Click here for live scores and updates of the Group C match between Germany and Costa Rica. Preview: Traditional football giants Brazil and Spain face-off in a marquee clash in the group stage of the Under-17 FIFA World Cup on Saturday. Both are the champions of their respective continents and come with high profile players in their ranks and that makes the Group D clash a classic football encounter between the attacking masters and passing masters at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium. Brazil hold the record for most number of games contested (75), most number of wins (47) and most goals (166) in the U-17 World Cups. They have reached the final an impressive five times in 15 tournament appearances and lifted the trophy on three occasions. However, Spain are yet to lift the title despite making three final appearances (1991, 2003 and 2007) from eight attempts. This time, Santi Denia-coached Spain will aim to prove that they are ready to take over the mantle of the hugely successful senior team of recent years. FC Barcelona academy product Abel Ruiz is one of the biggest names in the tournament. The attacker has a habit of scoring goals and will need support from Pedro Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Cesar Gelabert. Alfonso Pastor and Marc Vidal are the two goal-keepers. Barcelona’s Eric Garcia, Hugo Guillamón of Valencia, Mateu Morey of Barcelona are some of their key players in defence. Antonio Blanco, Carlos Beitia, Alvaro Garcia, Jose Lara and Mohamed Moukhlis are Spain’s key midfielders. Spain have scored 97 U-17 World Cup goals so far, according to the official tournament website. The match against Brazil will present a great opportunity to assess their strengths and weaknesses. Though the Brazilian squad will be without talented striker Vinicius Junior, they still have enough firepower to win the title. They have the attacking machinery in Brenner, Lincoln, Paulinho, while Gabriel Brazão and Lucas Alexandre are two key goalkeepers. Among the defenders, Wesley, Weverson, Matheus Stockl, and Vitor Eduardo are expected to start. The key midfielders are Alanzinho, Marcos Antônio and Rodrigo Nestor. “It’s a match between two great footballing nations, two heavyweights who are both travelling to the tournament as continental champions,” Brazilian forward Paulinho said in a release. “There’s no doubt that this game will show both teams where they stand and what their chances are like at this competition. It’s the first match and, at the same time, our first final.” In the other match of Group D, North Korea face Niger. With inputs from IANS.
FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017, Brazil vs Spain, Football match result: Brazil score all three goals as they beat Spain 2-1
Catch all the live score and updates from the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 between Brazil and Spain.
 "FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017, Brazil vs Spain, Football match result: Brazil score all three goals as they beat Spain 2-1")
Look at the crowd during the match!
Insane roar goes up at #Kochi's Kaloor Stadium at full-time of #BRAvsESP #FIFAU17WC pic.twitter.com/tydzuwzhME
— Amit Kamath (@jestalt) October 7, 2017
Spain coach Santi Denia: “It was an equally contested match, but there is scope for improvement. There are still 2 games left. We have to play as a team and our defence needs to do better.”
Denia admits the weather conditions were an issue for his young players.
Denia said: “We have been here just for 4 days. We have to work with our team doctor to improve hydration. It is not usual to see so many players have so many muscular problems.”
Spain came back strongly in the second-half as can be seen from the stats. 12 attempts to Brazil’s 10 while winning a whopping 11 corners compared to a solitary one for Brazil. In the end, Spain couldn’t make their chances count, thanks in part to some excellent glove-work from Gabriel in the Brazil goal.
In the Group C match, Germany have beaten Costa Rica 2-1. Captain Jann-Fiete Arp gave the Germans the lead in the first-half but Andres Gomez equalised for Costa Rica in the 64th minute. The Europeans won it in the 89th minute through Noah Awuku.
FT | #FIFAU17WC
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) October 7, 2017
🇩🇪2-1🇨🇷
🇧🇷2-1🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/cTv13v30IV
FULL-TIME Brazil 2-1 Spain
The referee blows the whistle and it is Brazil who go away with the maximum points. Brazil scored all three goals in the match with Wesley putting the ball in his own net in the fifth minute. However, Brazil came back strongly to with goals from Lincoln and Paulinho giving the South Americans the lead at half-time. Spain couldn’t make the most of their 11 corners and Brazil have triumphed in front of a Sea of Yellow at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi.
90+4` Brazil 2-1 Spain
Victor lets one lose from inside the Brazil box but his shot is inches away from the top corner. Minutes later Jose Lara whips a cross/shot from the left and Gabriel is almost caught off his guard but he does well to recover to put it behind for a 11th corner. They can’t make the most of it as Pedro Ruiz heads it over.
85` Brazil 2-1 Spain
It’s Carlos Beitia of Spain who goes off the pitch for treatment. The Spanish No 20 is dripping with sweat and looks haggard. It’s the same with almost every player on the pitch as the heat is taking its toll on the players. Lincoln runs after a hopeless cause and promptly goes down with cramps a minute later. He’s up now and is waiting for the referee’s sign to come on. Marcos Antonio goes past the last defender and squares it to Paulinho but Alvaro Fernandez is quick off his line and snatches it before Paulinho gets a touch.
76` Brazil 2-1 Spain
And the day gets worse for Brazil’s Wesley. After scoring for Spain in the fifth minute, the right-back goes down with cramps. He is promptly stretchered off the pitch where he is treated by Brazil’s medical staff. He is back on the pitch but is still moving gingerly. It will be interesting to see how he copes with Jose Lara on the Spanish left-wing who came off the bench in the second-half.
