Learning platform
en 
The group stages of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024™ have concluded, with the knockout stages set to be intriguing as teams with different styles of play bid to be crowned world champions. Korea DPR and England progressed from Group C and here, Shaun Goater, from our Technical Study Group (TSG), summarises how each of the four teams fared.
Korea DPR
In possession
A very accomplished team for this age level, Korea DPR dominated their three group-stage matches both with and without the ball. Playing in a 1-4-2-3-1, central midfielder Choe Yon-a (13) knew how to dictate the tempo of the game, speeding things up by playing off one and two touches, but she was also very astute and understood when to slow it down and take extra touches. She is a very intelligent player and makes good decisions about how best to distribute the ball. Right-footed left-winger Jon Il-chong (7) was very effective at playing inside to create overloads, and her rotations with forward player Choe Il-son (15) were difficult for opposition teams to manage, especially because of their movement and ability to play accurately off minimal touches. Our TSG also noted how impressive it is to see Choe Il-son again so soon after she lit up last month’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024™ with her performances, claiming both the adidas Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards.
Out of possession
Korea DPR dominated possession in their matches but when they did not have the ball, they played a high line and squeezed the game, giving their opponents very little space or time to orchestrate effective attacks.
England
In possession
Set up in a 1-4-3-3 with one defensive midfielder, England are a team that played with lots of pace. The holding midfielder, Laila Harbert (4), is really tidy on the ball with attacking midfielder Vera Jones (10) ahead of her making driving runs from midfield and they are effective at releasing their fast forwards centrally and in the wide areas.
Out of possession
England’s two centre-backs are strong, robust, resilient and have real presence. They win their aerial duels with Cecily Wellesley-Smith (6) being very comfortable on the ball, which includes her driving into the final third with the ball and finding other players.
Kenya
In possession
Operating in a very tough group, Kenya will take lots of learnings from their experience in the U-17 Women’s World Cup which should really stand to them as they continue in their development. Mostly playing in a 1-4-2-3-1 system, Kenya tended to bypass the midfield and play longer balls forward from their centre-backs, looking to contest for second balls and start their attacks from more advanced positions.
Out of possession
When they didn’t have the ball, Kenya played quite deep, and this meant they were further from the opposition’s goal when they won the ball back. As a result, they found it difficult at times to manage the space or exploit it.
Mexico
In possession
Mexico favoured a 1-4-3-3 system with Abril Fragoso (10) dictating their in possession game from the defensive midfield role. She is creative and has the intelligence to control and instigate positive passages of play. Up front, their centre-forward, Naomy Vázquez (17), is a quick-thinking, clever player who often draws fouls from opposition defenders.
Out of possession
Defensively, Mexico are calm, with right-back Adrianna González (2) impressing in 1v1 defensive situations especially in the game against England. She has strength, pace and the intelligence to stay on her on feet and not dive in when opposition players are driving at her with the ball.
Rate your experience
