Chapter 44: Knockout Stage Opponents

Chapter 44: Knockout Stage Opponents

With the round of 16 set, the quarterfinal matchups are also determined. According to the rules of the World Youth Championship, Spain, France, Nigeria, Korea, Colombia, Iraq, Mexico, and Paraguay are placed in the upper half of the bracket, while Ghana, Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Chile, Croatia, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan are in the lower half.

After the round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, one team from each half will remain to compete for the championship. The losers of the semifinals will vie for third place. According to the rules, teams from the upper half cannot meet those from the lower half until the final match.

Bruno finds the pairing rules of the World Youth Championship somewhat confusing. For example, he noticed that the first-placed team from Group D, Paraguay, faced the first-placed team from Group E, Iraq, in the round of 16.

Many consider the upper half of the bracket the "group of death," featuring top contenders like Spain and France, along with other strong teams like Colombia, Mexico, and Korea, the champions of South America, North America, and Asia, respectively. Greece, the runner-up in the European Youth Championship, and Iraq, the runner-up in the Asian Youth Championship, add to the strength of this half, which includes four of the six group winners.

The lower half, however, seems significantly weaker, lacking continental champions and having only Portugal and Croatia as group winners.

Portugal's favorable draw, combined with their dominant performance in the group stages, led bookmakers to raise their odds of winning the championship. During the group stage, only two teams won all their matches: Spain, which has been unbeaten in football for the past few years and Portugal, fresh from their Toulon Cup victory. Portugal's young team continued their excellent form, scoring 12 goals in three games—almost twice the total of second-placed Spain, which scored seven.

Bruno and Aladje dominated the scoring charts, while Bruno also led in assists, showcasing their formidable attacking strength. However, Portugal's defense, which conceded four goals in the group stage, was a slight concern, as it was one of the higher totals among the 16 teams that advanced.

Before the tournament, Portugal was ranked around sixth or seventh in terms of winning odds. After advancing with a perfect record, major betting firms, including William Hill, adjusted their odds, placing Portugal just behind Spain and France.

While Portugal's odds improved, many still viewed their chances of victory as slim should they face Spain or France from the upper half, given the all-around strength of these teams. In tournament play, teams with strong defenses typically have a higher chance of success, a consensus view among experts.

On July 2, the knockout stage began with Spain demonstrating its strength by overcoming an early goal from Mexico to win 2-1 and advance to the quarterfinals. In another match, Uzbekistan surprisingly defeated the European youth runners-up Greece 3-1, claiming a spot in the quarterfinals. Uruguay narrowly defeated host Turkey 2-1, and France impressively swept past Nigeria 4-1, showcasing why they were favored over an undefeated Portuguese team.

On July 3, Portugal's round of 16 match was set for 5 p.m. at Kadir Has Stadium in Kayseri. Staying in Kayseri was good news for Portugal as it spared them the travel hardships. However, their opponent Ghana had also been based in Kayseri since the third round of the group stage, possibly a strategic placement by the tournament organizers.

This is Ghana's sixth appearance at the World Youth Championship, qualifying as the runner-up of the African Youth Championship. In their past five participations, Ghana reached the finals three times, including a victory over Brazil in 2009 after a penalty shootout, topping their group ahead of Uruguay.

Their coach, Teda, familiar with the players from his time coaching various Ghanaian youth levels, led the team to the runners-up position in this year's African Youth Championship. Although Ghana missed the last tournament, they have reasserted their strength, narrowly losing to Egypt in this year's final.

Several Ghanaian players have caught the attention of scouts, including their number 7, Achimpong, known as the "Ghanaian Messi," a fast winger with strong dribbling skills. After impressing in the AFC Champions League with Buriram United, Achimpong joined Belgian giants Anderlecht.

Another Ghanaian forward, Richmond Boakye, is an acquaintance of Bruno's, a key striker for Sassuolo in Serie B, scoring 11 goals last season. Boakye is reportedly targeted by Juventus, with multiple outlets reporting his imminent transfer.

Ghana's midfielder Alfred Duncan, who came through Inter Milan's youth system and joined Livorno in the winter, has shown his defensive skills against Bruno's team.

Bruno believes the most significant concern is Ghana's consistent ability to reach at least the semifinals in their five previous World Youth Championships, demonstrating the early maturity and physicality of Ghanaian youth players, making them formidable opponents in the quest for the title.

(End of Chapter)

Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.