FIFA U-20 World Cup

Look, I love international competition, knockout tournaments, and soccer. So, just for kicks, while I cannot say anything of substance about the U-20s, let's just make some predictions. Just for kicks. For giggles, baby. You in? I don't care, you're in now.

So what do we know?
- Tournament is being held in Canada and hosts tend to stick around for at least a little past their expiration date.
- Kicks off on Saturday.
- Argentina is the defending champ and favored to repeat
- Freddy Adu leads a very talented, up-and-coming, darkhorse US squad
- The US is in the same group as heavy Brazil
- If I had to guess, it looks like Group D is the group of death
- Just because you're on a power on the senior national team, doesn't necessarily mean you enjoy success at this level
- It's the old 24-team field, which means any picks beyond the group stage are moot because we don't know where the four 3rd place teams will be placed in the playoff tree. See? So the guessing will be all the more fun.

Group Stage Predictions * = one of the top four 3rd place teams

Group A
1. Canada
2. Congo
3. Chile *
4. Austria

Group B
1. Spain
2. Zambia
3. Uruguay
4. Jordan

Group C
1. Portugal
2. Mexico
3. Gambia *
4. New Zealand

Group D
1. USA
2. Brazil
3. Korea *
4. Poland

Group E
1. Argentina
2. Czech Republic
3. Panama
4. North Korea

Group F
1. Japan
2. Nigeria
3. Scotland *
4. Costa Rica

Round of 16
Congo (2A) over Mexico (2C)
USA (1D) over Scotland (3BEF)
Spain (1B) over Gambia (3ACD)
Japan (1F) over Czech Rep. (2E)
Canada (1A) over Korea (3CDE)
Nigeria (2F) over Zambia (2B)
Argentina (1E) over Brazil (2D)
Portugal (1C) over Chile (3ABF)

Quarterfinals
USA over Congo
Spain over Japan
Nigeria over Canada
Argentina over Portugal

Semis
USA over Spain
Argentina over Nigeria

Final
Argentina over USA

And there you have it. Much like their opening match in Copa America tomorrow, Argentina will knock off the US and win it all. Contingent entirely on placing ahead of Brazil in the group stages, the Americans, buoyed by good form and playing close to home, will surprise the Spanish who excel at the junior levels. Biased? No. Shut up! Nigeria slipping past the hosts would be a surprise, too, but I just feel like one African team is bound to make a big run. I would've favored Congo, if not for the draw.