U17s European Championships

I was thinking how good Nwaneri's touches had been, then he does that.
 
Ekeke said:
Dont think hes been involved much. Of the midfield its mostly Harrison dropping in and getting on the ball. Fletcher has made a few passes and received a few passes, just played it simply

He is seemingly playing deeper than he normally does for United
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Exactly, he's playing it simple, no need for heroics, keeping the shape, be available for the ball, then an easy pass.
 
red woppit said:
Exactly, he's playing it simple, no need for heroics, keeping the shape, be available for the ball, then an easy pass.
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He’s been decent. Nothing special but has kept it tidy. Probably the best thing is that he’s held his own against a tall & physical side.
 
Looks like France are trying to protect their goal difference. 4-0 down and they’re still letting England play out without raising their press.
 
Finished 4-0, under a bit of pressure in the last 20 minutes, several players were looking a bit leggy, Fletcher among them, and with four subs coming on England looked a little disjointed.
France had several good chances, but fluffed them all. Amass looked good, did get caught once when the french winger took him on, but very comfortable on the ball, couple of excellent interceptions.
 
This was a wild performance from England :drool:

A shame that Lacey is injured because Lacey and Moore on the wings would be amazing.
 
You think that's just being physical? Great first touches to set up his dribble, great turn while deading a ball with his first touch, and so on.
 
In Rainbows said:
You think that's just being physical? Great first touches to set up his dribble, great turn while deading a ball with his first touch, and so on.
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I was actually surprised to see so many poor touches in this video given the hype that I have heard about this player. Just looking at the first 40 seconds or so.

0:16 - this is a tricky pass to make first time out of the air but its poor, both too hard and not angled enough into the box and the path of his teammate, wasting the situation.
0:21 - terrible touch to trap that ball.
0:29 - again, terrible first touch to pop that ball up, means he can only go backward next
0:33 - poor pass back to his midfielder that is bouncing and on the wrong foot, so the CM can't keep moving forward (he had a progressive passing option if the ball was on his correct foot)
0:39 - this is fine when you have so much space but a top technical player is taking this ball down more cleanly.

He's very young so could improve these aspects of his game but the technical level you need to be a truly top player is really really high and these are the kinds of things that will absolutely stop you from making it.
 
top1whoisman said:
No he wasn’t. The reason why he’s not in this tournament is that he’s not eligible as he’s in the age group above.
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He’s not 18 until 16th July 2024, he’s listed as an England under 17 international on United website but your right he would need to have been born after 1st January 2007 so I stand corrected however he’s not in the under 18 squad either?
 
Woziak said:
He’s not 18 until 16th July 2024, he’s listed as an England under 17 international on United website but your right he would need to have been born after 1st January 2007 so I stand corrected however he’s not in the under 18 squad either?
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No, for some reason he wasn’t called up. Could be a knock or it could be that they want to see some other players considering the two matches they have are friendlies. Apparently it’s somewhat of an experimental squad.
 
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FT
Ukraine 1-3 Czechia
Denmark 2-2 Croatia

FT
Cyprus 1-3 Serbia
Austria 3-0 Wales
 
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Ekeke said:
I dont think hes that fast.

He has 14 goals and 8 assists in the u18s this season. Its not through physicality but creativity and ability to finish
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I really haven't seem him play in academy football but in that game against France he certainly looked quicker and more powerful than everybody else. His best moments - which were impressive for sure - were dribbling past players using superior acceleration.

Ultimately, you do need to be a very high quality athlete to play professional football. So when a player has great athletic traits like Moore, its not something to dismiss. But as players get older and weaker opponents drop out of competitive football, the athletic ability of everybody on the pitch tends to converge and become more similar. You can't get to this point without being a good athlete, but what determines whether you make it from there is your technique and your football brain.

U17s and U18s is also a level where the difference in physical development between players can be particularly pronounced and you often get players with amazing stats who turn out to be borderline professionals or fairly average footballers at senior level. Arsenal have a player named Chido Obi who scored 28 goals in his last nine U18 matches this year. Exciting, but I will be surprised if he makes it at Arsenal.
 
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England XI:

Brits

Shahar
Noble
Amissah

Moore
Mukasa
Rigg
Harrison
McFarlane

Nwaneri
Mheuka

Subs: Whatmuff, Mfuni, J.Fletcher, Dixon, Dipepa, L.Fletcher, Dunbar-McDonald, Amass, Olusesi
 
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1-0 Portugal.
They've looked the better team as they've got into the game. Plenty of room in midfield for them, no one picked up the goalscorer, who had time to attack the box, and struck an excellent shot.
 
1-1, that man again, Mikey Moore. Good goal following a good move down our right side, keeper palmed it out, Moore finished well.
We've picked up the pace a bit more now.
 
Second goal was a bit of a nudge from Portugal player, squared for an open goal, third goal, we were caught down our right side again, lack of marking on the edge of the box again.
We've actually played some good stuff going forward, Moore almost in, great save from keeper.
 
