Should be interesting to see whether this is a trend. Mali in back to back youth tournament semis (U20 World Cup, now U17) plus one MVP in Adama Traore (doubt they;ll get one this time around as the award seems reserved for Osimhen). BTW Mali also made the final 8 for the U23 Olympic qualification tournament, so we may see the team at the Olympics as well. That said they have a killer group with Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria. 2018 may come around too early, but Alain Giresse likes experiments and youngsters, so we could yet see the next gen in Russia. Funnily enough just a few years ago jihadists banned football in various areas of the country... The jihadists have been pushed out, but still funny to see such a coincidence.
SEMIS: Mali vs Belgium Mexico vs Nigeria Two semifinals that have African teams as hot favorites. I can see Mexico pulling an upset and even taking the whole thing, as they have been by and large the best non-African team at the tournament. But Belgium... They will have a rematch vs Mali. In the first game only a miracle helped them avoid defeat with Mali have 26 shots on goal. Conversely Belgium failed to have even one meaningful attack with just 2 shots on goal. Anything can happen, but would be shocked if Mali don't make the final.
This Mexico - Nigeria should have been the final, both have with no doubt the 2 best U17 programs in the world.
Agreed great game.. and that 2nd Mexican goal.... just such a shame that it'll probably be in vain, otherwise they'd be talking about it for ages....
Great game!! You literately had to hold your pee for the entire second half.. To be honest it could have gone either way. The penalty was soft and Mexico missed some opportunities. Can't wait for the finals!!
Since 2009 FIFA use in the U17 WC a MRI of the wrist to caught cheaters. Here a news clip from 2013 explaining it and here is the science behind it Unfortunely, is not demanded in the qualifiers of the confederations, the CONMEBOL youth tournament of 2015 an example of this. (link)
Just noticed that starting now, under-17 and under-20 world cups will have two teams from OFC. UEFA, of course, get their allocation trimmed from 6 to 5 to make room for the second team from Oceania. Seems like a bizarre and unnecessary change on the part of FIFA....
Shouldn't matter given that its a youth level competition. More the better if it gives OFC a bit of a kick in the pants.
UEFA losing their slot is fully deserved. They are no better than CAF at this level (and at U17 they are actually worse). Giving the slot to OFC though is a bit... iffy though. If anything CAF should get their slot. Not sure OFC will make anything from their additional slot...
I started a topic about that on October 6, but not many people go in the Oceania forum: http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/ofc-will-get-2-spots-in-u-17-and-u-20-world-cups.2025401/
Its not "more", its a trade -off. Tourney is still 24 teams. OFC needing a kick in the pants? Meh, most of those islands will never be good (small population m etc.). There's not much that can be done to improve them.
Same faulty logic, different day. "UEFA are no better than CAF" so they must lose a spot. Which is equivalent to saying, "UEFA are just as good as CAF so....".
Actually UEFA are worse than CAF at this level, especially at U17 level. UEFA had 6 slots, CAF 4. So... If UEFA are just as good as CAF why should they have more slots than CAF?
More teams means more chance for failure, yet only one UeFA team failed recently. Last two under 20 WCs have seen 12 out of 13 UEFA teams advance to the knockout stage. OFC is one for 3. It isn't even close.... This change makes the tournament weaker. Plain and simple.