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Nisanth V Easwar

How did the teams fare in their first FIFA U-17 World Cup appearance?

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As India gets ready for their maiden U-17 World Cup next month, Goal looks at how others fared on the same stage when they were put to the test...

The biggest football carnival in India is days away and as the India U-17 national team gets ready to embark on their maiden U-17 World Cup voyage, Goal tells you how the participants of the mega-event performed when they were put to the test on the same stage

  1. Iraq - 2013 WC - Played and lost all three games in group stage.
     
  2. Iran - 2001 WC - Lost all games in their group.
     
  3. Japan - 1993 WC - Hosts Japan were second in their group behind Ghana and above Mexico and Italy. Lost 1-2 to eventual champions Nigeria in the quarter-final. 
     
  4. DPR Korea - 2005 WC - Lost 1-3 to Brazil (aet) in the quarter-final.
     
  5. Ghana - 1989 WC - Ended third in the group behind Bahrain and Scotland.
     
  6. Guinea - 1985 - Lost in the semis to eventual winners champions Nigeria on penalties.
     
  7. Mali - 1997 WC - Ended second in the group behind Spain. Crashed out against Germany in the quarter-final on penalties.
     
  8. Costa Rica - 1985 WC - Lost all three games in group stage.
     
  9. Honduras - 2007 WC - Crashed out with zero points in the group stage.
     
  10. Mexico - 1985 WC - Crashed out of the group after ending third behind Hungary and Brazil. 
     
  11. United States - 1985 WC - Crashed out of the group after ending third behind China and Guinea.
     
  12. Brazil - 1985 WC - Finished third place after beating Guinea 4-1 in the third-place playoff.
     
  13. Chile - 1993 WC - Lost to Ghana in the semis and a win in playoff secured third place.
     
  14. Colombia - 1989 WC - only managed a point in the group stage.
     
  15. Paraguay - 1999 WC - Reached quarter-final after topping their group but then lost to eventual winners Brazil.
     
  16. New Zealand - 1997 WC - Lost all three group games.
     
  17. England - 2007 - Lost to Germany in the quarter-final.
     
  18. France - 1987 - second in the group, lost in the quarter-final.
     
  19. Germany - 1985 - Runners-up, lost to Nigeria in the final.
     
  20. Spain - 1991 - Runners-up, lost to Ghana in the final.
     
  21. Turkey - 2001 - Topped their group, lost to Brazil in the semi-final, finished fourth after losing the third-place playoff vs Netherlands.
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Apart from hosts India, Niger and New Caledonia are also making their maiden appearances at the U-17 World Cup. Out of the 21 first time appearances of the nations given above, 12 sides advanced to the knock-out rounds in their first try and out of that, Germany and Spain managed to reach the finals of the tournament.

This is positive news for the three countries who will be making their first-ever appearance at the big stage - can New Caledonia, Niger or India defy the odds and make it to the finish line? We shall find out soon when football takes over the country in a few days' time.

Follow Nisanth V Easwar on  Twitter - @niktheblue94

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