Six-times winners Argentina were drawn to face old rivals England and hosts South Korea in the group stage of this year’s under-20 World Cup on Wednesday.
The teams were drawn by Argentine stars Diego Maradona-who was on the winning team in 1979 and kissed the trophy as he brought it on stage in Suwon-and Pablo Aimar, a winner in 1997.
The 24 participants were seeded into four pots, but as hosts South Korea were automatically put into slot A1, and football powerhouse Argentina found themselves in pot 2.
Maradona-whose infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal set England on the way to elimination in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final-smiled wryly when he pulled his own country’s name from the bowl to join the hosts. Minutes later Aimar added England to the Group A mix, which also includes Guinea.
Neither the 2015 champions Serbia nor runners-up and five-times winners Brazil qualified for this year’s tournament.
France, who took the trophy in 2013, will face New Zealand, Honduras and Vietnam in Group E. The tournament will be held from May 20 to June 11.
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