‘Red-hot’ England eye quarters
KOLKATA: Title contenders England will look to continue their scintillating form and go past the first knockout hurdle when they take on Japan in the pre-quarterfinal of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup here on Tuesday.
Eleven goals in three matches and second behind France (14 goals), England could not have got a better start to their fourth U-17 World Cup campaign. They would now be eyeing the quarter-finals for the third time, but their first since Mexico-2011.
England have not progressed beyond last-eight stage in the tournament but this time the Young Lions look to last the distance, determined to follow up a summer of success for their country at the youth level.
England won the U-20 World Cup in Korea, made Euro U-21 last-four in Poland and then this side ended runners-up to Spain in the UEFA European U-17 Championships to qualify for this event, all earlier this year.
In the last edition in Chile2015, a winless England failed to reach the knockout stage and capped a disappointing run with just one goal from three matches.
But this time, the Steve Cooper-coached side has made quite a statement, making them one of the frontrunners in the 17th edition of the biennial tournament.
Having retained the crux of the side in the first two wins to seal a knockout berth, Cooper cleverly made eight changes against Iraq, and yet came out flying with a 4-0 win in their final Group F game.
Seven England players -Jadon Sancho (three goals), Angel Gomes and Daniel Loader (both two each), Emile SmithRowe, Philip Foden, Rhian Brewster and Callum HudsonOdoi (all one each) -- were on target in three matches and that surely makes them one of the most lethal attacking sides in the tournament.