Kolkata: Teams involved in third place play-offs are never high on motivation but Brazil and Mali will try to pick up pieces of their shattered Under-17 World Cup dream on Saturday.
Both go into the bronze medal match after bruising 1-3 defeats in their semi-finals.
Brazil, for whom being second best is as good as finishing last, were the people’s favourite to lift the trophy. A 2-1 quarter-final victory over formidable Germany raised expectations, which were swiftly dashed by England in the semis.
When they conceded an early goal against England, it was the third time they trailed a European side in the tournament.
Though an equaliser arrived soon enough, their attacking verve was largely nullified by a fumbling defensive display.
Brazil’s back line has been wobbly throughout the tournament. They conceded first against Spain in their opener and also against Germany in the quarter-finals.
Co-ordination among defenders, particularly among the two stoppers and full backs was inept.
Germany highlighted the deficiency partially, England capitalised on it to the fullest.
Golden Boot leader Rhian Brewster ran Brazil ragged, and helped by Phil Foden and Callum Hudson-Odoi, utilised the gap between Brazil’s midfield and defence.
Brazil coach Carlos Amadeu couldn’t plug his team’s defensive holes. To compound matters, his ‘star-in-the-making’ offensive players also went silent when the team needed them badly.
Chances were squandered with striker Lincoln, so effective in the group stages, going AWOL.
Amadeu and the team’s support staff have their hands full in regrouping the heartbroken players and solving their on-field troubles because Mali can inflict further pain.
The Eaglets were losing finalists in the tournament’s last edition in 2015 and have given a good account of them in this tournament.
They went down against Spain in the semis, but only after stretching the U-17 Euro champions to the limit. A ‘ghost goal’ early in the second half, when they were trailing 0-2, contributed significantly to their defeat.
Striker Lassana N’Diaye’s six goals keep him in the mix for the Golden Boot, just behind Brewster.
Relatively unknown at the start of the tournament, he turned the spotlight on himself through some top marksmanship.
Team mates Djemoussa Traore and Hadji Drame have also netted three goals each.
