Rica
They have been at the junior World cup on 8 occasions and their first came in 1989.
Their best run ever is finishing fourth in 2009. They have qualified to the round of 16 on three occasions in 1999, 2001 and 2011. The other four times, 1989,1995,1997 and 2007 the Costa Ricans have progress beyond the group stages. But we can’t therefore just bury them as coming to make numbers at this developmental tournament. These American sides have monumental purpose of doing great things at tournaments. And with so many football scouts on hand. A lot of individual exploits can turn dull teams into watchable sides because one or two boys are rising to the occasion. That’s what is expected of Costa Rica. Surprises and surprise.
Iran
Though coming from the middle east, Iran arrive at this tournament as representatives of Asia. Not an easy continent to negotiate from and therefore no push overs. Football dynamisn has been evolving over time and we definitely are in for a treat. Iran have been at this competition on two occasions and this will be their third appearances, perhaps have one of the worst performance at his competition in the group having only won one game in the two apearances and drawn one. They have lost the other four. Scoring only 4 times and conceding 13 times.
The last time they participated was in 2001 were they lost all the three games in the group stages and eliminated in the first round. Iran will be one of the teams that other teams will be hoping to get points from but note that they could spring a surprise and force the the bookmakers swallow humble pies.
Zambia
Zambia is arriving at this tournament with a mouthwatering spirits after winning successive international tournaments in the space of less four months.
They are AFCON Under 20 and Cosafa Under 20 champions. And they will be hoping this winning spirit can drive them to negotiate their way out of the group stages. It will be an amazing feet for these boys to continue writing their own piece of history in the folklore of Zambian football. Who knows that record could just make the world books.
But this doesn’t get any bigger and it is the class of the best teams in the world and the youngsters in the mould of Copperbullets needs to get even better.
Zambia has qualified twice to the under 20 world cup, In 1999 and 2007. The inaugural participation was not a good announcement on the football front. They finished third in the group stages.
A lot of expectations on a positive front will be on the minds of a lot of fans back home who witnessed this team lift the AFCON in style without losing a game.
The first time Zambia participated in the under 20 World Cup was in 1999 were they received their biggest defeat of 5-1 to Brazil when Nigeria hosted the tournament. Drew with Spain 0-0, and beat Honduras 4-3 with a brace from Makufi, and a goal each from Mbambara and Makayi. Zambia finished third in the group and were eliminated .
They would again qualify in 2007 and that was their second with a very talented team which would build up and win the 2012 senior AFCON title.
Some of the names notable included Rainford Kalaba,Nyambe Mulenga, Rogers Kola, Aggripa Simpemba,Jacob Banda, Fwayo Tembo, Joseph Zimba and Clifford Mulenga.
The 2007 team qualified to the round of 16 which still stands as their best record after drawing 1-1 with Jordan, lost 1-2 to Spain and beat Uruguay 2-0 with goals coming from Clifford Mulenga and Rodgers Kola.
Zambia was eliminated by Nigeria in the round of 16 via a 2-1 score line.
Zambia is back for the third time in this competition and will be hoping to better that record of the last 16 of 2007. The team has the confidence coming from their prowess in the AFCON tournament.
Fixture Guide
21st May 2017
Zambia Vs Portugal
06:45
24th May 2017
Zambia Vs Iran
10:00hrs
27th May
Costa Rica Vs Zambia
10:00hrs
The winner of this group will play the runners up of Group A involving Argentina , England, South Korea and Guinea .
The runners up of Group C will play the winner of Group A .
Note:The top two teams of each group and the four best third-placed teams advance to the round of 16.
