First the lightning goal, then the cold shower: Despite a quick lead after just 15 seconds, the German U17 juniors only started their mission to defend their World Cup title with a draw.
National coach Marc Meister’s selection didn’t get more than a 1-1 (1-0) draw against Colombia and has to fight for the round of 16 at the mammoth tournament in Qatar with 48 teams.
Leipzig’s Toni Langsteiner took the lead in the first minute. Alexander Staff, who had prepared the 1-0, shot at the post shortly after the restart (46th). Colombia was successful through Juan Catano (57th). In the final phase, the ball hit the post again after a mistake by the Colombian goalkeeper (88th).
The next German opponents in preliminary group G are North Korea on Friday and El Salvador on Monday. The World Cup runs until November 27th.
Coach Meister had the equalizer checked with a challenge, but there was no offside position. In the tournament, coaches are allowed to ask referees to check their decisions on goals, penalties and red cards twice per game using Football Video Support. If an objection is successful, there is another option. There is no normal VAR.
German U17 in luck
The German team was lucky that Colombia forwent a challenge in the first half: Dortmund’s Mussa Kaba apparently brought down striker Santiago Londono in the penalty area illegally (6th).
The DFB juniors have great ambitions at the tournament in the Aspire Academy. “We are clear internally about the fact that we want to stay here for the entire duration of the tournament and therefore also want to become world champions,” said coach Meister.
Two years ago, his predecessor Christian Wück, now national coach of the women’s national team, triumphed in a dramatic final against France (4:3 iE) in Indonesia.
Talents such as goalkeeper Konstantin Heide, Finn Jeltsch, Noah Darvich, Assan Ouedraogo and Paris Brunner were there.