Spanish U-20 female footballers may shock the defending champions, Japan as both teams file out for the grand finale in San Jose, Costa Rica at 0300 hours of Monday morning Nigerian time.
Both teams had met at the same stage of the competition in 2018 and then Japan confidently took the coveted shield 3-1.
On current forms, both teams have a chance having scored 11 goals each in their five matches but Spain conceded only a goal while Japan let 5 goals into their net meaning the Japanese defense will have to buck up.
According to statistics, Spain are better ball holders having an average of 63% to 57% of Japanese possession; the shot on target looks like what you can shrug at 25 to Spain and 27 to Japan throughout all matches in Costa Rica but when you see the passes, you might be tempted to give it to Japan at 2612 to 2252.
The implication of the ball possession, shots on target and the passes is that match domination may go to Japan. Match domination does not win matches as the IICC Shooting Stars with prolific mathematical Segun Odegbami enjoying the 70 year musical blues on Saturday 27th August usually outplay Rangers International of Enugu but the Coal City boys of Chairman Christian Chukwu usually win their encounters with even hard play. That was Nigerian football olden tunes.
That scenario is likely what may pop up as the Spanish sailed into the finals with 45 fouls to Japan’s 34, had 7 yellow cards to 3 of Japan (no red cards) meaning Spain plays rough and hard and the 30 Corner kicks of Spain to 21 of Japan shows Spain may come smoking through set pieces and make Japan stranded like a motherless child a long way from home.
All eyes will be on definite Golden boot winner, Inma Gabarro who clearly leads the pack with her seven goals while Maika Hamano of Japan follows with four goals. So it is Sleekly Gabarro versus diminutive Hamano.
There are three other players who scored three goals each namely two Esthers in Mbakem-Niaro of France and Onyenezide of Nigeria who are no more in contention but there is Yuzuki Yamamoto of Japan whose collabo with Gabarro may send Spain back to the showers early.
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.
None of the two sides have their girls on the list of bad girls with red cards. The red carded girls were Cecelia Nyama of Ghana; Jacqueline Owusu also of Ghana and Yirlleidis Quejada Minota of Columbia.
Red cards make the receiver miss the next match. The team get points deducted on fair play computation and pay a certain amount of money to FIFA’s purse for it.
Japan won in 2018 in France beating Spain 3-1; got Bronze twice in 2016 at Papua New Guinea when she beat USA 1-0 and hosting in 2012 beat Nigeria 2-1. They appeared in the Quarter finals twice.
Spain has not made forays except for the Silver medal in 2018 and a quarter final appearance in 2016.
Yes the two record title holders of two each, Germany and United States of America were edged out at the group stages. FIFA the world soccer governing body has already computed the final standing table of the 16 participating teams except the last four as at my time of reporting. See the 5th to the 16th positions.
Position Country Points GF GA
5 Nigeria 9 5 3
6 France 7 5 5
7 Columbia 5 3 3
8 Mexico 5 2 2
9 Germany 3 3 2
10 South Korea 3 2 2
11 USA 3 4 6
12 Australia 3 4 6
13 New Zealand 2 3 6
14 Canada 0 2 8
15 Ghana 0 1 9
16 Costa Rica 0 1 13
The first to fourth positions will be determined after the 3rd Place match and the grand finale. Positions 5-8 are those eliminated at the quarter final stages while positions 9-16 were eliminated at the group stages. The 3rd place match will be between Netherlands and the Samba girls of Brazil at 2330 Hours Nigerian time.
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.
