Brazil, the second most-successful nation in FIFA U-17 World Cup history with three titles and two second-place finishes, arrived on Tuesday for a practice match against New Zealand on Thursday at the MumbaiFootball Arena, Andheri. The South American u-17 champion (Nigeria won maximum five times) has in its ranks 16-year-old forward Vinicius Junior, taken on loan by Real Madrid for a reported £38.7 million from Flamengo club in Brazil. The deal will become operative in July 2018 when he turns 18.
Coached by Carlos Amadeu, Brazil qualified for the 2017 edition hosted by India, by topping the South American U-17 Championships, with maximum goals (24) and conceding the least goals (three). Vinicius emerged top-scorer with seven goals as the gold and green booked a World Cup berth. Brazil’s best performance recently is fourth place in 2011 and won 14 years ago in 2003. Two other titles came in 1997, 199), twice runners-up (1995, 2005), third place once (1985).
Brazil is in Group-D this time and will take on Spain on October 7 at Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. Niger and DPR Korea (North Korea) are other sides set to play against the three-time winner. Vinicius and teammates will be expected to emulate former U-17 performers like Ronaldinho, Neymar, Marcelo, Adriano to name a few who wore the gold and green for the senior squad, besides turning into big names as pros.
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