Unsung Netherlands girls looks poised to snatch the Bronze medal from the famous but jinxed Samba girls of Brazil as the two teams clash in a round leather duel at the 3rd Place match of the 2022 Costa Rica world U20 female championship at 23:30 hours of Sunday Nigerian time.
Tragedy averted as Air Peace makes emergency landing
The greatest achievement of the Dutch was a quarter final appearances in 2018 whereas the jinxed Samba girls never won the title neither the Silver medal but four times now lost in the semifinals. The girls got the 4th position in 2006 after playing goalless at full and extra time losing via penalty kicks 6-5 in 2006 in Russia; played 1-1 with Germany in Canada 2002 but lost again via penalty shootout 4-3; lost out rightly to USA in Thailand 0-3 in 2004 and in 2022 lost at the same stage to Japan.
On current form, Netherlands scored 10 goals and conceded 3 while Brazil scored 9 goals and conceded 3. The Samba girls have better shots on target with 36 chances to Dutch’s 21 but the fact that Netherlands had better possession of the ball (51% – 46%) and string passes together better (1912 – 1485) may just be a make me shine affair for Netherlands because goals make winners in football.
Talking about goals in the 20 years of world U20 girls football this year, two players hold the record of highest scorers in a tournament, each scoring 10 goals at their time. They are Christine Sinclair of Canada in 2002 and Alexandria Popp of Germany in 2010. There were others who Gabarro has equaled their record of 7 goals now namely Brittany Timko of Canada in 2004; Kim Unchwa of South Korea in 2012 and Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria in 2014.
A total of 77 goals have been scored up to the semifinal stages which is an average of 2.57 goals per match in the 30 matches played; there were 129,087 fans at the stands which is an average of 4,303 per match.
I smell one or two penalties for Brazil because the Dutch girls play physical football like Africans as they committed 37 fouls to 13 of Brazil; bagged a straight red card through Samantha with 5 yellows when Brazil got just 3 yellow cards. So with the 30 corner kicks of Brazil to their 21 it means if the Brazilian girls can get their mesmerizing dribble runs in the famous ‘ticky-taka’ style of Brazilian football, foul calls will come from the Referee and I fear penalty awards may come too. Ticky-taka is one touch or dribbles not more than two and passes your ball style.
The Dutch girls are naïve lacking adequate exposure but are good at taking chances that is what football is all about – score goals! I in my conjection submit that Brazil may need to know what their head needs for propitiation not to fall for the fourth time missing at least the Bronze medal when they file out on Sunday night.
FIFA will announce the rewards for the players at the presentation ceremonies after the final match would have been played. Gabarro of Spain may cart home the Golden Boot for Higher Goal Scorer. Who wins Golden Gloves among Goalkeepers will be announced. Germany won that twice in 2012 by Laura Beukata and Meike Kamper in 2014. There will be the Best Player of the tournament. Guijarro of Spain won in 2018; Sugita of Japan in 2016 and Asisat Oshoala in 2014. There is also Fair Play Trophy for team award.
Eniola Olatunji.
#FIFAU20femaleworldcup.
#CostaRica2022.
