Kolkata: England will aim for it’s first semi-final berth when they take on USA in the quarter-finals at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Margao on Saturday. Both sides have been fairly successful in reaching the knock-out stages of almost all the tournaments but have failed to replicate it with trophies. The FIFA U – 17 World Cup however stands their best chance to overcome the failure considering the strong teams they possess.
A Sancho less England for the first time failed to score a goal from open play against Japan and the likes of Angel Gomes and Callum Hudson -Odoi will look to step up on the big occasion. The three Lions will however take heart from the fact that they broke the penalty shoot out jinx against Japan courtesy a brilliant save from Curtis Anderson. “We want to be a success in any tournament we take part. The English culture and mentality is to win every game, every tournament,” said coach Steve Cooper.
However, Cooper is not ready to get excited about wining the tournament but focus on the match against USA. “We’ve always taken one game at a time,” he said aware of USA’s 5-0 thrashing of Paraguay.
USA on the other hand will be aiming to reach the semis only for the second time in the U-17 World Cup. Defensively acute and ruthless in attack ‘Baby Nats’ have been on a dream run this campaign but will have to overcome a tough England side if they are to achieve glory.
Both sides have faced each other four times prior to this match and as US coach John Hackworth said ‘tomorrow’s match will be exciting.’ The ‘Three Lions’ have an additional advantage of momentum having gone unbeaten in the tournament so far but, Hackworth without underestimating his opponent on Saturday added, “Tomorrow, we are playing against a strong opponent who have been unbeaten in this tournament, but we are ready to face them and will play to our potential to beat them and progress.”
Ghana vs Mali
Samuel Kwasi Fabin’s comment that Ghana is the strongest African footballing nation faces a stern test when the Black Starlets take on Mali in the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup at the Indira Gandhi Athletic stadium in Guwahati on Saturday. ‘Les Aigles’ may have beaten Ghana in the previous two meetings, including the African Cup of Nations finale but, this match is altogether a different contest in India and as Fabin said, “The Cup of Nations defeat is behind us. We will be out to show we are the best.”
Both sides finished with similar points (6) and similar goal difference (+4). Mali has scored 13 goals in the tournament, while Ghana has conceeded only one. Both the coaches are confident of a good show in the battle of Africans. Ghana were the most dominant African team in the 90s reaching four back to back finals, winning two of them. Mali on the other hand has recently risen to be a strong contender, reaching the U-17 World Cup final in 2015 while also winning the African Cup of Nations this year.
“Mali could not cross the last hurdle two years ago but our team brought joy to Malians by winning the African championships earlier this year. There is no reason why we cannot make our people happy again,” said Mali captain Seme Camara.
It is expected to be a match between Mali’s smoothly flowing football against Ghana’s strong defence. Captain Eric Ayiah will have to be in top form for Ghana while Mali’s Lassana N’Diaye who has already scored five goals in the tournament is tied with France’s Amine Gouiri as the highest goal scorers in the tournament. With France already out of the tournament N’Diaye will aim to score more goals and become the tournament’s top goal scorer if he is to lead his side to glory.
Live from Guwahati – Ghana vs Mali, 5:00 p.m.
Live from Margao – England vs USA, 8:00 p.m.