SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH: Futbol Draft & U21S

Fútbol Draft 2011 announced the Gold, Silver and Bronze finalists. The best canteranos of the year who will be honored in a year end gala and all star game. As you can see from the 33 finalists, the majority play in the first division in Spain, 9 Primera clubs are represented in the Gold best eleven, of which three are from Barça.

The finalists are:


GOAL KEEPERS

David De Gea Quintana 1990 At. Madrid GOLD
Diego Mariño Villar 1990 Villarreal SILVER
Joel Robles Blázquez 1990 At. Madrid BRONZE


RIGHT BACK

Mario Gaspar Pérez 1990 Villarreal GOLD
Martín Montoya Torralbo 1991 Barcelona SILVER
Hugo Mallo Novegil 1991 Celta Vigo BRONZE


LEFT BACK

Antonio Manuel Luna 1991 Almería GOLD
Jon Aurtenetxe Borde 1992 Ath. Bilbao SILVER
Víctor Álvarez Delgado 1993 Espanyol BRONZE


RIGHT SIDED CENTRAL DEFENDER

Marc Bartra Aregall 1991 Barcelona GOLD
José Ignacio Fernández "Nacho" 1990 Real Madrid SILVER
Sergio Gómez Solá 1992 Barcelona BRONZE


LEFT SIDED CENTRAL DEFENDER

Jordi Amat Maas 1992 Espanyol GOLD
Marc Muniesa Martínez 1992 Barcelona SILVER
Ignasi Miquel Pons 1992 Arsenal BRONZE


RIGHT SIDED MIDFIELDER

Thiago Alcantara do Nascimento 1991 Barcelona GOLD
Sergio Roberto Carnicer 1992 Barcelona SILVER
Rubén Pardo Gutiérrez 1992 Real Sociedad BRONZE


LEFT SIDED MIDFIELDER

José García del Pozo "Recio" 1991 Málaga GOLD
Jorge Resurección "Koke" 1992 At. Madrid SILVER
Alejandro Fernández Iglesias "Alex" 1992 Real Madrid BRONZE


RIGHT WINGER

Francisco Femenía "Kiko" 1991 Hércules GOLD
Ezequiel Calvente Criado 1991 Real Betis SILVER
Gerard Deulofeu Lázaro 1994 Barcelona BRONZE


LEFT WINGER

Iker Muniain Goñi 1992 Ath. Bilbao GOLD
Juan Carlos Pérez López 1990 Real Madrid SILVER
Jesé Rodríguez Ruíz 1993 Real Madrid BRONZE


MEDIA PUNTA/SECOND STRIKER

Sergio Canales Madrazo 1991 Real Madrid GOLD
Francisco Román Alarcón "Isco" 1992 Valencia SILVER
Pablo Sarabia García 1992 Real Madrid BRONZE


CENTRAL FORWARD

Bojan Krkic Pérez 1990 Barcelona GOLD
Álvaro Vázquez García 1991 Espanyol SILVER
Álvaro Morata Martín 1992 Real Madrid BRONZE



U-21 CHAMPIONSHIPS AND OLYMPIC QUALIFICATIONS LOOMING

Luis Milla has named his provisional list of 40 players, which will be narrowed down to 23 later this month. Included in the list are World Cup winners: Sergio Busquets, Juan Mata and Javi Martinez. Several of the call ups have been selected as part of the Futbol Draft above. The European Championships will take place June 12th through 25th.

Provisional Squad of 40:

Goalkeepers: De Gea (Atlético), Joel (Atlético), Tomás Mejías (Castilla), Rubén Miño (Barcelona), Diego Mariño (Villarreal)

Defenders: Mario (Villarreal), Fontás (Barcelona), San Jose (Athletic), Botía (Sporting), Marc Bartra (Barcelona), José Angel (Sporting), Dídac Vilà (Milan), Azpilicueta (Marseille), Domínguez (Atlético), Victor Ruiz (Napoli), Montoya (Barcelona)

Midfielders: Koke (Atlético) Canales (R. Madrid), Pacheco (Norwich), Thiago (Barcelona), Rubén Pérez (Deportivo), Baena (Espanyol), Diego Capel (Sevilla), Javi Martínez (Athletic), Illarramendi (R. Sociedad), Parejo (Getafe), Jonathan Viera (Las Palmas), Ander Herrera (Zaragoza), Matilla (Villarreal), Jordi Alba (Valencia), Busquets (Barcelona), Mata (Valencia)

Strikers: Muniain (Athletic), Adrián (Deportivo), Rodrigo (Bolton), Álvaro Vázquez (Espanyol), Juan Carlos (Castilla), Jeffren (Barcelona), Emilio Nsue (Mallorca), Bojan (Barcelona)

UEFA U21 Euro 2009

This coming week not only does the Confederations Cup start but so does the UEFA U21 European Championships. This summer the tournament is being held in Sweden. England, Spain, Italy, Germany, Belarus, Serbia, Finland and hosts Sweden are the teams vying for the U21 Euro Championship trophy. The matches kick off on Monday with England - Finland followed by Spain - Germany.

There are two groups in this tournament:

Group A:
Belarus
Italy
Serbia
Sweden

Group B:
England
Finland
Germany
Spain

Italian Squad:

Goalkeepers: Andrea Consigli (Atalanta), Salvatore Sirigu (Cagliari), Andrea Seculin (Fiorentina).

Defenders: Marco Andreolli (Sassuolo), Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Paolo De Ceglie (Juventus), Lino Marzoratti (Empoli), Marco Motta (Roma), Francesco Pisano (Cagliari), Andrea Ranocchia (Bari).

Midfielders: Ignazio Abate (Torino), Antonio Candreva (Livorno), Alessio Cerci (Atalanta), Luca Cigarini (Atalanta), Daniele Dessena (Sampdoria), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Piermario Morosini (Vicenza), Andrea Poli (Sassuolo).

Forwards: Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari), Mario Balotelli (Inter), Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus), Alberto Paloschi (Parma).

06/16/09 - Italy - Serbia
06/19/09 - Sweden - Italy
06/23/09 - Belarus - Italy

Spanish Squad:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Asenjo (Real Valladolid CF), Roberto Jiménez (RC Recreativo de Huelva), Antonio Adán (Real Madrid CF)

Defenders: Chico (UD Almería), César Azpilicueta (CA Osasuna), Nacho Monreal (CA Osasuna), Sergio Sánchez (RCD Espanyol), Marc Torrejón (RCD Espanyol), Miguel Torres (Real Madrid CF), Iván Marcano (Real Racing Club)

Midfielders: Javi Martínez (Athletic Club Bilbao), Raúl García (Club Atlético de Madrid), Esteban Granero (Getafe CF), Sisi (RC Recreativo de Huelva), Javi García (Real Madrid CF), Mario Suárez (RCD Mallorca), José Manuel Jurado (RCD Mallorca), Pedro León (Real Racing Club), Diego Capel (Sevilla FC)

Forwards: Bojan Krkić (FC Barcelona), Adrián López (Málaga CF), Xisco (Newcastle United FC), Jonathan Pereira (Real Racing Club)

06/15/09 - Spain - Germany
06/18/09 - Spain - England
06/22/09 - Finland - Spain

06/26/09 - Semi-finals
06/29/09 - Final

Spain may have a problem with Germany and England. Both teams have very good U21 squads. Italy has it a little easier but will have to be careful of Serbia. Italy have the best record in the U21's having won the tournament five times. Spain have won the competition twice. If your in the United States you can watch the matches on Setanta starting Monday morning.