COPA MUNDIAL JUVENIL U-17: México no falló a su cita con el dest

Lunes 11 de julio de 2011

EL RESUMEN DEL TORNEO

Desde que se anunció que el Estadio Azteca albergaría la final de la Copa Mundial Sub-17 de la FIFA 2011, los apasionados hinchas locales y los aficionados neutrales esperaban que la selección anfitriona alcanzase el choque decisivo. Y el fabuloso equipo que dirige Raúl Gutiérrez no solamente se abrió paso hasta la última ronda, sino que también derrotó por 2-0 a Uruguay en el mítico escenario para mantener su trayectoria inmaculada en el campeonato, con 7 victorias en 7 partidos. Casi 100.000 espectadores presenciaron cómo los cadetes de El Tri levantaban el trofeo, un nuevo récord de asistencia en el certamen mundialista sub-17.

Los jóvenes mexicanos se habían preparado para la gran cita durante un año y varios meses, y esa minuciosidad quedó patente en la solidez que exhibieron desde el principio en todas sus líneas, con los excepcionales delanteros Carlos Fierro y Marco Bueno como líderes. En la primera fase, El Tri dominó su grupo con autoridad, doblegando en su estreno a la RDP de Corea tras darle la vuelta a un gol tempranero, y luego venciendo tanto al Congo como a la campeona de Europa, Holanda.

En las fases de eliminación directa, Panamá, Francia y Alemania fueron las víctimas de la incisiva mordiente de los mexicanos, en sendos choques cargados de intensidad. En la final del 10 de julio, se esperaba que Uruguay se erigiese en el escollo más peligroso en lo que iba de campeonato, dado que los chicos de Fabián Coito preferían un planteamiento conservador y enfocado al contragolpe en vez del fútbol más bien abierto que suele verse en esta categoría de edad. Y la Celeste no defraudó, ofreciendo una seria resistencia y rematando dos veces a la madera; pero fue México el que hizo dar saltos de alegría a sus aficionados y conquistó su segundo título mundial sub-17 en apenas seis años.

“Este equipo tiene algo especial”, declaró su seleccionador, Raúl Gutiérrez, un ex defensa que en su día también fue internacional con México. “Amo este trabajo, amo este equipo. Hoy es un día maravilloso”. Tan estupendo fue el rendimiento de México que tres de sus piezas clave coparon los premios a los mejores jugadores del campeonato: Julio Gómez se adjudicó el Balón de Oro adidas, Jorge Espericueta se llevó el de Plata, y Fierro recibió el de Bronce.

Los debutantes y la pegada de Alemania

Las selecciones debutantes en la competición se mostraron especialmente fuertes en tierras mexicanas. Ruanda empezó a dejar atrás su turbulento pasado reciente, e incluso acabó llevándose un punto en Pachuca como premio a sus esfuerzos en el complicado Grupo C. A su vez, Panamá alcanzó la segunda fase a base de coraje, aunque fue Uzbekistán el que más impresionó entre los nuevos, haciendo que toda Asia esté muy orgullosa de su actuación. Los uzbekos llegaron hasta cuartos de final apoyándose en un juego elegante de pases cortos, que finalmente neutralizaron los astutos e ingeniosos uruguayos en su camino hacia la final.

El Estadio Hidalgo de Pachuca también fue testigo de un hecho histórico de otro tipo. El guardameta canadiense Quillan Roberts logró forzar un empate para su selección contra Inglaterra, después de que su patadón largo volara sobre el campo y, tras botar en el césped, acabara en el fondo de las mallas. Fue el primer gol marcado por un portero en una fase final de una competición de la FIFA.

Por detrás de los imponentes mexicanos, también son dignas de mención varias selecciones que ofrecieron espléndidas actuaciones entre el 18 de junio y el 10 de julio. Alemania sobresalió por su poderío ofensivo en esta fase final, al meter 24 goles en apenas 7 partidos (6 de esos tantos fueron obra del sensacional Samed Yesil, que además sirvió otros 5). Los jugadores entrenados por Steffen Freund solamente hincaron la rodilla en semifinales, tras sufrir una agónica derrota por 3-2 ante los anfitriones en Torreón.

Brasil, por su parte, desplegó un espectáculo de toques sutiles y genialidades varias en su sede particular de Guadalajara, con los creativos Adryan y Lucas Piazon y el ariete Ademilson como principales protagonistas. Su majestuosa trayectoria se frenó de golpe, sin embargo, tras toparse en semifinales con el juego súper organizado de los uruguayos, que apuntillaron a los Auriverdes a la contra (3-0).

