All quiet in Brazil as FIFA set to launch U-17 World Cup: http://www.insideworldfootball.com/2019/10/25/quiet-brazil-fifa-set-launch-u-17-world-cup/
Netherlands had a rude awakening losing in their opener. Still with the qualification rules they should make it through. Japan look really handy.
A really good start from AFC, Japan, South Korea, and even Tajikistan getting wins - only Australia fell short....
Kinda plucky to be honest... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_AFC_U-16_Championship Beat Iraq, Afghanistan, and Indonesia... but lost to Japan and South Korea along the way, so look the weakest of the teams qualified... Tajikistan's journey is crazy - lost 6-2 to Malaysia in the opener, drew with Japan, beat Thailand, then got past both North and South Korea on penalties only to lose the final to Japan... only 1 win, 2 losses and 3 draws, and a -4 goal difference but still qualified and reached the final! And here they are beating Cameroon albeit a penalty. I remember Tajikistan as they reached R016 in 2007, beating the US along the way U-17s is crazy I say!
Good day for Anzac teams. Austraila advances while NZ will have to play the waiting game to discover their third place fate. Concacaf having a terrible tournament so far, although Canada had a horrendous goal disallowed against NZ...
Results today not so good for New Zealand. Now they need Argentina to defeat Tajikistan and Solomon Islands to get at least a draw against Mexico.
Unusually poor tournament for African sides. Only 1 remains. Damn, u-17 WCs are so tough to predict. Japan smokes Netherlands and only draws the US. After 2 losses and minus-5 goal difference, NED then smokes the US 4-0 and beats first-place Nigeria!
France and Brasil should be quite the match: France with 5 wins, outscoring their opponents 17-2 Brasil with 5 wins, outscoring their opponents 14-3
In the France v Spain quarterfinal the French looked scary and big and Spain looked overwhelmed and out of ideas. Brazil is a much better team than Spain but France is the clear favorite, I think.
Ref just messed up. Called a PK for Brazil before the play had finished in the box. VAR called it back and Brazil end up losing possession on a dangerous play in the box.