European champions Spain will come into their FIFA U-17 World Cup semifinal against the African champions Mali on Wednesday knowing that they will have to be at the top of their game if they are to make it to a fourth final at this level.

Having failed to cross the final hurdle in 1991, 2003 and 2007, the La Rojita are keen to push for their first-ever title here, but before they can dream of that, the Santiago Sanchez-coached side will have to ward off a stiff challenge from Mali here at the DY Patil stadium.

Both the sides began their campaign with a loss -- the Spaniards bowing to Brazil and Mali left to rue their luck as an awful decision by the referee saw them lose to Paraguay. But the two teams have bounced back in splendid fashion to script their journey to the last four.

The Spaniards have stayed true to their tiki-taka style of play, dissecting the opposition with flair and precision. With the likes of Sergio Gomez and Cesar Gelabert in the middle, the Europeans have enjoyed majority share of the possession and dominated the midfield, leaving the opposition with little space to operate.

Though their skipper Able Ruiz might not have started the competition in a manner he would have wanted, the La Masia striker has slowly grown into his role of a target man, netting in four goals so far. And with Ferran Torres too hitting the stride in the quarters, the Spaniards will be hoping to fire on all cylinders against Mali.

But it won’t be an easy task given that Mali have been one of the best defensive units in this competition so far. Led by the central defensive pair of Boubacar Haidara and Abdoulaye Diaby, the finalists from the 2015 edition have conceded just five goals in their five games so far. A physically imposing side, the Malians rely heavily on their superior physique to out-muscle their opponents and assert their presence.

However, it’s not just the defensive stability that has impressed many about Mali. The U-17 Africa Cup of Nations champions have been entertaining going forward too. With a goal-poacher in Youssouf Koita and a creative head in Lassana N’Diaye, they have caused all sorts of problems for their opponents. N’Diaye himself has pumped in five goals out of the 15 they have scored so far. And with the likes of striker Hadji Drame and attacking midfielder Djemoussa Traore in their ranks, the Spanish defence will have to be on their toes.

The fact that Mali has created 128 attempts on goal so far is an indication of their attacking prowess. And if things go as per plan, one can expect for a cracker of a contest when Spain’s stylish tiki-taka goes up against a direct and physical style of the Africans.

DH News Service

Kick-off: 8.00 pm

Artistic Spain up against robust threat from Mali