A look ahead......

A lot of you may be feeling that the football season is on a hiatus after the epic Champions League encounter between Barcelona and Manchester United on a night when Barcelona cemented their status in the echelons of great European Footballing teams. There are, however, two major International tournaments happening this off-season.

The Copa America 2011 runs from the 01^st to the 24^th of July. The best teams in Central and South America come together to battle it out to be crowned the best in the West. There are some real heavyweights in this competition including the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Mexico and Colombia. Some of the worlds greatest footballers will also be setting the fields alight including the one and only, Lionel Messi, Neymar the “bad boy” of Brazilian football, Liverpool’s Uruguayan Hitman, Luis Suarez, and the top scorer in European competitions this season Colombia’s, Rademel Falcao.

Messi, Neymar and Suarez are ready to thrill millions around the world this Winter

Before the Copa America commences, the young stars of Europe will get to showcase their talents with eight of the best European teams taking part in the UEFA U21 Championships. Those of you that have seen this tournament will know that there are a host of quality footballers taking part and is a worthwhile glimpse into the future. Spain have already shown their intent by naming World Cup winners Juan Mata and Javi Martinez in their squad for the championships, whereas Switzerland are sure to announce FC Basel’s full Swiss International (who made one substitute appearance in the last World Cup), Xhedran Shaqiri in their final team. However, England have opted to leave their best two Starlets at home in Jack Wilshere and Andy Carroll. Time will tell if Stuart Pearce has made the correct decision. Last years final was a showdown between Germany and England, in which the Germans ran out 4 – 0 winners. The German side consisted of Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, all of whom stared a year later in South Africa and helped German secure a 3^rd place finish. This is just an example of the stature of this tournament.

The stars of the future

The Insider and I have decided to run a feature of the “Ones to watch” in this rendition of the tournament. We will be kicking it off tomorrow with the man dubbed the “new Michael Laudrup”, he is none other than Denmark and Ajax Amsterdam’s young superstar, Christian Eriksen.