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U-17 World Cup: Spain eye knockout berth against North Korea

October 12, 2017 21:56 IST

IMAGE: Spain's Under-17 football team at a practice session. Photograph: PTI

European champions Spain will enter their final group match against DPR Korea as the firm favourites, looking to secure a Round of 16 berth in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, in Kochi, on Friday.

Spain are placed second in Group D behind leader Brazil, to whom they lost 1-2 in their tournament opener.

 

They bounced back from that reverse in style and notched up a 4-0 victory over Niger in their second game.

They are raring to go as they lock horns with the bottom-placed North Koreans, who have lost both their matches to Niger and Brazil.

The Koreans are unlikely to test the tactically superior Spanish side at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Abel Ruiz, who plays for Bracelona's B team, was in great form against Niger, scoring a brace and he will look to continue in same vein.

The likes of Ferran Torres and Sergio Gomez will also prove to be tough propositions for the North Koreans, who can take solace from the fighting outing against the formidable Brazilians in their last match.

North Korea lost to World Cup debutants Niger in their opening game before playing Brazil.

Spain had come into the tournament as one of the title favourites. They had also started well against the South American giants, taking an early lead through an own goal, before defensive lapses saw them go down 1-2.

Mamata to host dinner in honour of FIFA president

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will host a dinner in honour of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who will be in the city for the Under-17 World Cup final to be held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, on October 28.

Banerjee will host the dinner on October 26.

"He is coming to Kolkata for the final match of the ongoing FIFA Under-17 World Cup to be held on October 28 and the chief minister will host a dinner in his honour on October 26," a senior state government officer said.

He said Banerjee is very happy after receiving compliments from the FIFA for renovating the Salt Lake stadium.

According to Javier Ceppi, the Under-17 World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) tournament director, the Salt Lake stadium is at par with any world-class venue in the world.

The Under-17 World Cup tournament director had thanked the West Bengal government for refurbishing the stadium in two and a half years.

The stadium has already hosted some matches of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup and will host the title clash as well.

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