Updated: 7:30am – Brazil, the south American winners, open their FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign against Spain, in what some see as a virtual early final.
Two teams with similar footballing philosophies and regarded favourites to win the FIFA under-17 World Cup – Brazil and Spain — go head to head in a group D match at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi on Saturday, the opening day of the today.
“Our biggest threats will be England and Spain. We’re playing Spain in the first game and it’ll be a strong game because they’re the European champions and we’re South American champions. Some people say it could be the final but as of now it’s just the first step in the tournament, so we will give it our all,” said Brazil left back Weverson on Monday.
“We’ve had a strong preparation in the last two years, we’re getting used to India and we don’t know if we’re going to be champions but that is definitely our objective,” he added.
The Champions of Europe will take on the South American Champions without star striker Vinicius Junior, who will miss out after his club Flamengo refused to release him following its loss in the Copa do Brasil final against Cruzeiro.
However, Weverson feels the Selecao will make up for his loss.
“We will surely miss a player of Vinicius’ quality but we have players to make up for it like Paulinho. We’d like to have him here but since he’s not here, we’ll have to face it,” said the Sao Paolo player.
-HT
