FIFA U-17 World Cup: Germany set to face France in epic final on Saturday
Paris Brunner scored a brace then netted a shootout-winning penalty as Germany beat Argentina in a FIFA U-17 World Cup™ classic.
Agustin Ruberto scored a hat-trick for Argentina but his incredible efforts proved in vain as the Germans edged home on spot-kicks, with Player of the Match Konstantin Heide saving Argentina’s first two attempts.
Germany looked set to be heading through in normal time when they led 3-2 in the game’s dying moments – but Ruberto’s clinical 97th-minute finish sent the game to a shootout.
Argentina duo Franco Mastantuono and Claudio Echeverri then saw their penalties saved by Heide before Brunner clinched an unforgettable win.
Germany struck the first blow of the match, with Brunner tricking his way into space on the left flank before squeezing a shot underneath Jeremias Florentine in the Argentina goal.
Argentina levelled when Ruberto lashed in after Dylan Gorosito won possession from Brunner then cut the ball back to the No9.
If Ruberto’s first goal was routine, his second in first-half stoppage time was sensational. The River Plate attacker sat down centre-back Finn Jeltsch with a swift change of direction then crashed a shot into the top corner.
Germany made a strong start to the second half and levelled through another fine Brunner goal. The Borussia Dortmund ace seized on a loose ball from Argentina stopper Florentine, drove forward, then curled in a sumptuous strike from the edge of the box.
Christian Wuck’s side visibly grew in confidence after making it 2-2 and, on 69 minutes, they regained the lead when Max Moerstedt expertly headed home from six yards.
Then came Ruberto’s last-gasp leveller, before Germany prevailed on penalties, with Argentina’s introduction of back-up goalkeeper Franco Villalba for the shootout proving in vain.
Germany have reached the final of the tournament for the first time since its inaugural edition in 1985 with rgentina having now lost their last six U-17 World Cup semi-finals.
A dramatic second period saw France score twice to come from behind and defeat Mali 2-1 to book their place in the final.
Mali started the brighter of the two sides and called Paul Argney into action twice inside the first 10 minutes. The France keeper denied captain Ibrahim Diarra with a fine sprawling save, before making himself big again soon after to thwart Ibrahim Kanate.
Mali would eventually break the deadlock in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time – becoming the first team to net against France in more than 500 minutes of U-17 World Cup football in the process – when Diarra tapped home after Argney flapped at a Barry cross from the left.
The game would, though, be turned on its head inside just 60 seconds shortly after the restart. First, a high challenge by Mali defender Souleymane Sanogo earned him a straight red card following an on-field review. Then, from the resulting free-kick, Ismail Bouneb found the head of Yvann Titi, who made no mistake in glancing the ball home.
France would complete the comeback just 13 minutes later. Bouneb stood over another free-kick, but this time found himself in shooting range, and converted superbly, whipping the ball low to the goalkeeper’s left and into the bottom corner.
The ten men of Mali, to their credit, continue to push and came within a whisker of equalising in the dying moments. Hamidou Makalou fired a rocket of a free-kick towards goal, but Argney was again defiant, and touched the ball on to the crossbar.
France will now face Germany in the final on Saturday, while Mali will take on Argentina in Friday’s match for third place.
