Spain finish second best at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Korea.


Read the full match review and see how it all went for the young and brave Spaniards and the skillful Nigerian side. After Sunday's final match, Spain have now featured in three final matches at the U-17 level, losing 2-1 to Ghana in 1991, 2-1 to Brazil in 2003 and 3-0 on penalties to Nigeria in 2007.
The new champions Nigeria have featured in five final matches, winning the first edition 2-0 against West Germany in 1985, losing 4-2 to Russia on penalty kicks after 1-1 at extra-time's end in 1987, winning 2-1 against Ghana in 1993, losing 3-0 to France in 2001 and winning 3-0 on penalties against Spain in 2007.


Match Review, 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup Final Match.

FC Barcelona starlet shines despite missing out of the final match.


Bojan Krkic has been awarded the FIFA Bronze Ball in the just concluded U-17 world cup after the Barca star was adjudged by a panel of accredited journalists at the world cup to be the third best player of the championship winning 19% of the votes that were cast. Bojan, despite receiving a red card in thee semi-final, was still voted as the third Most Valuable Player behind Germany's Toni Kroos who won the Golden Ball for the Most Valuable Player with 26%of the votes and Nigeria's Macauley Christantus who won the silver ball after being voted as the second Most Valuable Player with 25% of the votes in his favour, just 1% less than that of Bayern Munich star Toni Kroos. Bojan Krkic also scored five goals in the mundial, which was the third highest number of goals scored by any player in the world cup played in Korea. Nigeria's Macauley Christiantus was top scorer with seven goals and two assists while Ghana's Ransford Osei was second with six goals and three assists. Toni Kroos of Germany also scored five goals like Bojan, but was awarded the third top scorer award after he recorded three assists to Bojan Krkic's 1 assist, as the two young players were both tied on five goals each.


Spain won the silver trophy on Sunday after playing a great game at the U-17 world cup final match finishing second place behind eventual winners Nigeria in a pulsating final match which stretched into penalty shoot-out. After scores stood at 0-0 despite 90 minutes and an extra-time of 30 minutes added, the final match went into penalty shoot-out. Spain lost their first three kicks while Nigeria scored all of theirs to become 2007 winners of the FIFA U-17 world cup.

A super-strike by FC Barcelona's young star Bojan Krkic takes Spain to U-17 World cup final, but sheds tears as he is shown a red card.


Bojan Krkic simply showed why he is rated so highly. The goal machine struck in extra time to give Spain a 2-1 victory over Ghana in the U-17 World Cup Semi-final match in Korea. The match lived up to its billings as previous encounters between Ghana and Spain in the U-17 category has always been fierce. Ghana dominated the early part of the game, and looked the more likely team to go ahead, missing chances from Sadick Adams and Ransford Osei. The skillfull Black Starlets of Ghana were however well curtailed by the very technical approach Spain adopted to the game. The two sides displayed great skill, with Spain's Camacho, Merida and Aquino all displaying well and always looking for a chance to slip passes to Bojan who always looked very dangerous and attracted loud cheers from the adoring Korean fans whenever he touched the ball.


The first half ended goalless with possession almost shared and statistics showing equality. The second half saw a stronger Spain, as Bojan unsettled the Ghanaians more often. Spain finally got ahead in the 67th minute after a blinding shot from Iago off a perfect pass and a slight melee. Ghana came back forcefully and forced close saves from Spain's David De Gea. Sadick Adams, who was clearly the most dangerous man for Ghana finally struck for the West Africans with a specatcular finish off a quickly taken free-kick. With honours shared, the match went into extra time.


It was time for Bojan to step up and distinct himself from the rest. The talented FC Barcelona striker created great chances and earned a penalty that wasn't awarded after being pulled down in the Ghanaian box. Bojan Krkic returned in the 116th minute with one of the most intelligent goals of the championship. The young one tip-toed away from his Ghanaian markers just when a Spanish free-kick was about to be played at the egde of Ghana's area. As the free-kick was played, Bojan's tip-toe became a lightning speed dash away from the entire crowd in the Ghanaian six-yard box, and the Barca star latched unto the well laid ball to swirl round with a side footed shot that sailed through a crowd of eight players and into the Ghanaian net. The show was over.


The stadium went into rupture, as the adoring fans could hardly contain their joy. However, it seeemd the centre referee was not happy with Bojan. The referee, who had consistently been harsh against the Spanish star, even flashing Bojan with a yellow card earlier, finally issued Bojan Krkic a red card for what the referee termed as a second bookable offence. There was completely no justification for this, as the referee accussed Bojan of intentionally letting the ball touch his leg after he had blown for a Ghanaian free kick in the 120th minute !! This was just 30 seconds to the end of the game.


The red card doused the celebration of Spain. As the centre referee ended the match 30 seconds after the red card was shown, the entire Spanish squad rushed out to him in protest, including a tearful Bojan Krkic. The linesmen and some officials tried to wade off the angry Spanish squad. Though the situation was finally brought under control, the damage had already been done. Bojan Krkic, even though having taken Spain to the U-17 World Cup final, will have to miss out of the great event, when Spain play either Nigeria or Germany in the final match on Sunday, 9th September. Nigeria and Germany will play the second semi-final match tomorrow, 6th September, to determine who meets Spain in the 2007 FIFA U-17 world cup final match.

Now you too can watch the U-17 world cup from the comfort of your convenience.


Every move made by Bojan Krkic and the rest of his team mates in Korea will be shown live on FIFA's official website in a pioneer live webcast of the junior world cup starting on Saturday, the 18th of August. This decision was made by the world football governing body as a way of promoting the beautiful game and also creating awareness about its other football tournaments and championships. Live webcasts will also be done for the women's events which are the women's world cup and the china Olympics games as well. To read about requirements, affected countries, internet speed limits and all you need to watch the live matches, go to the official release by FIFA through the following link:


FIFA To Show U-17 World Cup Live On Webcast.