The match ONE MILLION people wanted to attend
It’s the semi- final encounter the Indian public are so enthusiastic about that more than a million fans logged on to try to purchase tickets .
But for the Under 17 teams of England and Brazil, today’s meeting in Kolkata is just another hurdle between them and their dream of standing on top of the world.
As England have progressed through this World Cup, more and more fans back home have taken heed of the Young Lions’ achievements.
Now these teenagers face by far their toughest test to date in India, a romantic meeting with the nation who have lifted this trophy three times, though not since 2003.
the winners will face spain or Mali in saturday’s final, also in Kolkata, and more than 66,000 fans — the lucky minority who managed to get tickets — will be packed into the salt Lake stadium.
Here’s everything you need to know about the mouth-watering contest...
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE MATCH TAKING PLACE?
It kicks off at 12.30pm UK time today — 5pm local time. the match was originally scheduled for the Indira Gandhi Athletic stadium in Guwahati, which holds just 30,000, but a switch was needed after torrential rain rendered the pitch too dangerous to play on.
England and Brazil had already travelled to Guwahati, which is nearly 350 miles north- east of Kolkata, when the decision was made to change venues at short notice.
Unfortunately for India’s football fans, this led to a mad scramble for tickets.
HOW HAVE THE TEAMS REACHED THIS POINT?
STEVE COOPER’s England won all three of their group matches — and in style.
they opened with a 4- 0 thrashing of Chile with goals from Callum Hudson- odoi of Chelsea, Jadon sancho of Borussia Dortmund (two) and Angel Gomes of Manchester United.
they then cruised into a 3-0 lead against Mexico thanks to Liverpool striker rhian Brewster, Manchester City’s phil Foden and a sancho penalty. But Mexico fought back and scored twice in the last half-hour to give England something to think about.
Already through to the last 16, England’s final group game against Iraq was a dead rubber, but a much- changed team still won 4-0 thanks to Gomes, Emile smith-rowe and Danny Loader (two).
All of those games were in the salt Lake stadium, as was the last- 16 meeting with Japan, which proved England’s stiffest test so far. After a goalless draw, Cooper’s boys converted all five of their spot-kicks and Manchester City keeper Curtis Anderson saved one to settle the contest.
paired with the United states in the quarter-finals, England produced a sensational performance in Margao, with Brewster scoring a hat-trick in a 4-1 win. Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White added the other.
Brazil also emerged from their group with a 100 per cent record, beating spain 2-1, North Korea 2-0 and Niger 2-0. they started to hit their stride with a 3-0 win over Honduras in the last 16 but had to fight back from a goal down to defeat Germany 2-1 in a tricky quarterfinal on sunday — their only match to date in Kolkata.
HOW GOOD IS BRAZIL’S PEDIGREE IN THIS TOURNAMENT?
BRAZIL Under 17s were founded in 1985 and it wasn’t until 1997 that they first won this title. ronaldinho was the star turn of the side who beat Ghana 2-1 in the final, while their 1999 triumph came on penalties against Australia. their last win came in 2003, with a 1-0 final victory over spain, but they were runners-up in 2005 and finished fourth in 2011. England have, by contrast, only appeared at the finals of this tournament three times and are in uncharted territory. they haven’t been past the quarter-final stage, which they reached in 2007 and 2011.