Países participantes

Burkina Faso, Congo, Costa de Marfil, Ruanda, Australia, Japón, RDP de Corea, Uzbekistán, República Checa, Dinamarca, Inglaterra, Francia, Alemania, Holanda, Canadá, Jamaica, México, Panamá, Estados Unidos, Nueva Zelanda, Argentina, Brasil, Ecuador, Uruguay

Clasificación

1. México

2. Uruguay

3. Alemania

4. Brasil

Sedes y estadios

Guadalajara (Estadio Guadalajara), Ciudad de México (Estadio Azteca), Monterrey (Estadio Universitario), Morelia (Estadio Morelos), Pachuca (Estadio Hidalgo), Querétaro (Estadio Corregidora), Torreón (Estadio Torreón)

Total de goles marcados

158 (un promedio de 3,04 por partido)

Máximos goleadores

9: Souleymane Coulibaly (CIV)

6: Samed Yesil (GER)

5: Adryan (BRA), Ademilson (BRA), Yassine Benzia (FRA)

U-17 SOCCER WORLD CUP: Brazil were dealt a cruel blow at their home away from home in Guadalajara, losing out 3-0 to South American rivals Uruguay.

Drama, history mark wild last four


Brazil were dealt a cruel blow at their home away from home in Guadalajara, losing out 3-0 to South American rivals Uruguay. All three goals resulted from the lightning-quick counter-attack of the Celeste, who now march on to the final at the vaunted Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

They will meet Mexico in the tournament's ultimate match after a gutsy performance from the hosts, and Julio Gomez in particular, stopped the German juggernaut in its tracks. The Pachuca man scored two goals, one coming after having his head smashed to a bloody pulp, an injury requiring seven stitches.
Results

Uruguay 3-0 Brazil

Germany 2-3 Mexico

Goal of the day

Julio Gomez 90’, Germany-Mexico

The Pachuca defender had already done enough to be considered Mexico’s hero on the night. By the time the 90th minute rolled around, he had scored one, created a second and had to leave the pitch on a stretcher with blood spilling from his head. Just as it looked like the Mexicans would have to finish the game a man down – coach Raul Gutierrez having made all of his subs – the brave warrior ran back down the tunnel, head wrapped in a huge bandage, changed his shirt and re-entered the fray to a roar from the crowd. Amazingly, he had them shouting again in the last minute of regular time when his dazzling overhead kick won the game and put Mexico in the final.

Memorable moments


Yellow and blue make red

They say that familiarity breeds contempt. Neighbours Brazil and Uruguay have met 70 times on the world’s biggest football stages at senior level, including the notorious Maracanazo in 1950. This history of rancor and simmering tempers can’t help but inform proceedings whenever the two meet, whatever the age level. A full seven yellow cards were brandished when the two crossed swords in their U-17 semi-final in Guadalajara, and the Russian referee frequently had to separate irate and puffed-out players in a game where no ball went uncontested and no challenge was anything less than full-blooded. Uruguayan defender Gaston Silva’s nerves were wound so tight that he even snapped the corner flag in two early in the second half.
Mexico go green

The fans in Torreon caught a glimpse of their hometown heroes in the flesh for the first time today. Home to club side Santos Laguna, the brand-new Estadio Torreon – smack in the middle Mexico’s barren northern desert – is a vision in green. All 30,000 seats in the ground, which is home to green-and-white striped Santos Laguna, matched the shirts of the El Tri players, and the coincidental colour-coordination and passionate support helped save the day. Mexico won the thriller of these finals in dramatic style with their first-ever win at any level against Germany.
Uruguayan bench providers

Substitutes have had their say for Uruguay on their historic run to the U-17 World Cup final. Guillermo Mendez drove into the box just four minutes after coming on with a powerful and steely run today against Brazil. When the ball was half-tackled away, his fellow super-sub Juan San Martin (who came on at the half) slammed a vicious half-volley with his right foot into the side netting. Mendez added a third goal five minutes into stoppage time. In all, substitutes have scored three of Uruguay’s 11 goals, 27 per cent.

The stat

3 – The number of penalty-kicks Uruguay have taken in Mexico. Normal Celeste spot-kick man Guillermo Mendez, who missed one and scored one so far, started on the bench today, so Elbio Alvarez did the honours. The Penarol man fired straight up the middle to score the 105th penalty-kick in the history of tournament. The game ended 3-0 for Uruguay, only the second time Brazil have been beaten by such a lopsided scoreline in a U-17 finals.
Up next

The final, 10 July, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

Uruguay-Mexico

Third-place match

Brazil-Germany

Gomez the hero for mighty Mexico

http://www.fifa.com/


Mexico looked dead and buried in their semi-final against Germany, down 2-1 in the 76th minute. But Julio Gomez – who had opened the scoring – inspired a second goal, went off on a stretcher with blood pouring from his head and then scored the winner in the 3-2 classic semi-final that sends El Tri through to the ultimate match at the Estadio Azteca on 10 July. Germany, for their part, will have only the consolation of taking on Brazil in the match for third place.

The fans didn’t have to wait long to jump up out of their seats as their beloved home side took the lead after only three minutes. A curling cross from the left side from Jorge Caballero picked out Gomez, who nodded an oddly bouncing header inside the near post after eluding his marker’s attentions. The Torreon crowd – seeing their home team for the first time at these finals – must have thought they would be treated to a rout.

