EGYPT '97 - FIFA.com
EGYPT '97 - FIFA.com
EGYPT '97 - FIFA.com
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Last time round, Europe<br />
had little to celebrate at the<br />
U-17 World Championship,<br />
but on this occasion two of<br />
the three teams participating<br />
showed their best side, and<br />
this despite the fact that the<br />
cut-off date for players' ages<br />
was 1 . 8 . for UEFA but 1 . 1 .<br />
for FI FA (and the other confederations)<br />
. This caused the<br />
three teams in-volved to reform<br />
their squads to some<br />
extent . While Spain brought<br />
in just six new players, Germany<br />
included nine and Austria<br />
no fewer than 10 . Spain<br />
came through their group<br />
without dropping a point<br />
and then overcame brave resistance<br />
from the host nation<br />
in the quarterfinal . But the<br />
semifinal meeting with Ghana<br />
proved to be the end of the<br />
line . Despite having less of<br />
the ball, the Spanish managed<br />
to perform well in this<br />
match too . Taking a 1-0 lead,<br />
they played a disciplined<br />
game and held on to it for a<br />
long time, before two goals<br />
for the Africans turned the<br />
match . Germany<br />
began with only modest performances,<br />
but improved<br />
steadily, only to find themselves<br />
running out of strength<br />
in the semifinal and the playoff<br />
for 3rd place . Coached by<br />
Bernd Stbber, the team<br />
showed its strengths in its organisation,<br />
its disciplined<br />
tactical play and in some fine<br />
individual performances at<br />
decisive moments (e .g . goalkeeper<br />
Weidenfeller during<br />
the penalty shoot-out against<br />
Mali) . Taking part in the final<br />
round of this tournament for<br />
the first time, Austria did not<br />
have a happy experience .<br />
They were steam-rollered by<br />
Brazil in their opening match,<br />
and never had a chance<br />
TOURNAMENT ANALYSIS<br />
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Egyptian hospitality was evident everywhere . In the stadiums<br />
too, players, officials and spectators all got a warm wel<strong>com</strong>e .<br />
L'hospitalité égyptienne était omniprésente . Jusque dans les<br />
stades, les joueurs, l'encadrement des équipes et les spectateurs<br />
étrangers se sentaient toujours les bienvenus .<br />
La hospitalidad egipcia estaba presente por todas partes . Los<br />
jugadores, funcionarios y espectadores fueron recibidos<br />
calurosamente también en los estadios .<br />
Die ägyptische Gastfreundschaft war überall präsent . Auch in<br />
den Stadien wurden Spieler, Betreuer und Zuschauer stets<br />
willkommen geheissen .