India earned high praise for smoothly holding the Under-17 Soccer World Cup. The icing on the cake was the full house of 66,684 that watched England beat Spain 5-2 at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday, with the proud host watching the intense public interest in the “beautiful game”. With 177 goals scored by 24 teams, the event was never short of thrills. The image of a nation of sporting spectators who turn out in strength for a quality event was boosted. India may have gone beyond being just a good host as its own team played gallantly. While it didn’t make it past the league stage, it showed plenty of promise as young players earned the experience of being in the spotlight before a nationwide TV audience.
Team England may have become famous for waiting eternally after winning the senior World Cup over 50 years ago. This year could be the turning point as it scored two significant victories — the first in the Under-20 in June against Venezuela, and now the triumph of younger players, with some ready to step into the senior side in EPL. The way in which the English lads came back after being two goals down showed a resilient spirit. Beyond that, it was the players’ style, and their quick passing, that offers hope for the future of English football, now dominated by imported players, with the EPL having 69.2 per cent foreigners. The younger lot, many of mixed descent, promises to deliver for England, once derided as the “League of Nations” in soccer.
