Spain and Mali tasted defeat in their first match of FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 before doing a course correction and finding a route to the semifinals.
For the excitable teenagers from the European and African Under-17 champion teams, the first jolt played a part in tightening up defences, improving percentage of ball possession and enjoying the high of scoring goals en route to five consecutive wins.
Coached by Jonas Kumla, Mali has battered rivals with breathtaking attacking, switching from play-making into offence with two or three touches. The Eaglets have also shown they can hit back. Lassana Ndiaye is among the sensations so far (five goals in five matches), while goalkeeper Youssuf Koita (19 saves) has been a tower of strength.
Nothing can be more motivating for the 2015 finalist than pitting its skills and strategy against La Rojita (The Little Red One).
Spanish skipper Abel Ruiz (four goals in five matches) and goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez (10 saves) have risen to the occasion. Sergio Gomez (two goals, one assist) is another sparkling performer the Mali defence will hope to contain.
The Santiago Sanchez-coached side is trained to test the rival’s patience, as seen in five games. Mali strikers and midfielders get frustrated when denied the ball for long periods.
Wins over France and Iran in knockout ties have armed Spain with the confidence to neutralise aggressive opponents like Mali, for whom breakaway raids and stunning goals is the ultimate high as ruthless wins to knock out Iraq and Ghana have demonstrated.
Mali skipper Mohammad Camara will sit out the semifinal due to consecutive yellow card bookings, while Spain’s Antonio Blanco and Jose Lara face a tricky situation in the semifinal as they have a yellow card from the quarterfinals.
A green grass carpet is ready to welcome the artistes in red versus the marauders in yellow at the D.Y. Patil Stadium.