Navi Mumbai: A battle of contrasting styles of football will be on view when classical Spain cross swords with a robust Mali in the semifinal of the FIFA U-17 World Cup here at the DY Patil Stadium, Wednesday.
The semifinal contest is expected to produce top-drawer football with Euro U-17 champions Spain adopting their tiki-taka (short-passing) style of play in trying to quash the free-flowing and attacking manner adopted by African champions and last editions runners-up Mali.
Since both teams have progressed to the last four stage after losing their opening games, it can be said they are peaking at the right time.
While Spain have played mostly in the southern coastal city of Kochi, Mali have a slight advantage of having played here in two Group B games.
Spain will be confronted by the hard-tackling Africans who play at a fast pace and the outcome will be determined by which team last longer in the trying conditions.
Striker Abel Ruiz who has scored four goals in the competition, and forward Sergio Gomez will certainly be tightly marked by Mali’s defenders.
On the other hand, Mali have top goal-getters in Youssouf Koita and Lassana N’Diaye, who has pumped in five goals so far.
press trust of india
