Asian combatants Japan and Uzbekistan booked their passage to the quarter-finals with emphatic routs, while South Americans Brazil and Uruguay also stamped their tickets through.
Japan convinced in a 6-0 victory over New Zealand, with Hidike Ichige and Fumiya Hayakawa each scoring a double to secure a place in the quarter-finals at the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Monterrey is in for a clash of styles and footballing cultures when hard-running and determined New Zealand lock horns with the short-passing Japanese.
Unfancied Central Asian outfit Uzbekistan made history to take the laurels in Group D, and were followed through by sturdy sides from USA and New Zealand.
New Zealand captain Luke Adams tells FIFA.com about settling for a draw with USA to make the last 16, and reflects on football's steady growth in his tradtionally rugby-dominated nation.
After a goalless draw between USA and New Zealand in the final day of matches for Group D at the FIFA U-17 World Cup on Saturday, each team ended level on points and goals. As per article 25.5 of the FIFA Regulations, the position of each team was ...
