Under-17 Champs heat up

Port of Spain, Trinidad, CMC: France carry the hopes of Europe on their shoulders against joint tournament favourites Brazil and Argentina when the quarter-finals of the ninth FIFA Under - 17 World Championship starts today.

Africa's three representatives Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Mali are still in the competition, while Argentina, and two-time champions Brazil represent the South American style.

CONCACAF is represented by underdogs Costa Rica who were beaten in their match by Mali 2-0.

France, with the tournament's leading scorer Pongolle Sinama, who has seven goals, will face the tournament's defending champions Brazil today at Tobago's at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, where Nigeria face Australia.

Tomorrow, Argentina play Mali, and Costa Rica meet Burkina Faso.

Mali, gearing up for the powerful Argentines, managed an unlikely 2-0 win on Thursday over otherwise undefeated Central American outfit Costa Rica, and received a bit of a shove into the quarter-finals as Paraguay stumbled against a stubborn Iran, winning 3-2, in a game the South Americans needed to win by four clear goals to advance.

European Champions Spain fell as well on Thursday, surrendering a 2-1 first half lead - and a place in the knock-out phase - in losing 4-2 to Argentina in the decisive Group C clash.

Burkina Faso battled hard to secure their quarter-final place with a 1-1 draw against home-bound Oman.

A goal in the 22nd minute by Burkina Faso captain Abdoul Aziz Nikiema was cancelled out 11 minutes later by Oman forward Mohamed Al Hinai, but a point was all Burkina Faso needed to make it into the next round.

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