FIFA U20 World Cup: Portugal v Zambia – Preview

The Zambia U20 national team takes on Portugal in their opening match at the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup in Korea Republic.

The African Champions go into the game on a high as they have a 100% record having won all their competitive games since the team was assembled last year.

The Beston Chambeshi coached side have played in the 8 competitive matches scoring a staggering 23 goals and conceding four times at both the regional Cosafa Cup Championship and at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

They have also had a good run in the friendly games where they have only lost twice to the Barcelona B side and World Cup hosts Korea Republic and drawn once in ten games played before the Africa Cup of nations tournament, at the Adidas Invitational tournament played in Korea Republic and the recent outing in Spain.

However, tomorrow they face a Portugal team which qualified to the tournament after reaching the semi finals of the UEFA European U19 Championship which was held in Germany in July 2016.

Portugal qualified after topping group A which had Italy Germany and Austria to be named as one of the five representatives for Europe.

They managed one win in their group against hosts Germany drawing the other games.

They were beaten 3- 1 by France in the semi final.

Since then, Portugal have played four preparatory matches in 2017 with a modest return of three draws and one loss.

Bruno Xadas is their talisman and will be the player to watchout for when it comes to scoring goals for them.

Aurello Buta carried them to the semi finals at the UEFA tournament with two goals with Pedro Rodriguez dictating play in midfield.

The African Champions will rely on the free scoring frontline of Fashion Sakala, Patson Daka and Edward Chilufya anchored by a midfield trial of Boyd Musonda, Enock Mwepu and Emmanuel Banda.

The game kicks off at 0700hrs Zambian time on Sunday.