WORLD U-20 CUP: Spain march on but England crash out one more time
ISTANBUL: Spain’s command of just every competition has been extended by their qualification of the knockout stages of the World Under-20 Youth Cup in Turkey.
But there was further age-group depression for England after defeat byEgypt.
At senior level Spain are world and European champions, they carried off the European under-21 title last week and won all their three Group A games in Turkey. France were runners-up.
Portugal and Nigeria progressed from Group B with Colombia and relieved hosts Turkey from Group C. Five-goal Bruma from Portugal is also the event’s leading scorer followed by Spain’s Jese with four.
Greece edged Paraguay at the top of Group D while Iraq defeated Chile to take top spot ahead of their rivals in group E.
Croatia and Uruguay finished first and second in Group F.
The lucky third-placed nations to survive into the second round were Ghana from Group A, South Korea from Group B, Mexico from Group D and Uzbekistan from Group F.
Egypt strike late
No such luck for the winner of the Group A clash between Egypt and England.
England, as it turned out, would have progressed to the knockout stages had they won. Instead, despite dominating the game, they lost 2-0 and finished bottom of the group – as they did in the European under-21s a fortnight ago in Israel.
Their exit was another major disappointment for the Football Association and the England set-up.
Harry Kane went close to opening the scoring with header inside the first minute and Larnell Cole, Conor Coady and Ross Barkley all tested Egypt keeper Awad Mossad.
However the failure to capitalize on these and a string of other openings proved fatal when Trezeguet and Ahmed Hassan scored two late goals on the counter-attack.
Egypt thus overtook England to take third place but Ghana’s superior goals scored denied them a place in last 16.
Second round line-up:
Jun 2: France v Turkey, Greece v Uzbekistan, Nigeria v Uruguay, Spain v Mexico
Jun 3: Portugal v Ghana, Croatia v Chile, Iraq v Paraguay, Colombia v South Korea.
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