4-1. Back to square one for England. Losing the goal difference advantage they gained from the first match.
 
Standings after two matches:

Group A
Czechia +7 6
Serbia +3 6
Ukraine -3 0
Cyprus -7 0

Group B
Austria +3 4
Denmark +2 4
Croatia 0 2
Wales -5 0

Group C
Italy +4 6
Sweden 0 2
Slovakia -2 1
Poland -2 1

Group D
Portugal +4 6
England +1 3
France -3 3
Spain -2 0
 
Powderfinger said:
I really haven't seem him play in academy football but in that game against France he certainly looked quicker and more powerful than everybody else. His best moments - which were impressive for sure - were dribbling past players using superior acceleration.

Ultimately, you do need to be a very high quality athlete to play professional football. So when a player has great athletic traits like Moore, its not something to dismiss. But as players get older and weaker opponents drop out of competitive football, the athletic ability of everybody on the pitch tends to converge and become more similar. You can't get to this point without being a good athlete, but what determines whether you make it from there is your technique and your football brain.

U17s and U18s is also a level where the difference in physical development between players can be particularly pronounced and you often get players with amazing stats who turn out to be borderline professionals or fairly average footballers at senior level. Arsenal have a player named Chido Obi who scored 28 goals in his last nine U18 matches this year. Exciting, but I will be surprised if he makes it at Arsenal.
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I disagree. His best moments were through determination and balance to stay on his feet and continue, as well as the dribbling. It certainly wasnt all technique and skill just smoothly evading everyone but it wasnt pace either.

Also in the u18s I've seen him put teammates through with good vision and some decent delivery into the box with freekicks. Thats where some of his assists have come from. Also seen him score several times from outside the box so he has a longshot too. Now that I list these things he's a little bit Rooneyish rather than the obvious Spurs comparison with Kane.
 
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So didnt see the England Vs. Portugal match but watched the highlights here




Cardoso Varela is 15 playing on the left wing and gets 2 assists. First one he makes a run and nudges Shahar England's rightback to receive the ball. Could be a foul but wasnt given, then he takes the ball down the left, gets his head up and plays the pass for Mora's 2nd goal. He gets another assist this time picking the ball up closer to the halfway line on the left wing and knocking the ball past Shahar and showing pace to get away and once again finds a pass this time with his left foot which sets up Gabriel Silva's goal. Very impressive for a 15 year old to be that effective and in the ways he was, using his body, strength and balance against Shahar, movement in behind and a bit of pace but then able to find a good pass to set up teammates.

Rodrigo Mora will get more of the headlines because he scored 2 goals. And he was good too. Looks to have good acceleration with that small center of gravity, good technique and finished his first goal well with a nice shot from outside the box and his 2nd being found inside the box for an easier one. He also set up the last goal where Quenda put him in with a bumpy pass and he doesnt take a very good first touch pushing him wide but he's able to make something of it with a ball across with his left foot and Afonso Patrao turns it in with Kian Noble dropping back on the line and failing to clear the ball from the shot.

Also a special shoutout to Rafael Mota for a certain piece of play. As Portugal kick off they pass it back to the left footed CB Rafael Mota who flicks the ball up and pings and a very nice switch out to the ring wing that Quenda is able to take down. Some nice technique in the pass showing potential.

As mentioned Shahar got shown up defensively with his positioning and being beaten a few times by Varela. Going forward though he put in some good balls. Firstly his cross that resulted in Moore's goal was too hot for the keeper to handle although it was too close to him. He spilled it and Moore turned it in. He a really good cross later on as he knocked the ball down the right and put in a cross to the backpost that someone should be getting to. And also a nice high pass at one point out to the left wing. So going forward he showed some ability, but suffered defending his flank

Nwaneri and Moore, despite his goal were not as effective as the Portugal attack in this match. Though I've seen enough of both of them to think they are both better players than what the Portugal attackers showed today. They'll be dissappointed with this performance

Noble had a few mistakes in the goals conceeded. Firstly when Varela went through on the left with the nudge on Shahar, he takes a touch of the ball just before Noble arrives to confront him and Noble pulls out of the tackle fearing he'd give away a penalty. Varela has enough time to play the ball to his teammate for Mora's 2nd goal. Secondly on the final goal when Quenda is running the ball at pace through the middle, Mora is Noble's man. He gives enough space behind him for Mora to be fed the pass and when he realizes he got his position wrong he drops onto the line to try and make an impact there. Again this time Mora's touch from Quenda's bumpy pass isnt very good and forces him wide, so he plays a pass into the box and Patrao has a shot central and on the floor and Noble is able to get some contact but not able to stop it going in. Doesnt look like he has much pace either.

Portugal have beaten Spain and England in their first 2 matches which is some start. Will be interesting to see how far they go and if the attackers that stood out today are actually as good as Nwaneri and Moore and show it going forward.

