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VIDEOS: NIGERIA DOMINATES FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS

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As Brazil readies for the 18th edition of the FIFA U-17 World Cup, a new opportunity to make history arises for the 24 qualified teams and their players.

FIFA.com brings you a sampling of what’s at stake when Brazil 2019 gets under way on 26 October.

The heavyweights

No country has won the U-17 World Cup more times than Nigeria, who enter this edition of the competition with five titles in tow, most recently raising the trophy four years ago in Chile. The Super Eaglets also won the inaugural tournament, hosted by China PR in 1985, and have appeared in eight finals.

Hosts Brazil have been champions three times while appearing in five finals, though the Brazilians lead the Nigerians in all-time competition wins, 53 to 46. These are also the only two teams to successfully defend their titles: Brazil won their second consecutively at New Zealand 1999 while Nigeria did it at Chile 2015.

The other repeat winners have been Mexico (2005, 2011) and Ghana (1991, 1995). El Tri are once again in the mix this time around, but the Black Starlets and holders England are out of the running, having missed out on qualification.

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The newcomers

Three teams will be making their U-17 World Cup debuts: Angola, Senegal and Solomon Islands. A total of 82 associations have taken part in the competition to date. Of the 24 that have qualified exactly once, Switzerland are the only side to strike gold in their lone appearance, lifting the trophy at Nigeria 2009.

The two new CAF contenders enter a tournament rich with tradition of African excellence – seven of the 17 editions have been won by either Nigeria or Ghana.

Goals galore

Brazil’s Adriano, Mexico’s Carlos Vela and, more recently, Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen have all walked away from the U-17 World Cup as top goal scorer and stepped up to their senior squads shortly after. Osimhen set the all-time record at Chile 2015 by finding the back of the net ten times.

Four players have netted two hat-tricks in the same tournament: England’s Rhian Brewster (2017), Côte d’Ivoire’s Souleymane Coulibaly (2017), France’s Florent Sinama Pongolle (2001) and Germany’s Marcel Witeczek (1985).

Where stars are born

From the 17 previous U-17 World Cups, 210 players have gone on to appear in a FIFA World Cup™, a list that includes stars like Carlos Tevez, Neymar and Son Heungmin. Only one in history has won both competitions: Brazil’s Ronaldinho. Spain’s Cesc Fabregas and David Silva came close to equalling that feat, but finished runners-up at the 2003 U-17 World Cup before becoming world champions at South Africa 2010.

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The shortlist of players to appear at a U-17 World Cup and go on to win the senior World Cup isn’t short on star power: Emmanuel Petit, Gianluigi Buffon, Alessandro Del Piero, Xavi and Toni Kroos have all done it.

Fabregas (2003) and Kroos (2007) were each recognised as their respective tournament’s top players and awarded the adidas Golden Ball. Other recipients include USA’s Landon Donovan (1999), who went on to become the Stars and Stripes’ joint-top goal scorer of all time. Rising Manchester City talent Phil Foden earned the honour at India 2017.

 

 

 

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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International Football

German Thomas Tuchel becomes 3rd foreign manager for England

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 - Bayern Munich v VfL Wolfsburg - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - May 12, 2024 Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel looks on before the match REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo

Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has been named the new head coach of the England national team, the country’s Football Association said in a statement on Wednesday.

The German, who is England’s third foreign manager, after Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello, will be assisted by Englishman Anthony Barry, the statement added.

“We are thrilled to have hired Thomas Tuchel, one of the best coaches in the world and Anthony Barry who is one of the best English coaches to support him,” FA CEO Mark Bullingham said.

Tuchel replaces Lee Carsley, England’s under-21 manager, who has been in temporary charge since the resignation of Gareth Southgate after England’s defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July.

-Reuters

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Factbox on England head coach Thomas Tuchel

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Champions League - Bayern Munich Training - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - May 7, 2024 Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel on the pitch during a walk around REUTERS/Juan Medina/File Photo

German Thomas Tuchel has been appointed head coach of the England national team on Wednesday.

Born: Aug. 29, 1973 in Krumbach, Germany.

PLAYING CAREER

* Tuchel played for his local club TSV Krumbach, before moving to FC Augsburg’s academy at the age of 15.

* He never played for Augsburg’s senior side and joined German second division team Stuttgarter Kickers in 1992.

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* After eight league appearances for Kickers, Tuchel moved to fourth-tier SSV Ulm.

* Tuchel made 69 league appearances for Ulm as a central defender before he was forced to retire in 1998 at the age of 25 due to a knee injury.

COACHING CAREER

* Tuchel began his coaching career with a youth team role at VfB Stuttgart in 2000, working with future Germany internationals Mario Gomez and Holger Badstuber.

* He returned to Augsburg and took charge of their reserve team for the 2007-08 season.

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* Tuchel was appointed Mainz 05 manager in 2009, replacing compatriot Juergen Klopp.

* He guided Mainz to Bundesliga stability during his five-year stint at the club, gaining plaudits for his team’s high energy, attacking style of play.

* Tuchel took over from Klopp as Borussia Dortmund coach in 2015.

* He led Dortmund to a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2017 German Cup final. He was sacked by Dortmund three days later.

* Tuchel joined Paris St Germain in 2018 on a two-year contract, replacing Unai Emery.

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* He won two Ligue 1 titles, including a domestic quadruple in his second season, and guided the club to their first Champions League final, where they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich.

* Tuchel was sacked by PSG on Christmas Eve in 2020, despite the club finishing top of their Champions League group and sitting third in the Ligue 1 table.

* He was named Chelsea manager in January 2021 on an initial 18-month contract following the dismissal of Frank Lampard.

* Tuchel revived the team’s Premier League season and guided the London club to the Champions League final, where they beat Manchester City. Chelsea also won the Super Cup and Club World Cup.

* Chelsea sacked Tuchel in September 2022 following a shock 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League group game.

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* Bayern Munich appointed Tuchel to succeed Julian Nagelsmann in March last year.

* Bayern decided to let Tuchel go at the end of the 2023-24 season despite a contract until 2025. Tuchel steered Bayern to the Bundesliga title in 2022-23, but they finished the last campaign without any silverware for the first time in more than a decade.

* Tuchel will become England’s third foreign manager after Sweden’s Sven-Goran Eriksson and Italian Fabio Capello.

* Tuchel will take over the team in January ahead of the qualification campaign for the 2026 World Cup.

-Reuters

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Portugal call up same player named in England Under-18 squad

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Mateus Mane in England's colour

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Mateus Mane has become hot property after Portugal named the 17-year-old in their Under-18 squad on Friday, one day after England included him in their squad.

Mane was called up for a second successive England youth camp by coach Liam Bramley before the team travel to Marbella for a four-team tournament this month.

Mane is eligible for both teams having played for the Portugal Under-17 side last season. As the Under-18 team is a non-UEFA age group, both nations are entitled to call the player up.

He made his England international debut last month against the Portugal Under-18 side who have named Mane in their squad for a four-nation tournament this month.

With both tournaments running concurrently, Mane can only play for one team and Wolves and England confirmed he would feature in Bramley’s side.

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Reuters has contacted Portugal’s football association for clarification.

While players with multiple nationalities have played for more than one country if they are eligible, they are not allowed to switch allegiances at senior level – unless they have played only in friendly matches for the first country.

-Reuters

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