Chilean keeper wants to carry forward momentum into Under-17 World Cup
KOLKATA: A vital cog as their last line of defence, Chile goalkeeper Julio Borquez wants to carry forward his momentum of the South American U-17 Championship into the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.
Adjudged the best goalkeeper at the South American U-17 Championship in March, Borquez had a clean slate in four games to help his side secure a FIFA U-17 World Cup qualification for the first time since 1997.
“I’m striving to give my best and carry forward the momentum. It’s really a big competition, all teams are tough, you need to prepare really hard,” Borquez told reporters after their practice at a private club.
“Those clean sheets are not just down to me. It’s a group achievement and dependent on everyone doing their job. I did mine and my teammates did theirs.”
Chile featured in the 2015 U-17 World Cup by virtue of being the hosts but it was way back in 1997 that they had qualified for the event.
“It’s really an honour to represent the team. We work as a unit. It’s a proud moment that I’m playing for Chile in the Under-17 World Cup,” he said.
He is happy to play an inspirational role among his teammates.
“We all are good friends in the team, each one of us knows their responsibility well. They look up to me for inspiration,
and seek advice. I’m happy to help them out.”
Asked about his aspiration to represent the senior side, he said: “You obviously want to play for the senior side, it’s a big motivation. But at the moment my focus is on the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup.”
The teenager picked Manuel Neuer, Claudio Bravo and Thibaut Courtois as his three role models.
“Neuer is something of an exemplar for the future of goalkeeping,” he said.