TEAM Europe head coach TONY ALLEN has named his 36-man squad that will kickoff its defence of the Red Oaks Farms Global Junior Championship IV title in Atlanta on Wednesday, January 26. Some of the best young players from around the world will compete in the extended four-nations event featuring the cream of under-19 American football talent in the build up to Super Bowl XXXIV in the Georgia Dome on the following Sunday. The United States, Canada and Panama will be trying to take the championship away from Team Europe, which won Global Junior Championship III by beating Mexico 29-8 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last year. Coach Allen has selected 29 players from Germany who will line up alongside representatives of the other three NFL Europe League territories – Scotland, Holland and Spain – and players from England, Finland, Denmark and France. “It’s going to be tough to repeat, make no mistake about that,” warned Allen. “Last time we had a maturing team, most of whom had played the previous year. But now we’re selecting from European Federation of American Football (EFAF) programmes that are centred around 16 and 17-year-olds who are good athletes but not as experienced as some of the players we’ve had in the past. We’ve lost most of our offensive line and that is tough to replace.” For the first time Team Europe will compete without three-time Most Valuable Player CONSTANTIN RITZMANN who has been enjoying playing time as a freshman with former national champion University of Tennessee. Returning veterans include German wide receiver CLAUDIUS OSEI, who caught a 22-yard touchdown pass in the 29-8 victory over Mexico and defensive end FABIAN BECKMANN, whose fumble recovery and returned for a touchdown helped open a commanding 17-0 halftime lead. The youngest member of the squad is Allen’s 16-year-old son wide receiver MARVIN ALLEN, who along with Scottish Claymores junior development youngster running back JONATHAN SUTHERLAND will represent the United Kingdom. Sutherland scored a two-point conversion in Team Europe’s victory in Florida last year. “I feel a bit like Brian Clough!” said Allen, drawing comparisons with the famous English soccer manager whose son Nigel played under his father at Nottingham Forest. “We scouted Europe thoroughly for the most talented players available and I’m proud that the other coaches considered my son one of the best in his position. He won’t get any preferential treatment and probably feels I’m harder on him in practice that I am on the other guys.” Allen has retained the majority of his experienced coaching staff as part of a 16-man staff who will preside over practice sessions and the welfare of the youngsters. Rhein Fire defensive line coach WALTER ROHLFING returns as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, while NFL Europe Game Development Manager PHIL HICKEY, a former quarterback at Sacramento State, is offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Also returning are offensive line coach SANDRO CINELLI of the Frankfurt Galaxy, defensive backs coach SHUAN FATAH of the Berlin Thunder and receivers coach JUAN JIMINEZ of the Barcelona Dragons. Scottish Claymores national coach STEVE McCUSKER makes his debut as defensive line coach as does ROBERT VON GERHARDT of the Amsterdam Admirals as tight ends coach. The coaching staff will be assisted by four coaches from the EFAF Coaches Observation Programme: VINCENT MIRAVAL (Special Teams / France), CLIFF MORGAN (Running backs / England), GERY STROH (defensive assistant / Austria) and ALFONSO GENCHI (defensive assistant / Italy). The team’s trainer will be BILL MARTIN of the Amsterdam Admirals. The Global Junior Championship IV games will all take place at McEachern High School’s Walter Cantrell Stadium, at 2400 New Macland Road, Powder Springs. The full fixture list is: Wednesday January 26 Europe vs Panama, 4:00 p.m. (local time) U.S.A vs Canada, 7:00 p.m. Saturday January 29 Bronze Medal Game, 2:00 p.m. Championship Game, 7:00 p.m. Atlanta Falcons head coach DAN REEVES is the event’s honorary chairman, a role held previously by Miami Dolphins Hall of Fame lineman DWIGHT STEPHENSON and San Diego Chargers punter DARREN BENNETT. “It is exciting to see how the sport of football has reached across the world,” said coach Reeves. “Having this event in our city during the build up to the Super Bowl is a great way to demonstrate the growth and popularity of the NFL. The level of play in Europe has really gone higher over the last couple of years. Obviously, the younger people have had time to learn, understand and develop their football skills through events such as this.” McEachern High School is one of four host schools for the event, along with Harrison High, Pope High and Walton High. Players from each competing nation are staying with host families and taking advantage of the high school practice facilities in preparation for the tournament. They will enjoy a visit to the NFL Experience among off-field activities. They will take part in the build up to Super Bowl XXXIV with a press conference at the NFL Media Center at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25. Having completed the line up for the new look Global Junior Championship, tournament organiser PATRICK STEENBERGE said: “This is the fourth consecutive year that this event will demonstrate to the world the quality of teenage football players across the globe. We are delighted that the USA will be represented for the first time and that there will be even more competition to lift what has become a very coveted trophy.” Previous Global Junior Championships have seen Mexico triumph 37-3 over Team Europe in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl XXXI and narrowly win 13-12 a year later in San Diego, before the European team tasted victory in Florida. For further information please contact Mike Preston or David Tossel prestonm@nflp.co.uk or tosselld@globalnet.co.uk Tel: 44-(0)171 225 3070 / Fax: 44(0)171 376 5070 All releases and breaking news will be posted on www.NFLeurope.com