NAVI MUMBAI: USA have an enormous reputation as one of the leading nations in women’s football and that will be put to test when they lock horns with Nigeria in the first quarterfinal of the Under-17 women’s World Cup at the DY Patil Stadium on Friday.
No teams from the Americas have won the title in the Under-17 category among women and USA could become the first going by their awesome display in the three group matches at Bhubaneshwar.
They were only held by Brazil but knock outs can be a differentball game. They are up against Nigeria, who only lost to Germany in the group stage. Getting a goal against the German team is an indication of their ability to upset the applecart.
African teams bring their own brand of football to any competition they are a part of. They play with gay abandon and win or lose, they never fail to entertain. But if Nigeria must topple the rampaging US, they will need to hold off their marauding offence which can show up from everywhere.
In the second quarterfinal at DY Patil, Brazil take on Germany and by many counts it is expected to be a classic battle. In men’s football, it is a rivalry that makes fans salivate. After the whipping that Brazil got at home in the 2014 World Cup, every battle between these two giants of football, is keenly watched and the South Americans could want revenge for that humiliation and the under-17 women may provide that.
Brazil held US in the group stage and scored five past India. Germany had their one-sided win against Chile. European football teams are always talked about for their organizational ability. But many times, flair defeats organization.
Will it do so again, today?
