South American wonderkids

Tim Vickery picks out the stars of the recent South American Under-20 Championship

- 

1 FELIPE LONGO BRAZIL

After going down 6-0 to rivals Argentina in their opening game, the secret of Brazil's recuperation did not have much to do with stylish football. Instead, it was based on raw physical power — and a massive comparative advantage in goalkeeping.

This is a position where it is usual to mature late. Often, Brazil benefited from poor goalkeeping at the other end. And once Felipe Longo — who is yet to play a competitive game for his club Corinthians — came into the XI for the decisive second stage, time and again Brazil benefited from his excellence and capacity to stand up big in one-v-one situations.

Only beaten twice (once from the penalty spot) in five games, Felipe Longo was the standout player in the side that ended up winning the tournament.

2 Claudio ECHEVERRI ARGENTINA

Exactly 20 years after Messi came out into the sunshine in the South American Under-20s, another little Argentine attacking midfielder was the star of the show. The punishing schedule took its toll in the end, but there was no doubt that "El Diablito" was the competition's best player.

He was both bow and arrow: the brains of the attack, full of ideas, and the executioner, who had to take on extra goalscoring duties after striker Agustin Ruberto suffered a serious injury. Combines mazy dribbling with the vision to see the early pass, and has the capacity to combine at pace.