KUALA LUMPUR, June 15: Argentina have found a successor to Diego Maradona to carry them into the next century. Esteban Cambiasso, a prodigal 16-year-old midfielder, is such a brilliant new find that Spain's Real Madrid lapped him up for an astonishing $ 1.25 million.

Cambiasso gets a chance to justify national junior coach Jose Pekerman's belief that he is in the same league as Maradona when the World Youth Championships open here tomorrow.

It was at the same under-20 event in 1979 that Maradona made his mark when he scored a goal and set up two in Argentina's 3-1 win over Soviet Union in the final.

Argentina are once again the defending champions, having beaten Brazil 2-0 in the final at Qatar two years ago, and coach Pekerman is confident that history will be repeated.

``Cambiasso's style is different to Maradona's but he is technically as good,'' Pekerman said of the rising star, the youngest player in the 24-nation tournament.

Although Cambiasso has played just one game for Real Madrid seniors, he showed his extraordinary talent by leading the Club to victory in the Spanish Youth Cup with 12 goals.

The youngster dismisses any comparison with Maradona but is already shrewd enough to realise the boost it will give his career if Argentina succeed in defending their title.

``I am just starting out and to be compared with someone like Maradona is not justified,'' Cambiasso said. ``He was a great player and is still my favourite. To achieve what he did would be just incredible.''

Cambiasso is not the only reason why Brazil, the senior World Cup champions and Argentina's main rivals here, face a stiff task to take back the title they won thrice in 1983, 1985 and 1993.

Brazil, who lost 2-0 to Argentina in this year's South American under-20 championships, have been grouped together with European Champions France, Asian hopefuls South Korea and South Africa in the preliminary league.

Brazil are almost certain to qualify for the knock-out league, but coach Toninho Barroso is so nervous that he cancelled a friendly match against a local club team because it was managed by a Frenchman.

``We do not want to take any chances as a Frenchman will surely pass on our secrets to his countrymen,'' Barroso charged. Brazil clash with France in their opening match at Kuching on Tuesday.

The French are also not taking any chances. Coach Gerard Houllier banned video cameras during a photo session to ensure his team's tactics were not filmed.

Hosts Malaysia are concerned more about holding a scandal-free tournament ahead of next year's Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur than their unfancied team's chances in tomorrow's opening match against Morocco here.

Two years ago in Qatar, Malaysia almost lost their rights to host the tournament when several Malaysians were expelled under the suspicion that they were bookies.

The danger of match-fixing and betting has prompted worried organisers to instruct players not to mix with strangers.

The top two teams and four best third-place finishers from the six groups will qualify for the 16-team knock-out stage. The final will be played at Kuala Lumpur on July 5.

Group A at Kuala Lumpur: Morocco, Malaysia, Uruguay, Belgium

Group B at Kuching: Brazil, France, South Korea, South Africa

Group C at Alor Setar: China, Ireland, Ghana, USA

Group D at Kuantan: Paraguay, Japan, Spain, Costa Rica

Group E at Kangar: Argentina, Hungary, Australia, Canada

Group F at Johor Baru: England, Mexico, Ivory Coast, United Arab Emirates

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.