U-17 SOCCER WORLD CUP: Mexico champion, defeated Uruguay 2-0

U-17 SOCCER WORLD CUP: Mexico champion, defeated Uruguay 2-0 with goals scored by captain Antonio Casillas at 31 minutes and then in aggregated time, 92', Casillas put the final victory in the host country's hands.

The home side were crowned U-17 world champions with a 2-0 win over Uruguay on Sunday at the Estadio Azteca, the spiritual home of Mexican football and one of the true cathedrals of the world game. Captain Antonio Briseno and Giovani Casillas were the men of the hour, scoring the crucial goals as the Mexicans collect their second U-17 world title in the space of six years.




The game began cautiously, as World Cup finals often do. Each side spent a full 20 minutes feeling the other out. It was clear who the fans’ favourites were, however, with every touch of the Mexican team roared and cheered to the heavens by the huge crowd of nearly 100,000 at the Estadio Azteca.



The supporters, many wearing white bandages on their heads in honour of semi-final hero Julio Gomez, who started on the bench, must have played a role in sending Mexico into a lead. The home side found their breakthrough just after the half-hour mark when a cross from the right side was flicked on by top-scorer Carlos Fierro and captain Antonio Briseno slammed home on the fully volley with his right foot.



Uruguay nearly hit back straight away, but Elbio Alvarez’s effort splattered off the post from distance after the Mexican defence failed to clear the danger. Fierro had one more chance up the other end as the interval approached, but he failed to steer his shot into the top corner after breaking well into the area. The Uruguayans, without the influential Rodrigo Aguirre who went down with a head injury early on, looked a rueful bunch as they walked to the changing rooms amid an almighty cacophony of appreciation aimed at the Mexicans.



Mexico came out in the second half with all guns blazing, pressing forward into attack much to the delight of the crowd. A series of middle-distance shots from Fierro and his strike-partner Marco Bueno had Uruguayan goalkeeper Jonathan Cubero, voted the best net-minder of the tournament, looking nervous early on in the second period.



But the South Americans were not dead and buried just yet, and Juan San Martin collected the ball at the corner of the goal box in the 61st minute only to see his shot come flying back off the post with Richard Sanchez beaten. It was the second time the home team had been saved by the woodwork and it spurred them into tightening things up at the back.



The traditional ‘Oles’ began to rain down from the crowd as the game, stalled at 1-0, entered into a frenzied final ten minutes. The home side had a chance to score again after an almighty scramble in from the goal in the 83rd minute, but Fierro and Bueno both failed to fire home. Seconds later, Arturo Gonzalez fired just over the bar from 20 yards out. Just second before the end, Giovani Casillas poked home to put the result beyond doubt, as the final whistle went and triggered scenes of unparalleled passion from fans and players both.




Play-by-Play

The final whistle sounds.


90' +5 9 Mexico are ruled offside.

90' +4 32 The goalkeeper of Mexico pulls off a save.

90' +4 8 A player from Uruguay sees his effort hit the target.

90' +2 3 (0 - 2) G. CASILLAS (Mexico) scores!!

90' 10 Mexico take the corner kick.

89' 7 Mexico tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

87' 10 Uruguay swing in the corner.

87' 7 Uruguay tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

86' 11 Mexico are penalised after committing a foul.

85' 4 G. CASILLAS (in) comes off the bench to replace C. FIERRO (out) (Mexico)

84' 7 Mexico tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

83' 10 Mexico take the corner kick.

83' 6 Mexico has a shot blocked.

83' 6 Mexico has a shot blocked.

82' 11 Uruguay concede a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Mexico.

79' 4 S. CHARAMONI (in) comes off the bench to replace G. MÉNDEZ (out) (Uruguay)

79' 11 A player from Mexico commits a foul.

78' 10 Mexico swing in the corner.

75' 11 Uruguay are penalised after committing a foul.

75' 4 M. GRACIA (in) comes off the bench to replace M. BUENO (out) (Mexico)

72' 10 Mexico take the corner kick.

72' 9 A player from Mexico is adjudged to be in an offside position.

72' 32 The goalkeeper of Mexico pulls off a save.

72' 8 A player from Uruguay sees his effort hit the target.

