In the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, Japan and Iraq today booked their berths for last-16 stage of the tournament by finishing second in their respective groups. In a Group ‘E’ game in Kolkata, Japan were held to a 1-1 draw by a spirited New Caledonia.
But they scraped through to the pre-quarterfinals by finishing second with four points behind France who collected nine points by beating Honduras 5-1 in their third game in Guwahati.
In Group F, England crushed Iraq 4-0 in their final group league encounter at Kolkata today. They topped the group with nine points. Iraq qualified for the last-16 by finishing second in the group with four points.
Two-time champions Mexico played out a goal-less draw in a high-intensity Group F final game against Chile in Guwahati, but that was enough for them to qualify for the knock-out stage as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Mexico ended their group engagements with just two points and finished third in their Group behind England and Iraq.
The other three teams to qualify for Round 16, as best third-placed sides are: The United States, Honduras and Niger.
Overall, two top teams from each group and four best third-placed teams will comprise the Round of Sixteen.
In the two pre-quarterfinal matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Monday, Colombia will take Germany at 5 p.m. while the United States will meet Paraguay at 8 p.m.
