Group E analysis: France, Mali, Panama, Saudi Arabia - FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019 teams

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Themenbereiche: TV Schedules, France, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Mali, Panama, Saudi Arabia, FIFA U-20 World Cup

Ahead of the upcoming u-20 World Cup, Live Soccer TV takes a look at the four teams comprising Group E: France, Mali, Panama, and Saudi Arabia. Will France be able to emulate the success of the senior side from last summer in Russia?

Although France have struggled to qualify for the biannual tournament in the past, Les Bleuets have been given a fairly reasonable group at the upcoming competition in Poland as they got to avoid serial foes Italy - at least for now. Having won it in 2013, they will be hoping to emulate the achievements of the senior side from last summer, but how do they compare against their upcoming opponents?

Let's take a look at who's who in Group E.

France

Led by 1998 World Cup winner Bernard Diomède, this squad will be missing two key players: Amine Gouiri and Alban Lafont. The former was vital in the team sealing their spot in Poland, the latter conceded just two goals during the 2017 edition - and both were during the defeat to Italy in the round of 16. Neither, however, will feature due to the upcoming UEFA U-21 EURO championship in June, which will give others a chance to step up, but will it hamper France's chances? Or will it give a new face an opportunity to become a break-out star? Remember, it was at this tournament that Paul Pogba made a huge name for himself as he led the team to the title back in 2013.

Promising defender Dan-Axel Zagadou, who plays his club football for Borussia Dortmund is one fans should keep an eye out for in Poland, as he has been quite impressive when called upon by Lucien Favre for die Schwarzgelben all season.

Mali

For Mali, this will be their seventh participation in a FIFA U-20 World Cup, and to date, their best finish was third place in 1999 and 2015. Les Aiglons beat perennial opponents Senegal on spot-kicks to clinch the African title, which was their first ever such prize in the under-20 age group. They will be coached by Mamoutou Kane, who plied his trade as a goalkeeper and once served as the goalkeeping coach for the senior squad.

Kane served as assistant coach for the team that featured at the 2011 edition of this competition before moving on to manage at club level with Real de Bamalo and Onze Createurs, and was given the lead role with the under-20 side in 2018. After winning the 2019 under-20 AFCON, will he be able to inspire his young troops to success in Poland?

Panama

Panama cruised through their group stage qualifiers at the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship with five wins out of five and only missed out on a spot in the final due to Mexico's better record on fair play. Nonetheless, they were able to book their spot to Poland, and will be hoping to make some kind of impact in a few weeks' time. Los Canaleros failed to qualify for the first 13 editions of the FIFA under-20 World Cup but have managed to qualify for the last batch of competitions since the turn of the 21st century. However, they have never cleared the group stage.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia will be making their ninth appearance at a FIFA under-20 World Cup in Poland. To date, their best finish was getting to the round of 16 in 2011 and again at the 2017 edition in South Korea. They come into this tournament as the 2018 AFC under-19 Champions, where they beat reigning title holders Japan along the way to lift their third title.