Youths descend on Toulon
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ByEurosport
Published 01/06/2005 at 16:36 GMT
The Toulon Youth Festival - featuring eight teams from four different continents - takes place on the French Riviera from 1-10 June for the 33rd time in its history. The veritable window for hot new talent was won by France last year, but just how have th
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France's win secured Raymond Domenech's only title in the ten years he presided over the Youth Team. Just days later the generously eyebrowed coach was named manager of the Senior Team after Jacques Santini threw in the towel following France's Euro 2004 flop.
Player of the tournament in 2004 was France's Rio Mavuba who had already represented DR Congo at Under-21 level when Domenech invited him to play for France in the Toulon tournament.
"That tournament made me think for the first time that maybe I did have enough talent to play for France," said the midfielder frequently compared to former French legend Jean Tigana.
Four months after his big impression in Toulon, Mavuba was handed his senior team debut for Les Blues in their 0-0 qualifying match against Ireland, aged 20.
Now 21, Mavuba still turns out for French Ligue 1 outfit Bordeaux, but has been linked with a string of big-money moves to the likes of Real Madrid and Arsenal.
The Golden Boot of the 2004 Tournament was none other than Lyon starlet Bryan Bergougnoux, who scored the only goal during the final against Sweden.
Since then, the 22-year-old has played intermittently for Ligue 1 champions Lyon, most memorably scoring twice from the bench in their Champions League group match against Sparta Prague.
Also featuring on Lyon books is Youth Team captain Jérémy Berthod , who has found his first team chances somewhat curtailed by the arrival of Eric Abidal.
Goalkeeper Ludovic Butelle, 22, has since left his Ligue 1 side Metz to become Santiago Canizares' understudy at Liga team Valencia.
Things have not started swimmingly for the keeper, who was injured just 27-minutes into his debut, in a pre-season friendly against Parma FC, and had to have his spleen removed.
Midfielder Mathieu Flamini booked his place in the 2004 Toulon side after breaking into the Marseille first-team for much of the season, and playing in the UEFA Cup final against Valencia.
Soon after the Toulon tournament, following an argument with coach José Anigo, the 20-year-old - who had not yet signed a professional contract with Marseilles - was enticed by Arsène Wenger to join then-Premiership champions Arsenal.
Flamini made 18 starts in all competitions (and 14 as substitute) for the Gunners, fitting in well to the midfield in the absence of Patrick Vieira and Gilberto. In May, the player won the FA Cup with his new team.
Also in the Toulon Team were Liverpool's young duo Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama-Pongolle. After the tournament, Le Tallec was sent out on loan to Saint-Etienne by then-manager Gerard Houillier, only to be recalled in January 2005 by new helmsman Rafa Benitez.
Le Tallec's stay with Elie Baup's side was plagued by injury and he failed to make it into the first team; the striker played a minimal role since returning to the Champions League winners.
Likewise, Sinama-Pongolle struggled to break into Liverpool's first team, but his chances were made more regular with the injuries of Harry Kewell, Djibril Cissé and Milan Baros.
The pacy forward did, however, score the first goal in Liverpool's 3-1 comeback win against Olympiakos in a game which sent them through to the knock-out stages, and set them on course for the crown. For that, he will never be forgotten.
THE EIGHT TEAMS IN THIS YEAR'S EVENT:
England, Portugal, France, Japan, Tunisia, Korea, South Africa, Mexico
PAST WINNERS OF THE TOULON TOURNAMENT:
2004: France
2003: Portugal (Manchester United snapped up Ronaldo as a result)
2002: Brazil (Inter scouts spotted Adriano)
2001: Portugal
2000: Columbia
1999: Columbia
1998: France
1996: Brazil
1995: Brazil
SOME MISLEADING AWARDS:
In 1987 the tournament fairplay award went to... England!
In 1989 the 'most courteous player award' went to... England's David Batty!
In 1991 the best 'keeper prize went to... England's David James !
Well, they can't get it right every time, can they!?
Follow the 2005 Toulon Tournament live from 1-10 June on EUROSPORT TV and on eurosport.com!
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