Skip to main content

England win Under-17 World Cup as Phil Foden inspires incredible comeback victory over Spain

England Under-17s became world champions in ecstatic fashion as Phil Foden's double and Rhian Brewster's eighth goal of the tournament powered the Young Lions to a 5-2 World Cup final win over Spain.

It was a sensational turn-around for Steve Cooper's side after slipping 2-0 behind in little more than half an hour but they showed endless reserves of energy, enthusiasm and skill as they matched England's World Cup-winning under-20s in style and avenged defeat to the same opponents in the final of the European Championship.

England have been the dominant force in age-group football in 2017, asserting themselves in a way their senior counterparts can only dream of, and in Manchester City playmaker Foden and Liverpool forward Brewster they have two of the nation's most prized talents.
Brewster's header gave England hope at 2-1 down, Morgan Gibbs-White grabbed the equaliser and from there it was one-way traffic, Foden producing a pair of smart finishes and Marc Guehi on target from close range.

Though they did not appear on the scoresheet at Kolkata's sold-out Salt Lake Stadium, huge credit must also go to the irrepressible Chelsea prospect Callum Hudson-Odoi and Steven Sessegnon, whose crossing was essential to the comeback.

The game began at a breathless pace, Brewster and Gibbs-White combining for the first chance after just 47 seconds and Spain went ahead inside 10 minutes after Sergio Gomez touched touched home from close range.

England immediately appealed for offside but Sessegnon was playing the striker on in the full-back position.

Spain were desperately close to making it 2-0 after Jonathan Panzo's forward foray left his side exposed on the counter. Moha raced into space but, having established an almost unmissable position, took a heavy touch that Curtis Anderson pounced on.

There was no let off for England next time, Ruiz twisting and turning to feed Cesar, who duly picked out Gomez.
The forward wrapped his left boot around the ball and hooked a wonderful effort into the far corner.

It looked bleak for the Young Lions but, once Hudson-Odoi struck the post with a wonderful solo effort, they hit back just before the break.

Brewster was the inevitable scorer, with an authoritative downward header, but Sessegnon was equally responsible having provided an irresistible cross.
England's gutsy chase for an equaliser bore fruit in the 58th minute, Foden's disguised pass locating Sessegnon's overlap.

His cross was perfect again, as was Gibbs-White's timing as he arrived to clip home from six yards.

The momentum was with England - and preserved less than a minute as Anderson made an instinctive one-handed save from Juan Miranda's header
England took the lead for the first time in the 69 minute, Hudson-Odoi sliding the ball into Foden's path at the far post, where he never looked likely to miss.

They might have settled for survival now, particularly after Sessegnon blocked Miranda's header on the line, but instead went for the killer blow.

With five minutes left they thought they had landed it, Guehi poking over the line after Panzo kept the ball alive, but there was a fifth still to come.
It was fitting that it fell for Foden, Golden Ball winner as player of the tournament, and he accepted it with aplomb, taking a deft touch before rifling past Alvaro with power and precision.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Vulvar Care Tips

Vulva Care Maintaining a healthy vulva and vagina will help prevent infections and discomfort. Unusual changes in vaginal discharge is a sign that there might be an issue. Why is vulvar and vagina care important? Many women experience uncomfortable, vaginal infections (vaginitis) at one time or another. The area around the entrance to the vagina (vulva) can also become irritated. Steps can be taken to relieve and prevent vulvar discomfort and vaginal infections. Not all vaginal infections are alike and home treatments can worsen some types. If you have any concerns about your vulvar or vaginal health, or notice unusual changes in vaginal discharge, contact your healthcare provider if the problem persists. What is the vulva? The vulva is the area of female sex organs that lies outside of the vagina. These organs include folds of sensitive tissue called the labia (labia means "lips"). The labia has two parts. The outermost folds are called the labia majora. A secon...

Chechnya leader makes Mo Salah honorary citizen

Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov has made Egypt’s talismanic striker Mohamed Salah an honorary citizen of the southern Russian region at a farewell banquet held for the eliminated World Cup side. Rights groups and Western governments allege that authorities in Chechnya repress their political opponents, discriminate against women and persecute sexual minorities, all allegations that Chechnya’s leaders deny. Chechnya has been hosting the Egyptian team’s World Cup training camp and Kremlin-backed Kadyrov has seized on opportunities to appear alongside Salah. Sarah’s goalscoring exploits for Liverpool and Egypt have made him an international superstar. “Mohamed Salah is an honorary citizen of the Chechen Republic. “Yes, that’s right! Tonight I signed a decree conferring this high award on the great footballer and member of the Egypt and Liverpool teams,” Kadyrov wrote on Telegram. Salah was presented with a badge and a copy of the decree at the dinner, Kadyrov said. The Egy...

Oil prices rise amidst uncertainty over Libyan crude exports

Oil prices rose, Tuesday on uncertainty over Libyan oil exports, although plans by producer cartel OPEC to raise output loom. Brent sweet crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, were at 74.95 dollars per barrel at 01.04 GMT, up 22 cents, or 0.3 per cent from their last close. The United States West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at 68.33 dollars a barrel, up 25 cents, or 0.4 per cent. Traders said prices were mostly driven higher by uncertainty around oil exports by Libya, a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Eastern Libyan commander, Khalifa Haftar’s forces have handed control of oil ports to a separate National Oil Corporation (NOC) based in the East of the country. The official state-owned oil company based in the capital Tripoli, also called NOC, will not be allowed to handle that oil anymore, he said. In comments later confirmed to the media, Ahmed Mismari, spokesman of Haftar’s Libya National Army...