71' 9 Mexico are ruled offside.

69' 32 The goalkeeper of Mexico pulls off a save.

69' 8 A player from Uruguay sees his effort hit the target.

69' 4 S. CANOBRA (in) comes off the bench to replace M. MOREIRA (out) (Uruguay)

69' 7 Mexico tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

68' 6 Mexico hit their free kick into the wall.

66' 1 J. CUBERO (Uruguay) is cautioned.

66' 11 A player from Uruguay illegally handles the ball.

66' 6 Mexico has a shot blocked.

63' 4 J. GOMEZ (in) comes off the bench to replace J. TOSTADO (out) (Mexico)

62' 32 The goalkeeper of Mexico pulls off a save.

62' 8 A player from Uruguay sees his effort hit the target.

62' 10 Uruguay swing in the corner.

62' 7 So close! Uruguay are denied by the post.

59' 11 Mexico concede a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Uruguay.

58' 7 Mexico tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

58' 10 Mexico take the corner kick.

58' 32 The goalkeeper of Uruguay pulls off a save.

58' 8 Mexico hit their free-kick on target.

57' 1 G. SILVA (Uruguay) is yellow carded.

57' 11 A player from Uruguay commits a foul.

56' 11 Uruguay are penalised after committing a foul.

56' 7 Uruguay strike their free-kick wide.

55' 11 Mexico concede a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Uruguay.

54' 7 Mexico tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

54' 32 The goalkeeper of Uruguay pulls off a save.

54' 8 A player from Mexico sees his effort hit the target.

52' 32 The goalkeeper of Mexico pulls off a save.

52' 8 Uruguay hit their free-kick on target.

52' 11 A player from Mexico commits a foul.

51' 7 Mexico tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

50' 6 Mexico has a shot blocked.

49' 11 Mexico are penalised after committing a foul.

47' 11 Mexico concede a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Uruguay.

46' 10 Uruguay swing in the corner.

The second half kicks off.

The referee brings the first half to an end.

45' 7 Mexico tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

44' 11 A player from Uruguay commits a foul.

42' 7 Mexico tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

41' 32 The goalkeeper of Mexico pulls off a save.

41' 8 Uruguay hit their free-kick on target.

41' 11 Mexico are penalised after committing a foul.

36' 7 Mexico tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

34' 7 So close! Uruguay are denied by the post.

33' 7 Mexico strike their free-kick wide.

32' 11 Uruguay concede a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Mexico.

32' 11 A player from Uruguay commits a foul.

31' 3 (0 - 1) A. BRISEÑO (Mexico) scores!!

30' 10 Mexico take the corner kick.

29' 7 Mexico tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

27' 7 Mexico tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

27' 7 Uruguay tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

26' 10 Mexico swing in the corner.

26' 4 J. SAN MARTÍN (in) comes off the bench to replace R. AGUIRRE (out) (Uruguay)

26' 6 Mexico has a shot blocked.

26' 6 Mexico has a shot blocked.

20' 11 Uruguay are penalised after committing a foul.

18' 11 Mexico concede a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Uruguay.

17' 1 G. MÉNDEZ (Uruguay) is booked by the referee.

17' 11 A player from Uruguay illegally handles the ball.

15' 11 A player from Mexico commits a foul.

13' 7 Uruguay tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

12' 7 Uruguay tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

10' 10 Uruguay take the corner kick.

8' 11 Uruguay are penalised after committing a foul.

6' 11 Uruguay concede a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Mexico.

6' 11 A player from Mexico commits a foul.

4' 11 Uruguay are penalised after committing a foul.

3' 11 Mexico concede a free-kick following a challenge on a player from Uruguay.

2' 32 The goalkeeper of Mexico pulls off a save.

2' 8 A player from Uruguay sees his effort hit the target.

2' 7 Uruguay tries a shot on goal, but it is off-target.

1' 11 A player from Mexico commits a foul.

The match kicks off.

