Abu Dhabi: Brazil, favourites to win a record fourth Fifa Under-17 World Cup title in the UAE, take on Russia in the first knockout round here on Monday night after romping through the group stage.
The Brazilians were the highest-scoring team with 15 goals in their three matches in Group A, while two of their players — Nathan and Boschilia — are joint-top individual scorers with four goals each alongside Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho and Slovakia’s Tomas Vestenicky. Another Brazilian, Mosquito, is not far behind with three.
Brazil also boasted one of the best defensive records in the first round with only two goals conceded. They beat Slovakia and hosts UAE 6-1 before rounding off with a 3-0 victory over Honduras — leaving them and Japan as the only two teams to reach the last-16 with perfect records.
“We Know we are expected to win the title,” said Alexandre Gallo, the Brazilian head coach. “But all the Brazilian teams in all the tournaments are also expected to emerge champions. That does not add any pressure to our players. They are highly professional and their matches in the first round prove that fact.
“In the knockout stage the strategies are different and the teams fight more fiercely, and losing means an exit from the competition. We have to be at our best to beat the Russians. There are no easy teams in this phase, only the best teams have won promotion.
“We don’t think about [being champions]. We have to stay with our feet on the floor and we have to be respectful of other teams. We just have to do what we’ve trained to do and continue playing well on the pitch.
“Football is about passion, that’s why it’s so lovely, because it’s unpredictable. That’s why we don’t think we are the champions.”
Russian head coach Dmitri Khomukha knows his team will be up against it in the Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium. “The Brazilian team is simply the best team in the competition. They are powerful and prominent and they are the favourites to win the title.
“We have played some strong matches and performed well and we will be confident in our chances.”
The Russians were the last team to book their place in the second round as one of the four best third-placed finishers. They only took three points from Group D, but their record of four goals scored compared to two conceded ensured they beat Croatia to the round of 16.
