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1987 FIFA U-20 World Cup, The Rise of Yugoslavia’s Golden Generation

  The 1987 FIFA U-20 World Cup belonged to Yugoslavia, powered by the country’s golden generation before its breakup in the mid-1990s.   That team was not defined by one ethnicity alone, but by a blend of Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian talent. Robert Prosinečki, Robert Jarni, Zvonimir Boban, Predrag Mijatović, Branko Brnović and prolific striker Davor Šuker combined to deliver Yugoslavia’s last international title. All of them would go on to shine at senior level, later representing the successor nations that emerged from the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s. Key Facts – 1987 Tournament   The sixth edition of the U-20 World Cup carried its own share of unique stories: * Staged from 10 to 25 October 1987, with 16 teams split into four groups. * Matches were played in Concepción, Antofagasta, Valparaíso and the capital Santiago. * Europe’s six representatives included the four semi-finalists from the 1986 UEFA U-18 Championship—winners East Germany, runners-up Italy...

1985 FIFA U-20 World Cup: Brazil Crowned Back-to-Back Champions

  The 1985 FIFA U-20 World Cup confirmed Brazil’s dominance at youth level, as the Seleção became the first nation to defend their title successfully. Just as their senior side had long shone on the global stage, Brazil U20 team proved equally dazzling. Held in the Soviet Union, the tournament saw Canarinha repeat their 1983 triumph and set a benchmark later matched by two other nations. Though only three members of the 1985 squad would go on to win the senior World Cup nine years later, the tournament introduced the world to future greats—most notably goalkeeper Cláudio Taffarel. Facts and Figures about 1985 Edition   Like previous editions, the 1985 World  Youth Championship carried its own unique details: * Staged from 24 August to 7 September 1985, with 16 teams split into four groups. * Matches were played across eight Soviet cities: Baku, Yerevan, Moscow, Leningrad (now St Petersburg), Hoktemberyan, Sumqayit, Minsk and Tbilisi. Both Minsk and Tbilisi prov...

1983 U20 World Cup – When Stadiums Were Packed with Fans

  The 1983 U20 World Cup is remembered for its success in drawing huge crowds to the stadiums, just like senior-level tournaments.   Youth World Cup had generally struggled to attract fans to attend matches and support their countries — something almost unthinkable in senior international tournaments. That was the case in the first three editions. However, the 1983 U20 World Cup managed to break that trend. The average attendance per match reached 36,099 spectators, a record that still stands today. In some games, more than 100,000 fans turned up to watch their teams live. Facts and Figures from the 1983 U20 World Cup   The 1983 edition had its own share of interesting facts, just like those before and after. Here are the highlights from the first junior world cup held in the Americas: * The tournament took place from 2 to 19 June with 16 teams divided into four groups. * A total of 32 matches were played throughout the tournament. * The host cities were Guad...