Swift England flex muscles versus Iraq
tions for an individual to take up the sport, eventually helping the country to find a possible hero in every nook and corner.
For me, India could be that powerhouse in years to come. The scenario is changing in India too and it has been making consistent progress.
After three seasons of electrifying ISL, having the FIFA U-17 World Cup here would add to the motivation of kids to take up the sport. It can only get bigger and better from here.
Even the Indian boys have put up a good show, honestly. This is the first time I saw them play, so haven’t seen them enough to say who impressed me the most.
But surely, the first and lone goal scorer Jeakson Singh must be a national hero now. 3 300 3 20 1 30 1 2 30 1 2 5 4 -4 -5 6 1 KOLKATA: England set up a Round of 16 clash against Japan on Tuesday after taking the fight out of Iraq with two goals in two secondhalf minutes. After the 4-0 loss, Iraq will travel to Goa for their Round of 16 match against Mali, and they will have to do it without Mohammed Dawood, who was suspended after a foul.
Angel Gomes put England ahead 11 minutes into starting his first game. Gomes set up England’s second following a give-go with Emilie Smith Rowe, who made a superb run to place it past Iraq goalie Ali Ibadi in the 57th minute.
No Philip Foden, no problem. Another swift transition from midfield to attack made it 3-0 in the 59th through Daniel Loader, who made it 4-0 in the 71st from Steven Sessegnon’s assist. Coach Steve Cooper chose to not start seven regulars, including Foden and Callum Hudson-odoi. By the time Foden came on, it was 4-0.
But among those not rested was Jadon Sancho, who put a foot wrong for the first time since reaching Kolkata. His 25th min- ute penalty was a weak effort that Ali Ibadi easily saved. That would have made it 2-0 for England and perhaps taken some sting out of Iraq on a muggy night with the talismanic Dawood on the bench.
Instead, with Ibadi leading the riposte from the back Iraq forced two chances, the second of which saw Ali Kareem make a fine run behind the line to meet Bassam Shakir’s pass, but shoot at goalie William Crellin.
In the first half, Ibadi was the bravest Lion from Mesopotamia, flying forward to prevent a freekick from causing danger and denying Smith Rowe after he had broken through.
Perhaps Ibadi’s heroics had got Iraq coach Qahtan Chitheer to believe he could even extend the stay in Kolkata as group F leaders. Such thoughts were ambused by England’s two-minute blitz.
Kolkata (8:00 pm) Mumbai (5:00 pm) Kochi (8:00 pm)