The final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019™ will pit ex-champions against one another. Thursday’s semi-final results in Brasilia have produced a weighty showpiece set to feature three-time winners Brazil and North American juggernauts Mexico, who hold two titles of their own.
The early encounter at Estadio Bezerrao saw El Tri go toe-to-toe with European holders the Netherlands. The match finished 1-1 in regulation time, with the Dutch pulling ahead in the 74th minute before Efrain Alvarez’s curling free-kick emphatically brought his side level five minutes later. Goalkeeper Eduardo Garcia’s three stops in the penalty shoot-out cemented his side’s fourth appearance in the final.
Hosts Brazil were forced to play catch-up against France when Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga and Nathanael Mbuku each scored inside the opening quarter-hour. Bolstered by a buzzing crowd, A Seleção grew into the game and equalised through Veron in the 76th minute. Then substitute Lazaro blasted the hosts ahead in the 89th minute, ensuring they earn the chance to contest a World Cup final on home soil.
Brazil’s triumph over France was their seventh consecutive win at the U-17 World Cup, equalling a record they set two decades ago. Champions of both Egypt 1997 and New Zealand 1999, it would be fitting if Brazil were to establish a new benchmark while lifting the trophy as hosts.
