Brazil U17s bring World Cup buzz to Natal (RN) | OneFootball

The city of Natal (RN) fully got into the World Cup spirit with the Under-17 friendly between Brazil and the United States last Sunday (7), which ended in a 4-0 win for the Seleção. Carlos Eduardo Patetuci’s team began its journey toward the World Cup in style, with an impressive performance that featured goals from two debutants, two more experienced players, and a big celebration from the Rio Grande do Norte crowd in the stands at Arena das Dunas.

Patetuci told the players before kickoff that, even though the official start is only in November, in Qatar, the World Cup has already begun for the Under-17 national team. And the first chapter of that journey was written this Sunday, in Natal. On the field, the players showed they had understood the message perfectly.

The debutants got things started. In the first half, center forward Rodrigo, the only player in the squad born in 2010, scored the opening goal of the match, showing confidence by trying a long-range shot.

Rodrigo (19) celebrated the goal with the "Six-Seven" Credits: Guilherme Drovas / Staff Images / CBF

“I just focused on the goal. And you only score if you shoot, right?” said the number 19.

Despite being responsible for stopping the opposition from scoring, center back Talles Beni, another debutant on the list, also experienced the thrill of finding the net in his very first match for the Under-17 national team.

Beni celebrates his first goal for the national teamCredits: Guilherme Drovas / Staff Images / CBF

“I didn’t expect to score a goal in my very first call-up, but thank God I was able to enjoy this moment. We played well as a team and came away with the win,” said Beni.

In the second half, it was the more experienced players’ turn to take center stage. Kauê Furquim once again showed the speed and aggression that made him one of the standout players at the South American Championship, wreaking havoc down the left side of the American defense. When he won a free kick almost at the edge of the box, he treated it like a penalty and scored a stunning goal.

Kauê Furquim credited the team’s success to the fans’ support and said Sunday night was unforgettableCredits: Guilherme Drovas / Staff Images / CBF

“I want to thank God and these wonderful fans who supported us so much. If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have done all this. Today is a day that will stay with me for the rest of my life,” he said.

Furquim also provided the assist for the goal that sealed the score. Captain Eduardo Pape, the team’s top scorer at the South American Championship, appeared in the box to score Brazil’s fourth goal and look ahead to the next stage of preparations.

“Now we’re going to work to beat them again in Wednesday’s match,” added Pape.

The team’s performance delighted Branco, CBF’s coordinator of the men’s youth national teams, who watched the match at Arena das Dunas and congratulated the players afterward on their display. Branco exchanged shirts with United States coach Alex Aldaz and watched the friendly alongside the president of the Rio Grande do Norte Football Federation (FNF), Felipe Barbosa, and CBF vice president José Vanildo da Silva.

Barbosa, who headed the Brazilian delegation at last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup, celebrated being reunited with the age group, which is now beginning its road to the next World Cup in Natal, once again bringing the World Cup atmosphere to the capital of Rio Grande do Norte.

Acting FRN president Felipe Barbosa and CBF vice president José Vanildo da Silva showed their support for the Under-17 national team at Arena das DunasCredits: Guilherme Drovas / Staff Images / CBF

“Natal is being rewarded with the chance to host the Under-17 team. I headed the delegation in Qatar at last year’s World Cup, so it is also a personal gift to welcome the national team that embraced me so warmly. It is a moment of satisfaction and joy. Being able to welcome our players in such a beautiful venue as Arena das Dunas, so well maintained, is very special. Brazil is in a World Cup mood, and Natal is no different,” he said.

José Vanildo also celebrated the Seleção’s presence in the city and highlighted the work being done by CBF to strengthen the youth ranks and prepare the future of the Brazilian national team.

“This is encouraging and reflects the current CBF administration, this new model that values and creates incentive mechanisms for the renewal and development of Brazilian football’s youth system. This gives our state the chance, at such a fitting World Cup moment, to see again this real future, which is the renewal of football,” he concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.