70` Brazil 2-1 Spain
Brazil are forced to make their third and final change as Brenner is fouled on the left of the Spanish box. Vitinho comes on for him. From the resultant free-kick, Stockl puts the ball in the back of the net but the referee blows the whistle for a foul as Stockl had his studs up.
Spain make their third substitution as well, as Pedro Ruiz comes off the bench for Sergio Gomez.
63` Brazil 2-1 Spain
Brazil make their first change of the match and it is Victor Bobsin who makes way for Rodrigo Guth. Lincoln goes on a mazy run on the left and he dribbles past a defender on the goal line to put in a delicious cross for Paulinho. But, the ball is headed away and Ruiz goes on a run which ends in the skipper shooting straight at the keeper from a difficult position. End to end stuff here. Alan gets himself in the referee’s notebook.
57` Brazil 2-1 Spain
Spain get us underway in the second-half they have parked themselves in front of the Brazilian defence. They are moving the ball well among themselves and Moukhliss goes on a but is muscled off the ball. Spain win the ball back quickly and Torres puts in a dangerous cross for Ruiz but its headed behind by a diving Brazilian defender. Spain with two dangerous corners and a quickly taken free-kick are cranking the pressure on Spain. Gabriel with two very good saves in as many minutes, first from a corner and the other from a fiercely hit Sergio Gomez volley. Meanwhile, Jose Lara comes on for Alvaro Garcia for Spain.
Brazil have been the dominant side today in Kochi. They have had more of the ball and are making that 64% possession count. Spain have to start exerting their influence on the pitch in the second-half or they might find themselves conceding further in the final 45.
45` GOAL! Brazil 2-1 Spain
Brazil take the lead in added time. A brilliant Brazilian move is finished when Paulinho latches on to a beautiful dinked ball from Marcos Antonio. The No 7 takes it in his stride and loops it over the goalkeeper Fernandez. What a way to finish the half!
40` Brazil 1-1 Spain
We are into the final five minutes of the first half. Ferran Torres goes on another run down the right but his cross his too deep for Abel Ruiz. The play switches to the other end and Paulinho’s cross is similar to Torres’. Spain regain possession and the ball is rolled back to Fernandez in goal but Lincoln charges towards the ball and the clearance rebounds off him to go out for a throw. Great determination from Brazil’s No 9.
36` Brazil 1-1 Spain
How good is Ferran Torres?! The winger cuts inside from the right and gets past his marker and unleashes a shot from outside the box off his favoured right. The ball fizzes past the upright.
33` Brazil 1-1 Spain
The equaliser sees Spain keeping most of the ball and Brazil have dropped deep a bit. A misplaced through ball goes through to Gabriel in goal and the Brazilians go on the offensive. Meanwhile, Spain right-back Mateu Jaume goes down and it’s not clear what has caused that. Espanyol’s Victor Perea replaces him.
25` GOAL! Brazil 1-1 Spain
Brenner fizzes in a low cross from the left and Diego Pampin of Spain is unable to clear it away. Unfortunately for the youngster, Lincoln is at hand to thump it away from close quarters. Game on!
17` Brazil 0-1 Spain
Paulinho lets one lose from outside the box after Beitia loses the ball in front of the defence. Fernandez gets down quickly and palms it straight to Brenner but he is offside. A minute letter Brenner tries a curler from outside the box and it is inches away from the bottom corner.
10` Brazil 0-1 Spain
The match officials have announced that the last touch for the goal was from the Brazilian defender Wesley and have deemed it an own goal. Brazil are not letting that goal slow them down though and they are attacking through their talented winger Paulinho.
5` GOAL! Brazil 0-1 Spain
What a goal! Ferran Torres sets it up beautifully for Mohammed Moukhliss to tap in from close range.
3` Brazil 0-0 Spain
Brazil get us underway and the South American champions have kept most of the possession. But Spain have had the first big chance of the game. Ruiz gets in a good position and unleashes a shot which is saved well by Gabriel in goal.
While the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is still not full, an insane roar rents the air as the Brazil and Spain teams walk out. Such an incredible sight to watch people in Kerala showing respect to the Spanish and Brazilian national anthem by standing up and keeping their hands on their chests.
Interesting to note that Brazil have named Helio Junio in the squad. He has been marked as absent in the sheet. But this confirms what Firstpost had reported yesterday that CBF was trying to get Sao Paolo’s Helio as a replacement for Vinicius. The teenager will be flying out from Brazil soon.
And the lineups are out!
Brazil XI: Gabriel, Wesley, Vitao (c), Halten, Bobsin, Weverson, Paulinho, Antonio, Lincoln, Alan, Brenner
Spain XI: Fernandez, Mateu, Guillamon, Chust, Torres, Moukhliss, Ruiz (C), Gomez, Garcia, Pampin, Beitia
The absence of Vinicius Junior is being felt in Kochi with fans getting flex boards and even Brazil jerseys with the young forward’s name on the back. The Flamengo forward had to pull out due to a knee injury. Read more about that in our next post.
They love #Vinicius in #Kochi @vini11Oficial. #FIFAU17WC @BrazilStat @BrazilEdition pic.twitter.com/scvgWDQ8lw
— Amit Kamath (@jestalt) October 7, 2017
The mood outside Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is electric. This place looks like Rio de Janeiro.
Along with Kolkata, Kochi has probably the best fan following in the country right now and officials of the Kochi metro have decked up the stations to reflect the excitement of the fans in the city.
Got to love #Kochi. Here's the city's Lissie metro station decked up for the World Cup pic.twitter.com/Pr1T4eB18B
— Amit Kamath (@jestalt) October 7, 2017
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