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FIFA U20 WC Semi: After Upsetting Brazil, Israel Plot to Stop Uruguay; as Flying Eagles Arrive Abuja

Chinedum Ohanusi

June, 6 2023.

Tournament debutants, Israel will face South American powerhouse Uruguay in the semifinals of the ongoing FIFA Under-20 World Cup, being staged in Argentina.


It has later been an unprecedented run for the Israeli youths in Argentina, during its first-ever time at the World Cup and it culminated in their audacious 3-2 defeat of the Junior Seleçao of Brazil, in the peak of the quarterfinal fixtures.


The other semi final pits Uruguay against South Korea, after both sides advanced to the semifinals on Sunday by winning their quarterfinal matches; joining Israel and Italy who did so 24 hours earlier.

Although this tournament is being hosted in South American soil, Uruguay are the last nation standing, after beating a hitherto invincible United States side 2-0 at the Santiago del Estero, dominating the match from start to finish.


The Asian team, which was runner-up to Ukraine in the last U-20 World Cup in 2019, secured their spot with a 1-0 victory against the Flying Eagles of Nigeria thanks to a goal by university undergraduate,

Seok-Hyun Choi, in extra time.


Uruguay takes on Israel on Thursday, hours before South Korea faces Italy, at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario in San Juan, for the other spot in the final.


Remarkably, a new champion will be crowded in Argentina, as none of the four teams left in the tournament has ever won it, ckdmedia.ng reports.

Despite appearing 15 times at the Under-20 World Cup, Uruguay are just twice finalists, in 1997 and 2013; same as Nigeria, whose best showing at this level were in 1989 in Saudi Arabia and 2005 in the Netherlands, where the Flying Eagles lost to Portugal (0-2) and Lionel Messi inspired Argentina (1-2) respectively.


Ladan Bosso and his Flying Eagles Squad are due to fly to Abuja today, after having their wings clipped by South Korea, in the quarterfinals.

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