…Set to meet winner of Brazil versus Tunisia duel.
…Nigeria faces Argentina tomorrow at 2200 hours.
Maccabi Haifa FC star attacker, Anan Khalali playing for Debutant Israel as substitute on Tuesday night buried the dream of Uzbekistan to appear in the third quarterfinals with a late goal scored 90+7th minute from a free kick played from the periphery of the Uzbekistan penalty box as he simply stamped it into the net as the goal mouth melee continued.
Both sides had missed painful chances with more on the side of the Uzbekistan team who played well coordinated cross passes but the connector for the much sought after goal. Israel was not well studied as the team usually gets late goals one of which shocked the Asian Tigers at the group stage.
It was real lamentation for Uzbekistan that had the game within their grips now having to go out in the round of 16. Israel would march on to face mighty Samba Boys of Brazil if the South Americans can overcome Tunisia in the round of 16. That quarterfinal will be at San Juan on Saturday 3rd June at 1830 hours.
nigeriaU20 Group D: Flying Eagles bow to Samba Boys 2-0
To get to the Round of 16, debutant Israel lost to Canada 1-2 on 21st May; drew with African Champions Senegal 1-1 on 24th May and shocked the Asian Tigers with a 2-1 win on 27th May. The amazing thing is that in the first two matches, Israel scored first. Their last two matches before Argentina 2023 were against France losing the two 1-2 and 0-1 in 2011.
Uzbekistan first lost to hosts Argentina1-2 on 20th May; played 2-2 with New Zealand on 23rd of May and beat Guatemala 2-0 on the 26th of May. In their last two matches before Argentina 2023, Uzbekistan drilled Dominic Republic 3-0 on 25th of April 2023 and lost to Uruguay 0-2 on 13th May 2023.
Both teams have never met before. Debutant Israel was received for about two hours by an 80 member local Jewish community when the team arrived Argentina for the tournament. Indonesia that was scheduled by FIFA to host the tournament lost the hosting right in March 2023 when the country insisted that Israel that lawfully qualified for the tournament final cannot play on their grounds so FIFA took it to a willing Argentina.
Uzbekistan, the White Wolves appeared 4 times at the world cup finals with only two quarter final placing at Turkey 2013 and New Zealand 2015 with ousters at Group Stages in 2009 and 2013.
Tomorrow Wednesday 31st May, Brazil will meet Tunisia at La Plata at 1830 hours. Italy will meet England same day, 31st May at La Plata at 2200 hours. Nigeria faces Argentina on Wednesday at 2200 hours at Juan. Columbia will meet Slovakia at Juan on 31st May at 1830 hours. Ecuador will meet South Korea at Santiago on 1st June at 1830 hours. Ecuador will slug it out with South Korea on Thursday at 2200 hours.
A FIFA breaking news says Tunisian fringe player, Rayan Nasraoki has been posted a three match ban and would not be eligible to play Brazil on Wednesday.
Rayan has already missed the match agy Uruguay and if Tunisia defeats Brazil, he will still miss the quarterfinals.
Perhaps you want to peep at the quarterfinal pairings. Israel vs Bra/Tun at San Juan on Saturday at 1830 hours. Eng/Ita vs Col/Slo at San Juan on Saturday 3rd June at 2200 hours. Ecu/SKor vs Arg/Ngr on Sunday at 2200 hours.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#FIFAU20Argentina2023.
#CAFU20
#NFF.
