John F. Molinaro FIFA U-20

Any doubts as to who the best team is competing at the FIFA U-20 World Cup were erased Thursday night.

Argentina put on a master-class performance in Toronto, counting on two sensational goals from Atletico Madrid star Sergio Aguero to defeat Poland 3-1 and book its spot in the quarter-finals.

It's now 10 games and counting for Argentina - that's how many consecutive contests the South Americans have gone unbeaten at the U-20 World Cup, dating back to the 2005 competition.

Early candidate for match of the tournament has to go to the Portugal-Mexico contest in Toronto Thursday night.

Here it is a day later and I'm still trying to catch my breath from all the action I witnessed from my comfy perch in the press box at BMO Field.

The game was touted as the marquee contest of the first round featuring two teams packed with creative superstars who are committed to playing attacking soccer.

They did not disappoint.

Well, that didn't take long.

The first upset at the FIFA U-20 World Cup came on the opening day of the tournament - and in the opening match - as Poland stunned four-time world champions Brazil 1-0 in Montreal Saturday.

Fiery, South American flair was no match for cold, Eastern European ingenuity. Samba soccer bested by Polish power!

Much has been made about how Canada's chances for advancement at the FIFA U-20 World Cup rests on the shoulders of Newcastle United defender David Edgar.

For my money, though, Jaime Peters is a more important player for Canada.

No disrespect to Edgar, who is coming off a sensational breakout season in the Premiership - who can forget that goal on New Year's Day against Manchester United? - and was rewarded for his efforts with a new contract at the end of the campaign.

Canada will have the home-field advantage when it hosts the FIFA U-20 World Cup this summer, but playing before the hometown fans isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

Since the inaugural tournament in 1977, only two nations have won the competition on home soil: Portugal (1991) and Argentina (2001).

It's a fact not lost on Canadian coach Dale Mitchell.