‘We were in control even after 2-0 down’
KOLKATA: Steve Cooper, who came to Saturday’s media conference with the World Cup, and Santiago Denia, who couldn’t, agreed that Rhian Brewster’s goal had a telling effect on the final of this Fifa under-17 World Cup.
“It came at a perfect time and gave the boys a boost. We came out earlier in the second half raring to go after having the last kick in the first from a free-kick,” said Cooper.
“Their first goal really hurt us,” said Denia, the Spain coach.
‘DIDN’T PANIC’
Cooper said he felt England had trailed 0-2 “against the run of play” and hence they never thought they were out of the game. “There was no real panic,” he said, after Saturday’s 5-2 win.
“We should have scored in the first minute, was it? We took the initiative… pressed a lot higher and played forward a lot more. We were in control even after being 2-0 down. Our half-time talk was positive because we played good football without that cutting edge. The talk was: ‘let’s have a little bit of quality and make a final. Let’s get some shots on goal.’ And we scored four in the second half. All credit to the boys,” said Cooper.
Fittingly after the final flourish, Cooper again spoke about the development work in England which doesn’t really show in the Premiership.
“This trophy is dedicated to the good work being done in England, the academies and the young players being developed. These players have been in the system for four-five years now and they have been on a journey where lot of work has gone into them from different coaches. So, for me it’s recognition of where English football wants to go,” said Cooper.