The U17 World Cup - all on one long page:
(please be patient until it is fully loaded)
- the group matches
- the quarter-finals
- the semi-finals
- the final
- the continents
successes compared - some statistics 1991-2001
- the outlook:
what can be expected of these talents
Group1 (Sep
14, 16, 19):
Trinidad and Tobago - Croatia 1:2
Australia - Brazil 0:1
Brazil left a strong impression but needed 75 minutes
to break the resilience of the Aussies
Trinidad and Tobago - Australia 0:1
Croatia - Brazil 1:3
Croatia left a very good 1st half impression but were
outscored in the second half by the Brazilians.
Brazil are qualified for the quarterfinals while Australia
and Croatia will batlle out the second place in the direct encounter on
Wednesday. The hosts are already without any chance to reach the quarter
finals.
It has to be hoped that this will do no damage to the
very good atmosphere of the competition.
Brazil - Trinidad/Tobago 6:1
In a match without impact on who would advance Brazil
entertained the 26,000 crowd with some showtime. #7 scored three goals
in which all of the 7 substitutes of the last match were in the starting
line-up. (The squads for this U17 World Cup consist of 18 players each)
Croatia - Australia 0:4
Another strong match by the Aussies and a surprisingly
clear result. After a balanced midflield duel the match suddenly slanted
in favour of the Australians in the final 8 minutes before halftime when
Australia scored twice.
1. Brazil 10:2 goals, 9 pts.
2. Australia 5:1 goals, 6 pts.
3. Croatia 2:7 goals, 3 pts.
4. Trinidad/Tobago 1:8 goals, 0 pts.
Group2 (Sep 14, 16, 19):
Nigeria - France 2:1
Impressing attacking football helped Nigeria to a 2:1
success over France in their first match of the U17 World Cup which has
kicked of at Trinidad Tobago. Karimu Shaibu in first half and Victor Okechukwu
Brown in second half scored the goals for the Africans before Pongolle
scored the French goals 4 minutes from time.
Japan - USA 1:0
Nigeria - Japan 4:0
Nigeria qualified for quarter-finals and are now among
the tournament favorites.
France - USA 5:3
Three goals scored by France #9 Pongolle. USA, who took
a first half lead, but with the match drawn 2:2 at halftime, fell behind
in the second half against aflamboyant French side. The Americans are already
without any possibility left to advance. France and Japan will determine
the second qualificant for the quarter-finals in the direct encounter on
Sept 19th.
France - Japan 5:1
After 15 minutes the match was virtually over. France
took a 3:0 lead and qualified easily against a Japanese side who tried
to attack themselves but did not convert their chances. Florent Sinama
Pongolle scored three goals in the second consecutive match.
Nigeria - USA 2:0
Nigeria already qualified and USA already out of it before
the match. In contrary to Brazil Nigeria fielded the same line up as in
the second match. Karimu Shaibu scored the first half goal. Moses Ayuba
added a second half score and Nigeria had numerous further attempts.
1. Nigeria, 8:1 goals, 9 pts.
2. France, 11:6 goals, 6 pts.
3. Japan, 2:9 goals, 3 pts.
4. USA 3:8 goals, 0 pts.
Group3 (Sep 15, 17, 20):
Oman - Spain 1:2
An injury time goal helped the European favorites beat
the outsiders late
Argentina - Burkina Faso 2:2
A controversial injury time penalty saved Argentina from
a defeat against the strong West Africans
Burkina Faso - Spain 1:0
Burkina Faso will be one of the teams to beat in this
U17 World Cup. After exploiting 4 points from matches against two of the
tournament favorites they now face a critical match against Oman in which
they have to avoid complacency. Quite often have African teams failed aginst
Middle East outfits.
Argentina - Oman 3:0
Oman had a good start but only for a few minutes. Argentina
converted their first opportunity which seemed to throw the Arabians into
some confusion even over who and how to execute corner and free kicks.
Oman had more posession but Argentina was clearly more professional.
Burkina Faso - Oman 1:1
Burkina Faso were lucky to escape with a draw in a match
in which Oman were growing stronger towards the end while Burkina Faso
got more nervous. The West Africans game was too fragmented and bugged
by inaccurate passing, considering the obvious indivdual skills. Oman had
a better team coordination but still some conspicious players, especially
goalscorer Al Hinai. For Burkina Faso left winger Madi was impressing.
Something like a record number of attempts were made off target but considered
that those are talents in a development process they were shooting in good
moments and might hit more precisely in a few years.
Burkina Faso have qualified for quarter finals by this.
It is already sure they finish as group second.
This result saves the group also from a possible 'agreement'
match between Argentina and Spain.
(Because all teams stay at one venue the final group
matches are not played simultaniously)
Argentina - Spain 4:2
After Burkina Faso has collected the necessary point
to advance, Spain had to beat Argentina to advance in a direct encounter
to determine the team to advance.
And in a brilliant first half, featuring a luminating
Fernando Torres, a very far developed player for this age and a possible
future star, Spain took a 2:1 lead and looked like they could shake off
the Argentinians by their physical presence.
But after the prognosted future star on the other side
Maximiliano Lopez had equalized, a Spanish player was sent off for his
second yellow card and others had to hold back, already being booked. Argentina
added two more in a huge game which saw a possible title candidate going
home.
1. Argentina 9:4 goals, 7 pts.
2. Burkina Faso 4:3 goals, 5 pts.
3. Spain 4:6 goals, 3 pts.
4. Oman 2:6 goals, 3 pts.
Group 4 (Sep 15, 17, 20):
Mali - Paraguay 1:2
Paraguay won the match thanks to a penalty 4 minutes
to the end
Iran - Costa Rica 0:2
Costa Rica is reported to have secured a comfortable
win
Paraguay - Costa Rica 0:3
3 second half goals confirmed the excellent form that
Costa Rican national teams have displayed on various levels this year.
Costa Rica because of the good goal difference is quite close to the quarter
finals but not safe yet: it is still possible three teams end up with 6
points. If they win, draw, or lose by less than three goals they will be
through.
Mali - Iran 1:0
Pressing forced the decisive error which set up the first
half goal that decided the encounter. In theory scenarios for both to advance
are still possible (three teams could end upwith 6 points or three teams
could end up with three points). Iran need to beat Paraguay in the last
match and hope for Costa Rica to beat Mali. On the other hand Mali has
to beat Costa Rica by three goals to be absolutely sur - or, if scoring
less, they will have to hope for a little help by Iran.
Mali - Costa Rica 2:0
Mali, who needed to beat Costa Rica by three goals to
pass by the Central Americans in the table were leading 2:0 already at
halftime. But Costa Rica managed to contain the scoreline with the help
of the crossbar and the goalpost and qualified for the quarter finals.
Mali now has to hope for some help by Iran who have been
eliminated by this earlier result.
Paraguay - Iran 3:2
Paraguay needed to win by four goals to qualify for the
quarter-finals and were on course after 66 minutes, leading 3:0. But after
being saved by the goalpost, Iran scored their first goals of the tournament
in the final 10 minutes through #11 Mansour Ahmadzadeh and frustrated the
South Americans who now have to travel home despite having gained six points.
#10 Andres Perez had scored twice for them. Like the Under20 outfit earlier
this year, Iran has to return home without a point.
1. Costa Rica 5:2 goals, 6 pts.
2. Mali 4:2 goals 6 pts.
3. Paraguay 5:6 goals, 6 pts.
4. Iran 2:6 goals, 0 pts. |