0:2 (0:1)


Antonio BRISENO (31')

Giovani CASILLAS (90'+2)

Match 52 - Group Mexico City

Estadio AztecaReferee: Svein Oddvar MOEN (NOR)
 
Final


Uruguay - Mexico0:2 (0:1)Match Date Venue / Stadium Time Attendance

52 10 July 2011 Mexico City / Estadio Azteca 18:00 98943



Goals scored

Antonio BRISENO (MEX) 31', Giovani CASILLAS (MEX) 90'+2

Uruguay

Line-up

[1] Jonathan CUBERO (GK)

[2] Emiliano VELAZQUEZ (C)

[3] Gaston SILVA

[6] Maximiliano MOREIRA (-69')

[7] Leonardo PAIS

[8] Elbio ALVAREZ

[10] Guillermo MENDEZ (-79')

[11] Rodrigo AGUIRRE (-26')

[15] Jim VARELA

[17] Gianni RODRIGUEZ

[20] Alejandro FURIA

Substitute(s)

[12] Guillermo DE AMORES (GK)

[21] Gaston RODRIGUEZ (GK)

[4] Agustin TABAREZ

[5] Heber RATTI

[9] Sergio CORTELEZZI

[13] Juan Cruz MASCIA

[14] Santiago CARRERA

[16] Santiago CHARAMONI (+79')

[18] Sebastian CANOBRA (+69')

[19] Juan SAN MARTIN (+26')

Coach

Fabian COITO (URU)Mexico

Line-up

[1] Richard SANCHEZ (GK)

[2] Francisco FLORES

[3] Carlos GUZMAN

[4] Antonio BRISENO (C)

[5] Jorge CABALLERO

[6] Kevin ESCAMILLA

[7] Jorge ESPERICUETA

[9] Carlos FIERRO (-85')

[10] Arturo GONZALEZ

[11] Marco BUENO (-75')

[18] Jose TOSTADO (-63')

Substitute(s)

[12] Jose GONZALEZ (GK)

[21] Dilan NICOLETTI (GK)

[8] Julio GOMEZ (+63')

[13] Luis SOLORIO

[14] Luis GUZMAN

[15] Felipe SIFUENTES

[16] Enrique FLORES

[17] Giovani CASILLAS (+85')

[19] Daniel HERNANDEZ

[20] Marcelo GRACIA (+75')

Coach

Raul GUTIERREZ (MEX)Cautions

Guillermo MENDEZ (URU) 17', Gaston SILVA (URU) 57', Jonathan CUBERO (URU) 66'

Sent off

Uruguay (URU) Statistics Mexico (MEX)

15 Shots 23

7 Shots on goal 4

0 Goals Scored 2

13 Fouls Committed 13

13 Fouls Suffered 11

4 Corner kicks 7

3 Free kicks Shots (scored) 3

0 / 0 Penalty Kicks (Goals/Shots) 0 / 0

0 Offsides 3

0 Own Goals 0

3 Yellow cards 0

0 Second yellow card and red card 0

0 Red Cards 0

24 Actual playing time 26

48% Possession (%) 52%



a.e.t.: After extra time (C): Captain PSO: Penalty Shoot-out

GK: Goalkeeper N: Not eligible to play I: Injured

Y: Misses next match if booked Pos: Positions A: Absent

Uruguay (URU) Statistics Mexico (MEX)


15 Shots 23

7 Shots on goal 4

0 Goals Scored 2

13 Fouls Committed 13

13 Fouls Suffered 11

4 Corner kicks 7

3 Free kicks Shots (scored) 3

0 / 0 Penalty Kicks (Goals/Shots) 0 / 0

0 Offsides 3

0 Own Goals 0

3 Yellow cards 0

0 Second yellow card and red card 0

0 Red Cards 0

24 Actual playing time 26

48% Possession (%) 52%



Cards 10 Guillermo MENDEZ (17')

3 Gaston SILVA (57')

1 Jonathan CUBERO (66')



Substitutions(26')

11 Rodrigo AGUIRRE

19 Juan SAN MARTIN

(69')

6 Maximiliano MOREIRA

18 Sebastian CANOBRA

(79')

10 Guillermo MENDEZ

16 Santiago CHARAMONI

(63')

Jose TOSTADO 18

Julio GOMEZ 8

(75')

Marco BUENO 11

Marcelo GRACIA 20

(85')

Carlos FIERRO 9

Giovani CASILLAS 17

U-17 SOCCER WORLD CUP: Goal avalanche gives Germans bronze over Brazil

The Germans wrapped up their account at the FIFA U-17 World Cup at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca with a place on the podium after beating Brazil in a third-place thriller that produced seven goals. A wide-open and goal-littered affair that ended 4-3 in favour of the Germans served as a perfect warm-up for the big event later in the day and a fitting advertisement for the quality on display here at these 14th U-17 world finals.

