They are paying the consequences of the lack of leaders, players with good technique and confidence in the youngsters. In Italy, Lamine Yamal and Musiala would probably play in Serie B to gain experience. And that can't be.
Mohannad Ali Kadhim looked to the heavens and screamed for joy, while emotion overcame goalkeeper Ahmed Basil Al-Fadhli as he slumped, facedown, to the turf. Coach Graham Arnold was enveloped on the touchline, before being hoisted onto his players' shoulders and, Iraq flag held aloft in his hand, presented to the euphoric fans in the stands.
Aissatou Fall was a key player as Senegal made it through to the quarter-finals for just the second time in their history. Despite being just 17 years old, she played every single minute of Senegal's tournament in Morocco, helping the Lionesses to keep two clean sheets in four games.
"He brings a lot to the table, is carefree, has a playful wit. I'm always of the opinion that it should be based on performance - no matter if someone's 17, 18 or 25. It should also be based on character: Does he fit into the team? In that case, age doesn't matter."
It pains me that a figure like Lamine had to go through that. The image Spain has projected is not the one I know. It's a disgrace. Lamine didn't deserve what he went through.
Already heralded as perhaps the greatest talent that Kazakhstan has ever seen, Dastan Satpayev first turned heads as a youngster in 2023 and 2024, netting 27 and assisting 10 times in 28 matches in Kazakhstan's biggest youth league. Naturally, Chelsea snapped him up for around 4 million, as part of their pledge to sign just about any teenager with world-class potential before anyone else.