Young ‘Sambas’ clash with ‘tiki-taka’ starlets

Three-time champions Brazil and European powerhouse Spain will take on each other in a highly-anticipated marquee clash between title contenders of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup today.

The football-mad Kochi could not have asked for anything better than this showdown between the South American champions Brazil and European qualifying tournament winners Spain at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium. Brazil are the overwhelming favourites of the fans here and Spain will virtually feel like playing in Rio de Janiero or Sau Paulo. But to their good fortune the crowd may not be as loud as usual because FIFA has forced the local organisers to reduce the capacity of the stadium to just 29,200 to comply with the world body's strict evacuation related rules. But the lucky ones who will be at the stadium, are sure to witness a fascinating contest between Brazilian attacking flare and Spanish ' tiki-taka' possession football in what could be a final before a final of this tournament.

Both Brazil and Spain are expected to finish as top two teams in Group D, which also has North Korea and Niger. But whoever wins today will have the advantage and will have one foot at the knock-out stage.

Brazil are a formidable force even in the age group, having appeared 15 times in 16 editions before India and winning the U-17 World Cup trophy thrice (1997, 1999 & 2003). Spain qualified for U-17 by claiming another European U- 17 crown in Croatia in May. It was touch and go on in that gane with Nacho Diaz equalising in injury time in the final to deny England, who had led since the 58th minute. Spain then emerged victorious from the ensuing penalty shoot-out (4-1).