Team Europe unveils roster for pre-Super Bowl event; 36 young stars heading to San Diego next week
TEAM EUROPE head coach TONY ALLEN has named the 36 players who will compete for glory in the upcoming NFL GLOBAL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP VII, which will be played in San Diego, California, ahead of Super Bowl XXXVII later this month.
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Europe's junior football elite will now travel to the United States on Thursday January 16 ahead of the tournament kickoff on Wednesday January 22. Team Europe will compete in the official Super Bowl event against young all-star teams from the USA, CANADA, MEXICO and JAPAN. The competition will showcase youth football talent from around the world
Allen, NFL Europe's Director of Game Development, said: "It was very tough to make the final roster cuts this week because the standard has been so high this year and there was very little to choose between the players competing for the last few spots.
"With the team line-up now complete, I'm confident we can head to the United States and do ourselves proud. This will be the seventh time I have led Team Europe into battle in the NFL Global Junior Championship and I think we have assembled one of our best squads to date."
Leading Team Europe's offense will be quarterbacks MIKE FRIESE (Germany) and NICOLAS BARREAU (France). The running back position features last year's Team Europe MVP, TIMOTHY PENA (Spain) and FLORIAN GREIN (Austria).
Among the six wide receivers on Team Europe's roster are the British pairing of MARVIN ALLEN (England) and MARK SQUIRE (Scotland). Both have previous experience with Team Europe. Other veteran wideouts returning include DANNY WASHINGTON (Germany), WILFRED ANDRE (France) and HENRI MYÖHÄNEN (Finland). New to the group is French wide receiver KEVIN CHAMEROY.
Marvin Allen said: "The team is really coming together on the field and we will have even more time to get to know each other when we get to San Diego. This tournament will be special for me as it is my final year of eligibility. It would be nice to beat America and win the tournament."
Team Europe's offensive line will include DAVID KRZYSZTALOWICZ (Sweden) and BASTIAN SCHOBER (Germany). Both talented young prospects have been playing at Granbury High School in Texas and Schober has verbally committed to play college football at nationally-ranked IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY.
Also playing a key role on Team Europe's offensive line will be SEBASTIAN VOLLMER (Germany), who said: "I feel honoured and proud to be considered one of the best young players in Europe. I'm very excited about going to San Diego and look forward to impressing the college scouts who attend the tournament."
Among the veteran players returning on Team Europe's defense are linebacker KARSTEN LESEMANN (Germany) and safety TARIK MEJJAK (Germany). Standout defensive end RICHARD ADJEI (Germany) has switched to linebacker for this year's competition.
Mejjak said: "I'm excited to be going back to the United States and I am very happy to be representing Team Europe at such a prestigious event. It's great to be around the Super Bowl and this gives young players like myself the chance to play in front of college scouts."
The opening round-robin games will consist of two seven-minute quarters as Team Europe first takes on Canada, then Mexico, USA and finally Japan. Team Europe's won-lost record from the opening day of action will determine their seeding for the Championship Game and positional playoffs being held at Mira Mesa High School in San Diego on the eve of Super Bowl XXXVII, Saturday January 25.
Team Europe 36-man roster by position
Quarterback: Nicolas Barreau (France), Mike Friese (Germany).
Running Back: Florian Grein (Austria), Timothy Pena (Spain).
Wide Receivers: Marvin Allen (United Kingdom), Wilfred Andre (France), Kevin Chameroy (France), Henri Myöhänen (Finland), Mark Squire (United Kingdom), Danny Washington (Germany).
Offensive Line: Valentin Gruber (Austria), Calle Kabo (Sweden), David Krzysztalowicz (Sweden), Sebastian Schafer (Germany), Bastian Schober (Germany), Julius Sidoroff (Germany), Sebastian Vollmer (Germany).
Defensive Line: Mikael Andersson (Sweden), Johan Asker (Sweden), Faruk Fetahovic (Austria), Sigfried Franz (Germany), Felix Raphael (Germany), Gustav Rydstedt (Sweden).
Linebackers: Richard Adjei (Germany), Gyrel Herrmann (Germany), Daniel Jansson (Sweden), Karsten Lesemann (Germany), Emmanuel N'Dombi (France), Rody Surpin (France).
Defensive Backs: Almicar Grot (Netherlands), Walter Kack Kack (France), Tarik Mejjak (Germany), James Panui (United Kingdom), Christian Petersen (Germany), Sejean Sebastien (France).
Kicker/Punter: Peter Rodgers (United Kingdom).
Team Europe 36-man roster (By Country)
Germany (13 players), France (7), Sweden (6), Austria (3), England (3), Finland (1), Netherlands (1), Scotland (1), Spain (1),
GLOBAL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP VII -Tournament Schedule
Monday, January 20
Welcome Banquet for teams and media Scottish Rite Center, San Diego, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 22 First Round games:
2:00 p.m. USA - Japan
2:45 p.m. Europe - Canada
3:30 p.m. Japan - Mexico
4:15 p.m. Canada - USA
5:00 p.m. Mexico - Europe
5:45 p.m. Japan - Canada
6:30 p.m. USA - Europe
7:15 p.m. Canada - Mexico
8:00 p.m. Europe - Japan
8:45 p.m. Mexico - USA
Saturday, January 25
Championship Game and third and fifth place playoffs
Coin toss by Honorary Chairman Darren Bennett, of the San Diego Chargers.
12:00 p.m. Third place vs. Fifth place
1:15 p.m. Fifth place vs. Fourth place
2:30 p.m. Fourth place vs. Third place
4:00 p.m. Championship Game. First place vs. Second place
09 Jan, 03 | 6:18 pm