FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship
Veronica Charlin Corral, football's child prodigy
Mexican Veronica Charlin Corral celebrates a goal against Jamaica during the CONCACAF qualifying campaign for the FIFA Women's U-20 World Championship Russia 2006.
(AFP) CHRISTIAN PALMA
(FIFA.com) 02 Feb 2006
Russia 2006 could well see the emergence of a new prodigy in the women's game as 14-year-old Mexican marvel Verónica Charlín Corral, top scorer in the CONCACAF qualification group, prepares to take the world by storm.
At an age when most young girls are dreaming of their first kiss, 14-year-old Verónica Charlín Corral is already blowing them to appreciative crowds as part of her goal celebrations. Her first love is the beautiful game, and their blossoming relationship looks to have a long and harmonious future. Hailed as the women's game's latest child prodigy, the diminutive Mexican striker was the top scorer at the recent CONCACAF qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship Russia 2006. Her superb ball control, audacious play and never-say-die attitude have endeared her to the Mexican public, who have been quick to elevate her to the same status afforded to the men's U-17 side that won the world title last year.
The precociously talented teenager has inevitably been compared with another of planet football's emerging starlets, the USA's Freddy Adu. If anything though, Corral's career to date has been even more impressive. At just 13 she won the best player award in the football tournament at Mexico's Junior Olympics, which brings together the cream of the country's sporting youth in a variety of disciplines. The coach of the women's national team, Leonardo Cuellar, was so taken with young Charlín's wizardry that he immediately drafted her into the senior squad for a friendly against Spain's Barcelona.
A few months after that debut appearance, Corral continues to amaze the world. Last Friday saw her produce another virtuoso performance as Mexico overcame Jamaica in a decisive qualifier to seal their place at Russia 2006. Coming off the bench 30 minutes into a potentially tricky encounter, she turned the game on its head, setting up three of El Tri's goals in a comprehensive 4-1 victory and adding the fourth from the penalty spot for good measure. That goal took her to the top of the group goalscoring charts with seven strikes in all.
Veronica Charlin Corral (L) battles for the ball with Canada's Caroline Vanderpool in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF qualification tournament in Veracruz, Mexico.
(AFP)
CHRISTIAN PALMA
A mature, modest head on young shoulders
The fledgling assassin has a maturity that belies her years, as often tends to be the case with young prodigies accustomed to early success. Although reluctant to describe herself as a genius, Charlín, still in her third year at high school, is aware that she has a gift for the game. "Football's always come naturally to me, but it's still just a hobby because what I want to do is finish school," she says.
While there is no doubt that her talent is opening doors for her, she is determined not to get ahead of herself: "I've been offered scholarships in the United States and at private universities in Mexico, but I just feel that I should take things slowly. Everything has happened to me so fast up to now."
The Mexican city of Veracruz provided the venue for the Russia 2006 qualification tournament. Within a matter of days the country's latest footballing sensation had acquired a new army of fans clamouring for her autograph and photo, all of which has come as a pleasant surprise to her: "It's incredible that people recognise me now, but I've got to stay calm. Every time I pull on the Mexico shirt I've got to show what I can do and keep my feet on the ground."
Dreams, goals and pressure
With Mexico's U-20 women's side safely through to the finals, the young striker is now dreaming of her first game in a land that, though distant, is still close to her heart: "We've all been dreaming about making it to Russia. It was great to play in the qualifying tournament. It was a dream for someone as young as me. All I want to do now, though, is to keep going and make it to Russia."
Because of her age, Charlín understandably finds herself in the spotlight more than her teammates. In his anxiety not to overexpose her, coach Cuellar decided to start her on the bench in the qualifiers and bring her on to unsettle opposing defences with her instinct and skill.
The player fully understood her role and is grateful to her coach: "He treats me just the same as everyone else, not like I'm the youngest. He tells me to act just like the other players because I've worked really hard to get here."