I didnt see the Spain match but I can see that 15 year old Varela stepped up to score a penalty, and Mora scored once again to make it 3 in 2 matches for him.

Edit - Also just looked up that Mora is playing plenty of matches for Porto B in I think the 2nd Portugal division scoring 4 goals and 2 assists in 24 appearances at 17 playing as an AM behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1
 
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Ekeke said:
So didnt see the England Vs. Portugal match but watched the highlights here




Cardoso Varela is 15 playing on the left wing and gets 2 assists. First one he makes a run and nudges Shahar England's rightback to receive the ball. Could be a foul but wasnt given, then he takes the ball down the left, gets his head up and plays the pass for Mora's 2nd goal. He gets another assist this time picking the ball up closer to the halfway line on the left wing and knocking the ball past Shahar and showing pace to get away and once again finds a pass this time with his left foot which sets up Gabriel Silva's goal. Very impressive for a 15 year old to be that effective and in the ways he was, using his body, strength and balance against Shahar, movement in behind and a bit of pace but then able to find a good pass to set up teammates.

Rodrigo Mora will get more of the headlines because he scored 2 goals. And he was good too. Looks to have good acceleration with that small center of gravity, good technique and finished his first goal well with a nice shot from outside the box and his 2nd being found inside the box for an easier one. He also set up the last goal where Quenda put him in with a bumpy pass and he doesnt take a very good first touch pushing him wide but he's able to make something of it with a ball across with his left foot and Afonso Patrao turns it in with Kian Noble dropping back on the line and failing to clear the ball from the shot.

Also a special shoutout to Rafael Mota for a certain piece of play. As Portugal kick off they pass it back to the left footed CB Rafael Mota who flicks the ball up and pings and a very nice switch out to the ring wing that Quenda is able to take down. Some nice technique in the pass showing potential.

As mentioned Shahar got shown up defensively with his positioning and being beaten a few times by Varela. Going forward though he put in some good balls. Firstly his cross that resulted in Moore's goal was too hot for the keeper to handle although it was too close to him. He spilled it and Moore turned it in. He a really good cross later on as he knocked the ball down the right and put in a cross to the backpost that someone should be getting to. And also a nice high pass at one point out to the left wing. So going forward he showed some ability, but suffered defending his flank

Nwaneri and Moore, despite his goal were not as effective as the Portugal attack in this match. Though I've seen enough of both of them to think they are both better players than what the Portugal attackers showed today. They'll be dissappointed with this performance

Noble had a few mistakes in the goals conceeded. Firstly when Varela went through on the left with the nudge on Shahar, he takes a touch of the ball just before Noble arrives to confront him and Noble pulls out of the tackle fearing he'd give away a penalty. Varela has enough time to play the ball to his teammate for Mora's 2nd goal. Secondly on the final goal when Quenda is running the ball at pace through the middle, Mora is Noble's man. He gives enough space behind him for Mora to be fed the pass and when he realizes he got his position wrong he drops onto the line to try and make an impact there. Again this time Mora's touch from Quenda's bumpy pass isnt very good and forces him wide, so he plays a pass into the box and Patrao has a shot central and on the floor and Noble is able to get some contact but not able to stop it going in. Doesnt look like he has much pace either.

Portugal have beaten Spain and England in their first 2 matches which is some start. Will be interesting to see how far they go and if the attackers that stood out today are actually as good as Nwaneri and Moore and show it going forward.

I didnt see the Spain match but I can see that 15 year old Varela stepped up to score a penalty, and Mora scored once again to make it 3 in 2 matches for him.

Edit - Also just looked up that Mora is playing plenty of matches for Porto B in I think the 2nd Portugal division scoring 4 goals and 2 assists in 24 appearances at 17 playing as an AM behind the striker in a 4-2-3-1
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Yep, your analysis is more or less correct. Mora so far looks the one who is more ready at least to do his pre season with Porto, if he is going to be part of the main squad I don’t know.

He played for Porto B who plays in the second tier of portuguese football with the age of under 17, also Youth League , not normal in Portugal because usually we are more conservative with players of this age than Brazil, Germany or Argentina for example.

He is what I call a nine and a half if that expression exists, not a 9 but also not a classic 10, but he has a high football IQ, the only doubt I have on him is how he will handle the physical demands of high level football, the difficult part is yet to come ahead.

Could speak of other players like Quenda who already played between the under 23’s and B team from Sporting (tier 3) Mota, Gabriel Silva, Simões, Felicíssimo ( didn’t started today) all play for the under 19’s of Sporting, but I have to mention Cardoso Varela.

He is under 16 (2008) already plays for the under 19’s of Porto and remembers me the old type of Dutch classical wingers when I watch him play, looks a great prospect.

Honourable mention to Daiber who plays for Bayern and between him and Felicíssimo there’s good competition for the DM role.

Also Ferreira the keeper, he looks good for this level, at least the main difference for the result today was that during England best phase of the game he made impressive saves while the England keeper didn’t stood out today.
 
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