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Monday, July 11, 2011
Mexico wins U-17 world cup on home soil
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Mexico’s merry band of tomorrow’s were crowned U-17 World champions on
Sunday on hallowed ground at the fabled Estadio Azteca, the very same turf where
the likes of icons and legends Diego Maradona and Pele had some of their most
iconic moments. Uruguay spilled the inevitable bitter tears on the night, so close
yet so far to a first title in the junior category.
While the final itself was as tense and tightly played a game as we’ve seen at this
FIFA U-17 World Cup, the match for third place was a spectacle of open play,
goals and carefree football. Germany beat Brazil 4-3 with the crowd treated to a
dazzling undercard.
Results
Uruguay 0-2 Mexico (final)
Germany 4-3 Brazil (third-place)
Goal of the day
Giovani Casillas 90’+2, Uruguay-Mexico
It wasn’t the prettiest goal of the day, but the reaction from the nearly 100,000 fans
at the Azteca to the clinical counter-attack in the dying moments of the final was
nothing short of bombastic. Collecting the ball from Arturo Gonzalez as the
Uruguayans were stretched in search of a late equaliser, the super-sub
extraordinaire slammed into the side netting to put the final result beyond doubt
and spark scenes of unparalleled joy in the Mexican capital.
Memorable moments
A love affair resumed
It was strange to see fans at the Azteca supporting Germany so fervently,
especially just days after the semi-final where the Germans gave the home side a
fright and were subjected to all manner of insults and abuse from the Torreon
faithful. But the attacking nature of this German team is nothing short of infectious
and the fans appreciated Samed Yesil and co’s outstanding display as they
bested Brazil to finish the tournament with the best attacking record, a full 24
goals scored in seven games. Green-clad Mexican supporters threw sombreros
down to the bashful Germans and blew kisses as the junior Nationalmannschaft
did an impromptu victory lap after the final whistle. Coach Steffen Freund even
donned one of those oversized traditional Mexican hats at the post-game press
conference, saying “adios” and “muchas gracias” with a wide smile in his best,
broken Spanish.
The Colossus, the Azteca, the difference
While they did seem to care for the Germans a great deal, the Azteca fans’ one
true love remained their young El Tri. And though it is a cliché to talk about the
12th man and its influence in football, the power of the hulking stadium itself
seemed to count for much down on the pitch. The first glimpse the massive crowd
got of their young heroes was not during the final itself. While Germany and Brazil
traded goals in the third-place game, the Mexican players stuck their heads out of
the tunnel for a brief second. The roar that greeted the cameo was as explosive
and joyful as the cacophony of whistles, boos and clenched fists that greeted the
Uruguayans’ first appearance. It was a hint of things to come as the huge crowd at
the mighty Azteca roared, shouted, chanted, ‘Cielito Lindo-d’ and ‘ole-d’ the boys
on to a 2-0 win and a second U-17 world title.
Gomez, the man of the hour
The enduring affection for star midfielder Julio Gomez simply could not be
contained. The Pachuca man single-handedly put Mexico into the final after
scoring twice and playing on with a bloody head injury in the semi-final win over
Germany. He started the final on the bench, but the fans, many of them wearing
bandages on their head in his honour, chanted his name all night long. He received
the biggest roar when he finally entered the pitch, head still bandaged, mid-way
through the second half. The gathered media, most of them Mexican, also voted
with their hearts, voting him the adidas Golden Ball winner as tournament top
player by a wide margin.
The stat
98,943 - The number of fans that filed through the gates at the massive Azteca for
the final of the U-17 World Cup. The fans turned out in their numbers to support
the home side’s charge to the title, and in doing so they broke the record for the
largest final-day crowd in the tournament’s 26-year history. The average
attendance for Mexico 2011’s 52 games stands at 19,275.
FIFA.COM
Sunday on hallowed ground at the fabled Estadio Azteca, the very same turf where
the likes of icons and legends Diego Maradona and Pele had some of their most
iconic moments. Uruguay spilled the inevitable bitter tears on the night, so close
yet so far to a first title in the junior category.
While the final itself was as tense and tightly played a game as we’ve seen at this
FIFA U-17 World Cup, the match for third place was a spectacle of open play,
goals and carefree football. Germany beat Brazil 4-3 with the crowd treated to a
dazzling undercard.
Results
Uruguay 0-2 Mexico (final)
Germany 4-3 Brazil (third-place)
Goal of the day
Giovani Casillas 90’+2, Uruguay-Mexico
It wasn’t the prettiest goal of the day, but the reaction from the nearly 100,000 fans
at the Azteca to the clinical counter-attack in the dying moments of the final was
nothing short of bombastic. Collecting the ball from Arturo Gonzalez as the
Uruguayans were stretched in search of a late equaliser, the super-sub
extraordinaire slammed into the side netting to put the final result beyond doubt
and spark scenes of unparalleled joy in the Mexican capital.
Memorable moments
A love affair resumed
It was strange to see fans at the Azteca supporting Germany so fervently,
especially just days after the semi-final where the Germans gave the home side a
fright and were subjected to all manner of insults and abuse from the Torreon
faithful. But the attacking nature of this German team is nothing short of infectious
and the fans appreciated Samed Yesil and co’s outstanding display as they
bested Brazil to finish the tournament with the best attacking record, a full 24
goals scored in seven games. Green-clad Mexican supporters threw sombreros
down to the bashful Germans and blew kisses as the junior Nationalmannschaft
did an impromptu victory lap after the final whistle. Coach Steffen Freund even
donned one of those oversized traditional Mexican hats at the post-game press
conference, saying “adios” and “muchas gracias” with a wide smile in his best,
broken Spanish.
The Colossus, the Azteca, the difference
While they did seem to care for the Germans a great deal, the Azteca fans’ one
true love remained their young El Tri. And though it is a cliché to talk about the
12th man and its influence in football, the power of the hulking stadium itself
seemed to count for much down on the pitch. The first glimpse the massive crowd
got of their young heroes was not during the final itself. While Germany and Brazil
traded goals in the third-place game, the Mexican players stuck their heads out of
the tunnel for a brief second. The roar that greeted the cameo was as explosive
and joyful as the cacophony of whistles, boos and clenched fists that greeted the
Uruguayans’ first appearance. It was a hint of things to come as the huge crowd at
the mighty Azteca roared, shouted, chanted, ‘Cielito Lindo-d’ and ‘ole-d’ the boys
on to a 2-0 win and a second U-17 world title.
Gomez, the man of the hour
The enduring affection for star midfielder Julio Gomez simply could not be
contained. The Pachuca man single-handedly put Mexico into the final after
scoring twice and playing on with a bloody head injury in the semi-final win over
Germany. He started the final on the bench, but the fans, many of them wearing
bandages on their head in his honour, chanted his name all night long. He received
the biggest roar when he finally entered the pitch, head still bandaged, mid-way
through the second half. The gathered media, most of them Mexican, also voted
with their hearts, voting him the adidas Golden Ball winner as tournament top
player by a wide margin.
The stat
98,943 - The number of fans that filed through the gates at the massive Azteca for
the final of the U-17 World Cup. The fans turned out in their numbers to support
the home side’s charge to the title, and in doing so they broke the record for the
largest final-day crowd in the tournament’s 26-year history. The average
attendance for Mexico 2011’s 52 games stands at 19,275.
FIFA.COM