Germany came out in an almost identical posture to their semi-final against hosts Mexico, sitting back patiently and waiting for Brazil to over-commit in attack. And after Levent Aycicek fired a warning shot on a quick break, the Europeans got the formula paying dividends in the 20th minute.

Samed Yesil collected the ball after a defensive miscue near the left corner of the box, spun brilliantly as he had in the quarter-final win against England, and raced to the goal-line, where he pulled back across the goal-mouth. Okan Aydin was left with what will likely be the easiest finish of his career, popping into an open net from three yards.

Brazil were spurred into an immediate response. They scored an almost identical goal just two minutes later when Chelsea-bound Lucas Piazon broke down the left side and pulled across for Wellington, who scored simply in his first start of these finals. The talented Brazilians kept up the possession and pressure, spurred on by their opening goal, and were into the lead after 29 minutes. Adryan stepped up and coolly stroked home from the spot after being fouled in the area by captain Robin Yalcin.

The Germans were reeling and the impressive Adryan added another for Brazil in the 33rd minute when he got on his own rebound to slam into the roof of the net. The German defence was having a hard time coming to grips with the contest, but they managed to pull one back through the head of substitute Koray Guentner to make it 3-2 at the stroke of half-time.

The game was wide open after the re-start and with ten minutes gone Germany drew level. Yesil’s clever back-heel picked out Aycicek, who raced into the box at a tight angle and hit home off Charles’ back post. Midfield was only a passing concern for the two teams as they battled out for bronze, and Germany took the lead 4-3 in the 63rd minute when, on the break, Yesil played the ball out to Aydin who roared up the left side and hit home into the side-netting.

The Azteca stadium was filling up for the main event and the nearly 100,000 fans were treated to some outstanding and open football in the dying moments of the game. There were to be no more goals, however, and Germany – top scorers at Mexico 2011 with 24 goals in seven games – celebrated their day and their place among the medals.

Match for third place

3:4 (3:2)


WELLINGTON (22')

ADRYAN (29' PEN 33')

Okan AYDIN (20' 63')

Koray GUENTER (45'+1)

Levent AYCICEK (55')

Match 51 - Group Mexico City

Estadio AztecaReferee: Roberto GARCIA (MEX)


Brazil - Germany3:4 (3:2)Match Date Venue / Stadium Time Attendance

51 10 July 2011 Mexico City / Estadio Azteca 15:00 94379



Goals scored

Okan AYDIN (GER) 20', WELLINGTON (BRA) 22', ADRYAN (BRA) 29' Penalty goal, ADRYAN (BRA) 33', Koray GUENTER (GER) 45'+1, Levent AYCICEK (GER) 55', Okan AYDIN (GER) 63'

Brazil

Line-up

[1] CHARLES (GK)

[2] WALLACE

[3] MARQUINHOS (C)

[4] MATHEUS

[5] MISAEL (-56')

[6] EMERSON

[8] MARLON BICA

[9] ADEMILSON (-71')

[10] ADRYAN

[11] LUCAS PIAZON

[18] WELLINGTON (-56')

Substitute(s)

[12] UILSON (GK)

[21] JACSSON (GK)

[7] GUILHERME (+71')

[13] CLAUDIO WINCK

[14] JOSUE

[15] JONATHAN

[16] HERNANI (+56')

[17] BRUNO SABIA

[19] NATHAN (+56')

[20] LEO [I]

Coach

Emerson AVILA (BRA)Germany

Line-up

[1] Odisseas VLACHODIMOS (GK)

[2] Mitchell WEISER (-82')

[3] Cimo ROECKER

[5] Nico PERREY

[6] Robin YALCIN (C)

[9] Samed YESIL

[10] Levent AYCICEK (-95')

