Guwahati : A knock-out berth already booked, European powerhouse France would look to end their group engagements with an all-win record when they take on Honduras in the Group E match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup here on Sunday.
France have already qualified for the round of 16 after two consecutive wins and sit atop the group points table. They began with a 7-1 mauling of minnows New Caledonia and then beat Japan 2-1 in a tricky match.
They would want to beat Honduras on Sunday to maintain their group top spot so that they can meet a less fancied side in the knock-out round of 16.
The ‘Les Bleuets’ have come here in India not as automatic four qualifiers in the European Championships but after a play-off between two best losing quarter-finalists, reports PTI.
They had beaten Hungary 1-0 in the fifth-place play-off match. Here in India, they are having a fine run though they have not been tested much by strong opponents.
Amine Gouiri has been in great form having scored four goals in two matches – two each against New Caledonia and as many against Japan.
New Caledonia have been whipping boys in the group but the match against Japan was a tricky one as the Asian powerhouse were never easy opponents. It was due to Gouiri’s brilliant double strike France were able to garner all seven points against a plucky Japan.
No doubt, France will be the clear favourites in Sunday’s match at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium and a win will keep them in Guwahati for the round of 16 match.
The Teams (From)
France: Brahia Bernard, Yahia Fofana, Illan Meslier, Melvin Bard, William Bianda, Vincent Collet, Maxime Lacroix, Batista Mendy, Andy Pelmard, Oumar Solet, Yacine Adli, Maxence Caqueret, Claudio Gomes, Alan Kerouedan, Mathias Picouleau, Lenny Pintor, Aurelien Tchouameni, Alexis Flips, Willem Geubbels, Amine Gouiri, Wilson Isidor
Honduras: Alex Rivera, Santiago Cabrera, Axel Gomez, Alexander Bahr, Cristian Moreira, Luis Palma, Jorge Flores, Gerson Chavez, Patrick Palacios, Alessandro Castro, Kenneth Martinez, Jordy Castro, Gustavo Vallecillo, Carlos Mejia, David Cardona, Asaf Cacho, Everson Lopez, Joshua Canales, Reynaldo Bodden, Emilio Campos, Carlos Banegas
