Six stars ready to light up U20 World Cup

A Bristol City star Pep Guardiola described as an ‘unbelievable player’, an Italian midfielder Chelsea poached from Inter Milan and Man City’s latest signing from Argentina: Six stars ready to light up the U20 World Cup in Indonesia

• Ian Foster’s Under 20 World Cup side secured a 1-0 win over Tunisia on Monday
• England have two group games to come, against Uruguay on Thursday and Iraq
• Mail Sport have identified three English and foreign stars to keep an eye on 

England’s Under 20 World Cup campaign began with a 1-0 win over Tunisia on Monday.

And Ian Foster’s kids have high hopes of going far with two group games to come, against Uruguay on Thursday and Iraq on Sunday.

The bookies rate England third favourites for the tournament, behind Brazil and hosts Argentina. Argentina have won six of the previous 22 events and Brazil five.

England have won it once — in 2017, when Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the only goal in the final. That team also had Dominic Solanke, Fikayo Tomori and Kyle Walker-Peters, who have all enjoyed top-flight careers.

So who could follow in their footsteps? Mail Sport looks at three English stars to keep an eye on – and three more from around the world…

England’s Under 20 World Cup campaign began with a 1-0 win over Tunisia on Monday

Ian Foster (above) and his side have high hopes of going far with two group games to come

Alex Scott: Bristol City

Pep Guardiola has described England’s midfield playmaker as an ‘unbelievable player’. Jack Grealish called Scott a ‘top, top talent’. Bristol City boss Nigel Pearson branded him a ‘unique talent’ who is ‘destined for the very top’.

Now Liverpool are set to rival West Ham and Wolves this summer for the Guernsey-born midfielder, 19, who won the EFL Championship Young Player of the Season award, following in the footsteps of Brennan Johnson and Ollie Watkins. 

Scott joined Bristol City from Guernsey FC in 2020 and has since risen through the England youth ranks.

Pep Guardiola has described England’s midfield playmaker as an ‘unbelievable player’

Cesare Casadei: Italy

Yet another promising youngster who has been poached by Chelsea.

Casadei, who has already played twice for Italy’s Under 21s, was signed from Inter Milan last summer in a deal worth up to £16million.

The midfielder captained his country against Brazil in their opening game on Sunday, scoring twice and creating one in a 3-2 win. Casadei lined up against Andrey Santos, who is set to link up with Chelsea’s squad from next season.

Casadei spent the second half of this season on loan at Reading, scoring once in 15 Championship appearances.

Cesare Casadei (above) is another promising youngster who has been poached by Chelsea

Maximo Perrone: Argentina

The 20-year-old creative midfielder joined Manchester City in January, signing a five-and-a-half-year deal with the Premier League club, and made his senior debut under Pep Guardiola when he came on during City’s 4-1 win at Bournemouth in February.

Perrone, born in Buenos Aires, came through the youth ranks at Velez Sarsfield, scoring three goals in 33 senior appearances and helping them reach the semi-finals of the 2022 Copa Libertadores.

He started Argentina’s opening game of the World Cup on Saturday, helping them to a 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan.

Maximo Perrone joined Manchester City in January, signing a five-and-half year deal

Dane Scarlett: Tottenham Hotspur

The 19-year-old striker has already found the net in Argentina, scoring a first-half winner as England began their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Tunisia.

Scarlett headed home a cross from captain Harvey Vale and nearly doubled his tally soon after. The London-born striker has made 10 first-team appearances for Tottenham but is still awaiting his first senior goal for the club. 

Scarlett has spent this season on loan at Portsmouth, scoring six goals for the League One club. He has big tournament pedigree, too — Scarlett’s two goals and one assist helped the Young Lions win last summer’s Under 19 Euros in Slovakia.

Dane Scarlett found the back of the net for England in their 1-0 win over Tunisia on Monday

Harvey Vale: Chelsea

Tthe England skipper helped ensure Ian Foster’s side kicked off this tournament with a victory, creating the only goal of their win over Tunisia with a delightful cross that found Scarlett. 

Vale wore the armband when England won the Under 19 Euros last summer and then spent the first half of this season on loan at Championship side Hull City. The 19-year-old attacking midfielder joined Chelsea’s academy from Fulham and has gone on to make five appearances for the club’s first team in the domestic cups. 

Vale has a knack for scoring and creating goals and his leadership will be crucial to Foster’s side.

The England skipper helped ensure Ian Foster’s side kicked off this tournament with a victory

Kendry Paez: Ecuador

Chelsea beat Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund last week to the signing of this wonderkid, who is only 16 but could end up costing more than £17.5million.

Paez began turning heads on this side of the world after he was named the outstanding player at the 2022 Next Generation Trophy. 

An attacking midfielder whose dribbling skills have seen him likened to Lionel Messi, he has already broken into the first team at Independiente, the club in Ecuador where Brighton found Moises Caicedo.

Paez cannot join Chelsea until he turns 18 in 2025.

Chelsea last week beat Man United and Borussia Dortmund to the signing of Kendry Paez

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