[11] Okan AYDIN

[14] Kaan AYHAN (-36')

[15] Noah KORZOWSKI

[18] Rani KHEDIRA

Substitute(s)

[12] Cedric WILMES (GK)

[21] Thomas DAEHNE (GK)

[4] Koray GUENTER (+36')

[7] Mirco BORN

[8] Emre CAN (+95')

[13] Koray KACINOGLU

[16] Sven MENDE

[17] Marvin DUCKSCH

[19] Nils QUASCHNER

[20] Fabian SCHNELLHARDT (+82')

Coach

Steffen FREUND (GER)Cautions

WELLINGTON (BRA) 42', Koray GUENTER (GER) 70', Odisseas VLACHODIMOS (GER) 89', MATHEUS (BRA) 90'+3

Sent off

Brazil (BRA) Statistics Germany (GER)

22 Shots 13

7 Shots on goal 8

3 Goals Scored 4

11 Fouls Committed 13

12 Fouls Suffered 11

5 Corner kicks 2

2 Free kicks Shots (scored) 2

1 / 1 Penalty Kicks (Goals/Shots) 0 / 0

1 Offsides 0

0 Own Goals 0

2 Yellow cards 2

0 Second yellow card and red card 0

0 Red Cards 0

33 Actual playing time 24

58% Possession (%) 42%


a.e.t.: After extra time (C): Captain PSO: Penalty Shoot-out

GK: Goalkeeper N: Not eligible to play I: Injured

Y: Misses next match if booked Pos: Positions A: Absent

U-17 SOCCER WORLD CUP: Mexico U-17 hero Julio Gomez

Everyone dreams of scoring the goal that sends their country through to the final of a FIFA World Cup™. Mexico’s Julio Enrique Gomez is no different, but he could never have foreseen the remarkable manner in which his dream finally became a reality. Indeed, the midfielder scored not one but two goals – the second a stunning overhead kick with a heavily bandaged head – to fire El Tri to a 3-2 win over Germany and a place in the FIFA U-17 World Cup final.


“You always dream of scoring important goals, but this one tops them all,” Gomez told after the match, still dazed from the clash of heads he suffered during Mexico’s equaliser. “Right at the end I said to [teammate] Giovani [Casillas], ‘you hit it, because I can’t with this bandage on’. He told me to go and stand where the ball came to me. When I saw it drop just behind me, I had no choice but to go for the overhead, and luckily it went in,” said the Mexico No8, who later received seven stitches to his head wound.

You always dream of scoring important goals, but this one tops them all. Mexico U-17 hero Julio Gomez

The injury came as Mexico’s Jorge Espericueta sent a corner kick directly into the German net to bring the hosts level at 2-2. “I remember the collision as I went for the ball,” said Gomez. “Suddenly, everything went blank and I couldn’t open my eyes. I was really scared when I saw my shirt covered in blood, but then I started to calm down.”

Despite the advice of Mexico’s medical team, Gomez asked to return to the pitch. “The doctor told me, ‘you have to stop now, you can’t carry on,’ but I knew we didn’t have any substitutions left, and I wasn’t prepared to let the team play with ten men,” the Pachuca player explained. “So I said to him, ‘bandage me up, do whatever you want, but I am going to continue.” The rest, as they say, is history.

A brave comeback

Born in the city of Tampico, Tamaulipas, Gomez is the only player in Raul Gutierrez’s squad to have already played in Mexico’s top flight. He made his debut for Pachuca's Los Tuzos against Santos Laguna on 22 January this year, in the same stadium where he scored his memorable semi-final brace against Germany.

Gomez’s first goal came in the third minute, and perfectly demonstrated what the athletic midfielder is all about. Starting on the right, Gomez moved forward with the play before making a diagonal run into the box and placing a real centre-forward’s header past the German goalkeeper. “It’s part of the job that Raul [Gutierrez] asks me to do,” said Gomez. “When I saw that Jorge [Caballero] was about to send the cross in, I anticipated the German defender’s movement and did my best to get my head on it.”