Germany had other ideas, however. While the Mexicans went back up in search of another goal, they were soon given a taste of the Europeans’ trademark ruthless efficiency. A mistake by captain Carlos Briseno allowed the wily Samed Yesil to get hold of the ball in the attacking third and score his sixth goal of Mexico 2011. His low rolling shot from long-range slipped past the wrong-footed Richard Sanchez and into the back of the net to a gasp from the shocked crowd.

Yesil nearly picked up his second mid-way through the opening period when he dribbled past his man and fired low again from 25 yards with his left foot. The effort slipped just wide of the post this time as the fans began to chew their fingernails.

Both sides had chances to score before the interval. Jorge Espericueta and Marco Bueno were both denied by Oddisseas Vlachodimos at one end and then Germany’s ace in the hole, Yesil, could only hit over with the goal at his mercy. The Mexicans began to pile on the pressure early in the second half. Espericueta went close to putting Mexico back in the lead after only five minutes, but the safe hands of the German keeper denied him.

Short passes were the order of the day for the home side, but they were unable to find the final pass in attack. Noah Korzowski nearly did them a favour in the 58th minute when he tapped just wide of his own goal from a Gomez cross. It took the Europeans only seconds to get it right up the other end. The powerful Emre Can raced past three defenders, burst into the penalty and slotted home while sliding to put the Germans into a 2-1 lead.

The Mexicans did their all to haul themselves back into the game, and they got the leveler in the 76th minute. Espericueta’s corner-kick flew directly into the net as Gomez and a German defender collided on the goal-line. The celebrations in the stadium were tempered by the fact that Gomez had to be stretchered off the pitch with a head injury, requiring stitches. He made his way back onto the field after changing his shirt and having his head wrapped and went on to win the contest with a goal for the ages. His dazzling overhead kick will go down in the legend and lore of Mexican football and the U-17 World Cup both.

The Mexicans now move on to the final of the tournament at the Estadio Azteca on 10 July, where they will meet Uruguay, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the other semi-final.

U-17 WORLD CUP MEXICO 2011: Weiser flying right for Germany: today SF against Mexico

Mitchell Weiser has spent a large part of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011 stationed near the left-hand side of opposing penalty boxes. No surprise there, you might think, as a member of a Germany side that has spent most of the tournament on the front foot, scoring 18 goals in their five games. But when you consider that Weiser is the team’s right-back, his advanced position gives you an indication of just how dominant the Germans have been.


The blond-haired defender is an integral part of coach Steffen Freund’s attacking plans and has even chipped in with three goals so far, against Burkina Faso and Panama in the group phase and USA in the round of 16, all of them scored with his left foot no less.

It’s going to be very special to play the hosts at a packed stadium, and it should be a feast of football.Germany right-back Mitchell Weiser

Then, in the 3-2 quarter-final defeat of England, the goalscorer turned supplier. After lofting a perfectly judged through-ball, again with his left, into the path of Samed Yesil for Germany’s opener, he then teed the No9 up for his second with an audacious back-heel following another galloping run down the right flank.

On the basis of his contribution so far, which would have been even more prolific but for missed chances on his part and the failure of his team-mates to convert more of his pinpoint assists, Weiser appears more of a Brazilian full-back than a German one. “I wouldn’t know what to say to that,” the smiling Weiser told. “The fact is I play in a similar position for my club and I feel comfortable there, both with them and the national team. I have to say that I like [Barcelona right-back] Dani Alves because of the way he plays, but I’m trying to develop my own style.”

A familiar challenge

Despite their fast start against the English, which saw them surge into a 3-0 lead, Weiser and his team-mates were grateful to hear the final whistle at the end of Monday’s thrilling match. “We were very tired at the end and we had to work really hard for the win, which made it doubly enjoyable though,” he explained. “I wasn’t surprised to see them come back either because we knew they’d fight until the end. They raised their game after the penalty, that’s true, but we also started to get a bit jumpy. Even so, I thought we played a great game overall.”

The Germans now face an altogether different challenge against the tournament hosts. “We’re really looking forward to it,” said Weiser in anticipation of Thursday’s mouth-watering semi-final. “It’s going to be very special to play the hosts at a packed stadium, and it should be a feast of football.”

As the squad’s designated DJ, the defender is well accustomed to entertaining, although he is expecting a cagey encounter with the Mexicans: “It’s two of the best teams in the world going head-to-head and I reckon it will be a tight game. There isn’t much difference between teams at this level and I think the result will boil down to the little details. We’ll be ready though.”

For the first time in the competition, Weiser and his cohorts will have an entire stadium against them. Yet, as far as the buccaneering wing-back is concerned, they are ready for the test: “We’re a strong unit made up of the top 21 U-17 players in Germany, who also happen to be very good friends. Our team spirit has got us this far and we’re ready to keep on going, one game at a time.”