Argentina, Italy, and Portugal Advance; Belgium Scores Seven

The FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar has showcased thrilling matches as three teams—Argentina, Italy, and Portugal—successfully advanced to the knockout rounds. Belgium distinguished itself with an impressive 7-0 victory over Fiji, who faced elimination. The tournament’s action continues to highlight the talent and determination of young athletes.

Group A Updates

Italy displayed dominance in their match against Bolivia, winning 4-0. Key performances included:

• Goals:
  • Simone Lontani (34′)
  • Samuele Inacio (37′)
  • Destiny Elimoghale (54′)
  • Fabio Pandolfi (90+8′)
• Player of the Match: Samuele Inacio (Italy)

In the same group, Bolivia struggled and could not find the net, leading to Italy’s second consecutive victory, thus securing a place in the knockout stages.

Portugal’s Tactical Mastery

Portugal continued its strong form with a resounding 6-0 win over Morocco. Highlights from the match included:

• Goals:
  • Joao Aragao (20′)
  • Anisio Cabral (22′)
  • Mateus Mide (29′ & 44′ penalty)
  • Jose Neto (46′ & 60′)
• Player of the Match: Mateus Mide (Portugal)

This victory secured Portugal’s progression to the knockout stages, maintaining their unbeaten record in the tournament.

Group C Highlights

In a match characterized by strong defensive play, Croatia defeated the UAE 3-0. Significant moments included:

• Goals:
  • Tino Kusanovic (30′)
  • Gabrijel Sivalec (36′)
  • Kresimir Rados (89′)
• Player of the Match: Leon Jakirovic (Croatia)

Senegal also maintained their unbeaten streak with a narrow 1-0 victory over Costa Rica, courtesy of Alwaly Camara’s early goal.

Argentina’s Narrow Victory

Argentina edged past Tunisia with a 1-0 win. The lone goal was scored by:

• Facundo Jainikoski (67′)

Jainikoski’s impactful performance helped secure Argentina’s spot in the knockout phase, proving crucial once again after his prior contributions against Belgium.

Belgium’s Dominance

Belgium’s offensive display against Fiji was remarkable, resulting in a 7-0 triumph. Key statistics from the match included:

• Goals:
  • Noah Fernandez (5′)
  • Pablo Capilla Rivera (9′)
  • Rene Mitongo (22′, 34′, 77′, & 86′)
  • Loic Alvarez (29′)
• Player of the Match: Rene Mitongo (Belgium)

This comprehensive win propelled Belgium back into contention after a previous setback, showcasing their offensive firepower.

The tournaments continue to unfold, setting the stage for exciting knockout rounds as these young talents vie for the championship.