Although her talent has opened up a whole new world for her, the youngster also knows it has stopped her enjoying many of the things girls her age take for granted: "I've had to sacrifice school and my family. Lots of girls my age like to be with their family and their friends, and I've had to sacrifice all that to do what I like most, which is playing football." Not that she is downhearted about it. Far from it. "I'm really happy because I've managed to score goals here and it's not easy. I've done it despite the fact my physique is different to the other girls," she adds.
As is invariably the case with teenage football sensations, Charlín's talent has not gone unnoticed. She recently learned that several French sides have expressed an interest in securing her services with Noel Deveaux, the Frenchman in charge of the Panamanian national side, acting as the go-between. "I didn't understand him very well, though, because I can't speak French. I did speak to my coach, however," explained Charlín.
Naturally, the free-scoring wunderkind would love to follow in the footsteps of the stars of world football and make it big in Europe: "It would be a terrific opportunity, and if they make me a good offer, I'd love to go." For now, though, Mexico's most famous 14-year-old has another more pressing objective on her mind: "I want to play in the World Cup finals. I'm already dreaming of running out in Russia and playing my first game there."
amazing kid. only 14 and is already on the national team
hope to see a lot more of her
Full Version: Veronica Charline Corral
I can't say that i've heard anything of her, but she seems to be a pretty special young player. This paragraph shows that she surely has something:
And here she is ladies and gents:
Doesn't really seem to have the physique to be a great footballer... but hey, neither does Rooney...
QUOTE
A few months after that debut appearance, Corral continues to amaze the world. Last Friday saw her produce another virtuoso performance as Mexico overcame Jamaica in a decisive qualifier to seal their place at Russia 2006. Coming off the bench 30 minutes into a potentially tricky encounter, she turned the game on its head, setting up three of El Tri's goals in a comprehensive 4-1 victory and adding the fourth from the penalty spot for good measure. That goal took her to the top of the group goalscoring charts with seven strikes in all.
And here she is ladies and gents:
Doesn't really seem to have the physique to be a great footballer... but hey, neither does Rooney...
QUOTE(rab. @ Feb 10 2006, 03:52 PM) 
Doesn't really seem to have the physique to be a great footballer....
remember she's only 14, girls can grow untill 18, and she can work on everything else
This just shows what I was trying to in the thread about the America's being better than europe, cracking example of the effect women's football has had on North America.
Thanks for sharing the article Mew, interesting read! Anyone have any video clips? Would love to see what she can do.
remember she's only 14, girls can grow untill 18, and she can work on everything else
Yeah I was thinking that too... and to be honest, she doens't look small for a 14 year old (if anything, bigger then average). But against the senior squad, yeah, she'd obviously be smaller.
QUOTE(mew @ Feb 10 2006, 03:21 PM)
remember she's only 14, girls can grow untill 18, and she can work on everything else
Yeah I was thinking that too... and to be honest, she doens't look small for a 14 year old (if anything, bigger then average). But against the senior squad, yeah, she'd obviously be smaller.
QUOTE(Renee @ Feb 10 2006, 11:05 PM)
Thanks for sharing the article Mew, interesting read! Anyone have any video clips? Would love to see what she can do.
Yeah I was thinking that too... and to be honest, she doens't look small for a 14 year old (if anything, bigger then average). But against the senior squad, yeah, she'd obviously be smaller.
I think what I was trying to put across has been misinterpreted here. I never suggested she looked small, I just felt she had, if anything, too much of a physical presence to be a great striker. She will only gain size in the next 3-5 years and this could cause a distinct lack of pace, agility and flexibility which could be disastrous to her career.
ahh, now i get the rooney reference
QUOTE(mew @ Feb 11 2006, 01:58 AM)
ahh, now i get the rooney reference
Yeah... it was her legs, very reminiscent of the scousers
Im Mexican and I can't believe I haven't heard a thing about her. Videos would be appreciated.
QUOTE(Miguel10 @ Feb 11 2006, 07:21 PM)
Im Mexican and I can't believe I haven't heard a thing about her. Videos would be appreciated.
found article on fifa.com, women's section. i'll try and find some video, but it'll be difficult
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