Torneo di Viareggio 2008 set to kick-off

Holders Genoa will take on Tottenham Hotspur in the opening game of the 60th edition of the prestigious Viareggio youth tournament this afternoon.

Also known as the Coppa Carnevale, it's an Under-20 tournament in Tuscany involving 48 teams including 29 from Italy and another 19 from all over the world.

All the Serie A giants are represented - the likes of AC Milan, Inter, Juventus, Lazio and Roma - while the likes of Anderlecht (Belgium), De Camberene (Senegal), Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine), New York Stars (USA), Pumas (Mexico), Olympiakos (Greece), Tottenham Hotspur (England) and River Plate (Argentina) have been invited.

Players eligible for the competition must have been born between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 1992.

The teams are split into 12 groups of four with 16 to qualify for the knockout stages. The groups are played in a round-robin format, so all teams play a minimum of three games each.

The opening ceremony sees an important figure read out the pledge of fair play and sportsmanship and this year it will be performed by Roma star Daniele De Rossi.

The World Cup winning midfielder first burst on to the scene when he starred for the Giallorossi in the 2002 Viareggio tournament.

It is considered a classic shop window for young talent to find a new club and agents from all over the globe will be in attendance.

The Final takes place on February 11.

Group 1
Genoa
Tottenham Hotspur (England)
APIA (Australia)
Cisco Roma

Group 2
Juventus
Pumas Unam (Mexico)
International Allies (Ghana)
Massese

Group 3
Milan
Belasica Strumica (Macedonia)
Malaysian Indian (Malaysia)
Cesena

Group 4
Atalanta
Ujpest (Hungary)
Midtjylland (Denmark)
Sansovino

Group 5
Empoli
River Plate (Argentina)
De Camberene (Senegal)
Cuoio Cappiano

Group 6
Roma
Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
Siena
Ascoli

Group 7
Vicenza
Sparta Prague (Czech Republic)
Anderlecht (Belgium)
Pergocrema

Group 8
Sampdoria
Club Guarani (Paraguay)
Parma
Benevento

Group 9
Fiorentina
Interblock Lubjana (Slovenia)
New York Stars (USA)
Citta’ di San Benedetto

Group 10
Torino
Spartak Moscow (Russia)
Rimini
Castelnuovo Garfagnana

Group 11
Inter
Olympiakos (Greece)
Reggina
Piacenza

Group 12
Serie D representatives
Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan)
Lazio
Novara

GROUP STAGE: [Fixtures] – [Results] – [Tables]
KNOCKOUT STAGES: [Last 16] – [QF] – [SF] – [3rd/4th] – [Final]