U17 World Cup: France 2-1 Japan: Les Bleuets seal spot in next round as Asian giants falter

France ensured their progression into the Round of 16 of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup after they defeated Japan 2-1 in a Group E game at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday.

Amine Gouiri (13' and 71') scored a brace for the French but Taisei Miyashiro's (74' Pen.) spot kick was not enough for the Asian giants.

Both teams made two alterations from their respective first games with the Les Bleuets bringing in Lenny Pintor for Willem Geubbels at left wing while Maxence Lacroix was slotted in at a fullback role after Andy Pelmard was relegated to the bench.

Japan skipper Shimpei Fukuoka was rested after picking up a knock against Honduras as Kohei Okuno and Seiya Baba were ushered in. Goalscorer Toichi Suzuki too started from the bench.

Paris Saint Germain product Yacine Adli joined forces with Lenny Pintor to wreck havoc on the flanks and sent Gouiri clear on the final third three times in the opening few minutes, only for the forward to miss. 

Gouiri, who is being scouted by the likes of AC Milan and Liverpool, made amends when he slotted home from a brilliant right-footed shot towards the top corner of the net from close range with Maxence Caqueret delivering the assist.

Though Japan had the lion's share of possession, the Blue Samurais were unable to chase down spaces in the final third and could never conjure up a decent attack in the first half.

Adli tormented Hinata Kida as Gouiri kept Yukinari Sugawara on his toes throughout as the former's diagonal passes on quite a few occasions had Yoshiro Moriyama's boys on the backfoot.

The 'Adrien Rabiot doppelganger' Adli missed a sitter on the half-hour mark when he controlled Pintor's square pass well inside the box but launched the ball into orbit with only the keeper to beat.

Willem Geubbels was brought in after the halftime break but his involvement did not reap rewards immediately. 

Hattrick man in the last game, Keito Nakamura had a chance from a set-piece which he squandered and he was soon taken off.

Adli and Gouiri combined yet again - a string of three quick passes led to the latter bringing up his brace which meant he led the top scorer's list with four goals in two games already.

Centre-half William Bianda kept the dangerous Takefusa Kubo quiet during the whole time but was guilty of conceding a penalty couple of minutes later after bringing down Taisei Miyashiro. The Japan number 11 made no mistake in converting the spot-kick himself.

Both teams kept testing the other's resolve but the weather conditions played their part as the intensity of the game died down towards the end.

Lionel Rouxel's charges won all three points and now have the liberty to experiment given their spot in the next round is confirmed. Japan travel to Kolkata to face New Caledonia in the weekend.