Gomez seems not the least bit surprised by his side’s brilliant comeback against Germany. “The team felt good,” he said. “We performed as a unit and played our natural game. That said, you should never be too confident. Fortunately, we reacted fantastically well and proved that football matches last the full ninety minutes.”

In front of Gomez and his team-mates lies a final showdown with Uruguay in one of the most historic stadiums in world football. “Just thinking about playing in front of a full Estadio Azteca makes me extremely happy, because it means we’ve managed to reach the final,” added Gomez. “It’s a reward for all our efforts, but we’re not finished yet. We’ve got one more very tough match against an opponent we know well. They beat us 6-2 in the last friendly we played together, so this could be sweet revenge.”

URUGUAY TEAM WORK: 3 - 0 OVER Brazilians

Uruguay may have been leading their semi-final against Brazil, but it was A Seleçãozinha doing all the attacking as the clock ticked down. No 50-50 ball was left unchallenged by the spirited Uruguayans, and when Maximiliano Moreira scampered down the left with only 18 minutes remaining and shrugged off the challenge of Matheus, they suddenly sensed an opportunity to kill the game off.


Latching onto Moreira’s pass, substitute Guillermo Mendez surged into the box and tried to fire off a shot. The ball was deflected, however, running across the face of six-yard box and into the path of fellow sub Juan San Martin, whose first-time cross-shot gave keeper Charles no chance and all but confirmed La Celeste’s place in the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011.

That collective determination and opportunism is a hallmark of Fabian Coito’s spirited side, whose run to Sunday’s showpiece match has been founded on teamwork rather than individual brilliance - teamwork encapsulated by the contribution of squad members such as Mendez and San Martin.

“I was on the bench and the boss told me I was going on,” Mendez later said. “I helped set up the second goal and then I scored the third, which obviously I’m very happy about. This team always battles hard and gives everything it’s got. And we do that because we know what this jersey means. Now we’re on the way to the final.”

Striking as a unit

One of the most impressive aspects of Uruguay’s relentless advance to Sunday’s showdown with Mexico at the Azteca is that is has been achieved despite a troublesome knee-injury to their star asset Juan Cruz Mascia. Despite his absence from the front line for their quarter-final against Uzbekistan and the semi with Brazil, Coito’s charges still managed to rack up five goals, conceding none in the process.

With Mascia sidelined, the attacking burden has been shared. Santiago Charamoni and Rodrigo Aguirre were the men on target against the Uzbeks, while Elbio Alvarez struck from the spot to set Los Charrúas on the road to victory over Brazil, one sealed by their goalscoring substitutes.

When I’m out there I try to get on with my job, which is to play football. I don’t pay much attention to what’s going on off the pitch or in the stands. Uruguay's Guillermo Mendez

Coach Coito has shuffled his team in an effort to cover for Mascia and keep his forwards on their toes, with Mendez featuring in all six games so far but starting only the group game against England. San Martin, meanwhile, made the starting line-up for the first three games and then sat out the round-of-16 and quarter-final before making his return in Guadalajara.

“I’m always ready to play and got the chance to come on today,” San Martin told afterwards. “They’re technical decisions and I always do what the coach tells me.”

An immovable obstacle

Uruguay’s attacking plans may have worked out perfectly so far, but the foundation for their exploits at Mexico 2011 has been their miserly defence, which has let in just three goals in six games. That is three goals fewer than beaten semi-finalists Germany, who have the next best defensive record in the competition, having conceded six in their half dozen outings.

That defensive solidity was a factor once more against the Brazilians, with Uruguay’s steadfast rearguard and speedy midfield tirelessly combining to close down the gaps, their dedication to their task unaffected by the searing Guadalajara sun.

“This team’s got pedigree and the desire to chase down every single ball, which is really important in football,” added San Martin, extolling the virtues of a side that rarely loses its composure and shows a maturity way beyond the tender age of the players, all of which ensures that Coito’s game-plans are carried out to the letter.

“There’s no such thing as pressure as far as I’m concerned,” concluded Mendez. “When I’m out there I try to get on with my job, which is to play football. I don’t pay much attention to what’s going on off the pitch or in the stands.”

Given the cacophony of noise that the Mexico fans are sure to serve up at the Azteca on Sunday, that approach looks to be a sensible one.

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.”