Pascal Zuberbuhler, former Swiss national team goalkeeper and member of the FIFA Technical Study Group, said that he can’t wait to see the tactical developments that will be demonstrated at the 2023 U17 World Cup. Indonesia will host the U17 World Cup which take place on 10 November-2 December 2023.
This is the first time the World Cup for youth has taken place in a Southeast Asian country and the first time Indonesia has hosted a FIFA event. The U17 World Cup in Indonesia will also be the first for this biennial event since Brazil 2019 due to the pandemic. Pandemic has caused the 2021 event to be cancelled.
Now, Pascal, who is also registered as a FIFA Senior Football Expert, explains what he is looking forward to in Indonesia. “As we know, the world is developing, the world is moving forward,” he told from FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, mid last week. “Football also continues to move forward and change. We see massive changes since the last 4-5 years and how football has developed rapidly.”
According to him, in today’s modern world, teenage players have started to establish themselves in their respective clubs such as in Brazil, Argentina and also in Europe. Specially talented players such as Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, Lamine Yamal, et al started their careers at a very young age.
“I really want to see this tournament because U17 is the age where U17 players are already at big clubs and playing for the first team,” continued the Swiss national team goalkeeper at the 2006 World Cup. “At the start of my career it was impossible, U17 players were seen as kids. Now it’s amazing to see how fantastic the U17 players have been mentally and tactically. For this tournament, of course our last World Cup was four years ago because of the Covid situation. I’m sure a lot of changes have happened especially in pace, tactically, how the team plays out from the back, etc.”
Tasks of the Technical Study Group Zuberbuhler also explained his duties in Indonesia during the U17 World Cup. He will join the FIFA Technical Study Group which will monitor the course of the tournament and identify the best talents.
“The responsibility of me and the team in the Technical Study Group which consists of former players and coaches is to observe the tournament and observe the matches,” said the goalkeeper. “It looks easy but it’s not at all because our responsibility is also to the individual awards at the end of the tournament, we choose the Best Player, Best Goalkeeper, etc”.
“We watch the football, how the ball moves forward, what the team’s style of play is. What their performance is like, how the goals happen, how the defenders move.” He also admitted that he would draw more attention to the position he played when he was active.
“Mainly, my eyes focus on the goalkeeper, the most important position in a football team,” said the former FC Basel, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham player. “Huge job but absolutely fantastic, we can see how the tournament develops.”
