Description:
In a thrilling quarter-final showdown at the U-17 World Cup, Spain experienced a painful elimination after losing to Germany with a penalty goal in the second half. Despite an outstanding performance and evident dominance for much of the match, the defeat puts an end to La Rojita's dream of lifting their first title in this category. The match, which took place in Jakarta, saw Spain coached by José Lana , showing a convincing game from the beginning. Although Germany found themselves at a disadvantage for much of the match, they managed to score the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the second half, changing the fate of the match unfairly. La Rojita, who dominated the ball from the first minute, took control of the game and danced on the pitch against Mannschaft during the first half, but the lack of a goal left a void in his performance. Despite the opportunities created by players like Guiu, Fort, Juan Hernández and Yáñez, the score did not move in favor of Spain in the quarterfinals. Peio Huestamendia, a surprise in the lineup, had an outstanding performance, but the height of the Germans and the tactical strategy influenced the decisions of José Lana, who made changes to the formation. The second half saw Spain slow down their pressure pace, but did not relinquish control of the ball. The turning point came when Fort fell into a Brunner trap, causing a penalty that would prove to be decisive in the fate of the match. Brunner, the same player who caused the foul, was in charge of executing it and scoring the only goal of the match. Despite a frenetic effort in the final minutes, with tactical changes by Lana and clear opportunities for Guiu and Oyono, La Rojita He failed to change the score. La Rojita finished the match with one man less, since Jiménez saw the red card in the last moments of the match. The elimination leaves Spain with the disappointment of not advancing to the semifinals and the need to wait two more years to look for the opportunity to bring home the only title missing from their showcases in the Under-17 category. Despite the result, La Rojita's performance leaves a legacy of attractive play and determination in the 2023 U-17 World Cup.