April 28, 1995: Argentina win U20 World Cup vs. Brazil in style

By
Roy Nemer
-
31
Argentina 1995 U20 World Cup Qatar
Argentina celebrating winning the U20 World Cup in 1996 in Qatar.

April 28 is a day which will forever be remembered as the day the Argentina U20 team lifted their second U20 World Cup in 1995 in Qatar.

No doubt the biggest name to emerge from that Argentina team was that of Juan Pablo SORIN, the then Argentinos Juniors player would go on to captain the senior team 11 years later at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Drawn in Group C alongside the Netherlands Portugal and Honduras, Argentina’s José PEKERMAN would finish in second place behind Portugal. Their opening match came against the Netherlands where an Andre GARRONE goal in the 90th minute sealed a dramatic three points.

The team fell to Porgugal in their second match 1-0 before bouncing back in a 4-2 win against Honduras with Ariel IBAGAZA scoring early in the 6th minute and Sebastian PENA scoring a hat trick.

Off to the quarter finals the team went and up next were African side Camerron. A 2-0 win with goals from Francisco GUERREO and Walter COYETTE sealed Argentina’s progression into the semi-finals against a Spanish side which boosted a young RAUL, Fernando MORIENTES, Ivan de la PENA and Michel SALGADO.

However Argentina just kept getting stronger throughout the tournament as they put three past big name Spain. Leonardo BIAGINI scoring the first, COYETTE back at it again with the second and Raul CHAPARRO killing off the match with the third.

A final against Brazil awaited PEKERMAN’s young boys but Brazil or not, nothing was going to stop Argentina from lifting their second U20 world title. Leonardo BIAGINI scored in the 25th minute and Francisco GUERRERO in the 89th meant that Jose PEKERMAN’s illustrious career as Argentina manager was off to a great start.

Two fantastic team goals with two very distinct finishes. The first a calmly slotted ball and the second a great chip over the goalkeeper. Two goals worthy of any final at any level. Argentina were crowned champions in style.

Here was Argentina’s squad for the 1995 tournament in Qatar:
1. Joaquín IRIGOYTIA
2. Sebastián PENA
3. Federico DOMINGUEZ
4. Gustavo LOMBARDI
5. Mariano JUAN
6. Juan Pablo SORIN
7. Francisco GUERRERO
8. Guillermo LARROSA
9. Carlos ARANGIO
10. Ariel IBAGAZA
11. Leonardo BIAGINI
12. Gastón PEZZUTI
13. Diego CROSA
14. Cristian DIAZ
15. Andrés GARRONE
16. Julio BAYON
17. Walter COYETTE
18. Cristian CHAPARRO

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31 Comments

    • Going by lanzini injury record, he will not last 7 matches across a month. Will definitely pick an injury…we will need a backup for him for sure bcos of injury. Di Maria & lanzini should be used in left alternatively to help both last the entire tournament & also hoping Argentina lasts till end😊

  7. That was the start of great achievement of Pekerman. The U20 Argentina team played really great football: mobile players, aggressive, playing compact, …etc. it created a real identity of Argentina. My biggest regret is Pekerman’s work was not continued in the youth training.

    • I don’t like biglia’s attitude. He has been playing for so long for Argentina. I know he gives a lot of importance to Argentina.but he is saying that Argentine supporters are getting impatient. I think it’s ridiculous. He is a senior player. this world cup will be his last international tournament. He should be very very desparate to win this tournament. Instead of being desperate he is telling us to be cool, calm and patient irrespective of the result of the world cup. It means according to him we should not expect good result from our beloved team. I want to say that if he thinks that it is difficult for him to produce good result then he and his friends should stay away from national team and give opportunity to those who aspire to produce good result and be the champion.

  9. I saw the match. Inter were playing with one man less very early of the game and they were one goal down early as well. Pjanic should have seen a second yellow too but he didn’t. Icardi leveled the match scoring with a header, he didn’t have much help from his teammates and i think that he was playing in pain after a strong challenge just before the end of the first half. He scored the equaliser in the second half, Barzagli scored an own goal putting inter ahead 2-1, Higuain missed a shocking chance to level the game for juventus, Icardi was substituted five minutes before the end of regular time, Handanovic conceeded a ridiculus goal by Cuadrado and then Higuain scored the winner for juventus after a beautiful free kick from Dybala.

    • Loved the attitude of Icardi & Dybala; Some of the players in NT lack that; In the second half, Higuain was poor; Missed a sitter; Beautiful assist from Dybala for the winner; Hopefully Sampa watched the match

      • That is the problem. Hiugain can score but before that he will miss two or three sitters. In world cup, we cannot do that as it will be tight match and we may not create that many chances for Huigain to finally score. However I like the Icardi’s header, that was top draw and it was impossible to save as well. Now that is what we need in world cup, powerful, strong header when no body is expecting it. I really hope we take icard and dybala. I also wish if huigain goes there, he start from the bench to take off pressure for him.

    • Dybala is wasteful on ball & gives up possession. Till Messi goes, he won’t get a chance & coach is right. But he will be Messi’s successor in NT. Has time to sharpen gaps

  14. Stuggart – Bayer Leverkusen live now. Ascacibar, insua, alario in action. Alario just missed a penalty!! Ascacibar tackling well. Not contributing much in attack.. but all over pitch defensively ,very mobile & tracks back well. Definitely a good cdm for us even now . Insua well disciplined lb & not sure why he is not getting chances.

    • Stuggart won. Ascacibar definitely looks better as CDM than biglia, pizzaro , kranevittar going by this match. Hope coach picks him. Alario was higuainsque in terms of misses! Insua useful display

        • I don’t think. He has really settled on that front compared to his initial season where cards came so fast. His tackles were strong & genuine in the match. Aerially he seems weak due to his height . During corners he was standing outside box. Biglia will anyway be rusty when he is back. I hope sampa selects ascacibar or atleast pizzaro & not masche.

      • Sampa should ve integreted Ascacibar like he did to Locelso.

        Locelso, Acuna, Pavon are so far sampa’s notable discoveries, atleast at NT level. His courage and open mindness went to the extent of Bendetto ‘n Meza but not Ascacibar. I don’t think it is due to Maschie ‘n Biglia so long as Kranevitter and Parades have been tried. Ascacibar should be a serious option in Maschie’s stead or atleast if Biglia’s recovery is doubtful.

        • + tagliafico, bustos, lanzini , meza,parades. Sampa in less than a year has brought in good young players who are our future.

          • You are right the list of new faces is interestingly is wide. And unlike Maradona the likelhood of most of the promising stars is forseable.But I w’d like to mention Acuna,Locelso ‘n pavon as they ve cemented their spot with a potential to be in a regular starting role and are not as contestable as the rest of the choices. I also expect Meza to contribute more as a dynamic ‘ n fast CAM.

        • • I think it’s clear that sampaoli knows how to develop players and that’s a good thing. Things are not as bad as it looks from the outside for Argentina, it’s just that some people on mundo don’t know anything about football and then they want to be a part of a discussion. Anyway….

  15. I remember the tiny ibagaza so vividly. Such a magical playmaker when he used to play his trade in mallorca. However he never really got selected for the national team due to the glut of playmakers we had in that era.

    • Ibagaza was a great dribbler with good vision and hard work. His days at Real Mallorca were great esp. when they played in CL against Arsenal.

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