…Face Morocco in Grand Finale While France Face Colombia In Bronze Battle.
South America’s Champions, Argentina on Thursday morning at Pradanos, Santiago in Chile got into the finals of the world U20 football grand finale 18 years after she lifted the trophy as she finished the Coffee Growers of Columbia by a lone strike scored in the 7nd minute of play.
Inter Miaami Striker and super sub, Mateo Silvetti who came into the game 46th minute for Subiabre poached in the ball with the outside of his booth after collecting a pass from Gianluka Prestianni.
It was the 3rd goal of the tournament of the man who always rose from the bench as he scored in the 2-0 beating of Mexico where the Mexicans bagged two red cards in a match in the 90+2 and 90+7 minutes and also scored against Nigeria in the now famous 4-0 humiliation at the Round of 16 games. Incidentally also got two yellows translating to a red card in this match against Colombia.
The Colombians were oppressive in the way they sprayed their passes at 331-283 counts; held the ball 54-46% and played more physical game committing 20-15 foul calls that saw Argentina getting 4-1 yellows and forced the Argentines to give away 2-4 corner kicks which the Colombians could not utilize.
The Coffee Growers will now battle for the Bronze medal with France on Saturday at 8pm while Argentina will have to survive the roaring of the Atlas Lions of Morocco in the finals on Sunday at midnight
Argentina that ousted Nigeria had three clean slates in the tournament, only country to have survived without conceding a goal in three matches as she beat Boxing country, Cuba 3-1; tamed the Kangaroo nation of Australia 4-1; and piped Italy 1-0 at the group games before applying the ‘koboko’ whip on Nigeria in a 4-0 drubbing at the Round of 16 games and at the quarterfinal lashed Mexico 2-0.
Colombia who were in the same group with Argentina and Nigeria also had two clean slates sounding Saudi Arabia 1-0;drew 0-0 with Norway and 1-1 with Nigeria at the group games before dismissing the South Africans (two African countries back to back) 3-1 at the Round of 16 games and spanked Mighty Spain 3-2 in the quarterfinals.
Argentina coming from the same football confederation are familiar foes having met 19 times with Argentina winning 7 and drawing another 7 leaving 5 wins for Colombia and in the 39 goals scored in the 19 matches Argentina scored 21 times. It is interesting that both countries only met once at the world cup.
Let us just take their last three meetings which were all at their confederation level. On 28th January 2023 Colombia won by a lone goal; on 10th February this year Argentina won by a lone goal and on 27th January this year both teams played 1-1 draw.
Argentina was six times champions having won the title in 1979, 1995, 1997, 2001. 2005 with Lionel Messi and 2007. They are in their 18 appearances at the games.
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The Coffee Growers of Colombia is in their 11th appearances with their best being a Bronze at UAE 2003 when they incidentally outplayed same Argentina 2-1 on 19th December after losing 0-1 to Brazil in the semifinal on 15th December.
As the grand finale rounds up on Monday morning Nigerian time, FIFA will announce the winner of the Golden Ball which is the Best Player of the tournament: the Golden Boot which is for the highest Scorer may be a joint share of Neiser Villareal of Colombia and Benjamin Cremaschi of USA but if Neiser scores against France in the 3rd place match he will have the trophy.
Also to be announced by FIFA will be the winner of the Golden Gloves for the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament and the winner of the Fair Play Trophy for the team adjudged to be most disciplined at the tournament.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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