A RESOUNDING Under-17s World Cup victory and a return to winning ways, yet still a sense of underachievement from Brazil after an all-time record of 81 efforts on goal.
The reigning champions averaged a chance every 75 seconds in their 9-0 win over tournament minnows New Caledonia seeting a new global record in football at all levels.
But they could not get close to Spain’s record 13-0 success over New Zealand in the 1997 edition of the competition.
Nor was it as impressive as England’s 10 goals without reply against the same opponents in their opening Group C game in Jakarta. Ryan Garry’s side only needed 39 attempts on goal in that encounter.
Following a shock 3-2 defeat by Iran in their first match in Indonesia, only 28% (23) of Brazil’s chances found the target against New Caledonia, with 33 off target and 25 blocked shots.
Still, 81 shots is an impressive tally.
Over the previous decade only Ivory Coast have managed more than 40 efforts (42) in the Under-17s World Cup finals, with their 3-0 win over New Zealand seeing them score one goal for every 14 opportunities created.
The Premier League record (since 2003-04) is 44 shots on goal and came with the famous ‘Aguero moment’ as Manchester City clinched the title on goal difference in 2011-12 with a last-gasp 3-2 win over QPR.
And across Europe’s big five leagues (since 2006-07) Atalanta remarkably had 47 chances to score in their goalless Serie A draw against Empoli in 2019.
Palmeiras wonderkid Estevao Willian, 16 – who is known as ‘Messinho’ and has already been compared with Lionel Messi – got on the score sheet for Brazil, while Fluminense’s Kaua Elias grabbed a hat-trick and Vasco da Gama’s Rayan scored two for the Selecao.
