Brazil and Mexico to reach World Cup Glory

Brazil and Mexico will fight today to win the FIFA U-17 World Championship Peru 2005 Final. In a game that has all the makings of a classic encounter, a newcomer to the big stage takes on the category's leading side, with kick-off scheduled for 18.00 (local time) in Lima's National Stadium. The game can confirm the power of current world champion Brazil or give an unexpected title to a surprising Mexican squad. Both sides have lost just one game, both have had to go to extra-time on at least one occasion, and both expect to go all the way. Brazil are looking to add a fourth U-17 world crown to their enviable trophy collection, while Jesús Ramírez's team aim to become the first Mexican national side at any level to land a FIFA World Championship.

El Tricolor are expected to line up with the same eleven that proved too strong for the Dutch. One player guaranteed a starting berth is influential playmaker Giovani Dos Santos, whose father happens to be Brazilian. "Playing against Brazil doesn't have any special significance for me, because I was born in Mexico and I feel one hundred percent Mexican. Having said that, a final against a team of this calibre is always something to look forward to," remarked the FC Barcelona player. Meanwhile, Carlos Vela will battle it out with Igor and Ramón to see who comes out on top of the goalscoring charts. "That's the goal I set myself when I set off from Cancun, and that's what I hope to achieve on Sunday," the Mexican striker said.

Starting Squads:

BRAZIL: Felipe; Leyrielton, Sidnei, Samuel, Marcelo; Roberto, Denilson, Anderson, Ramón; Celso, Igor. Coach: Nelson Rodrigues

MEXICO: Sergio Arias; Efraín Valdez, Patricio Araujo, Christian Sánchez, Adrián Aldrete; Jorge Hernández, Héctor Moreno, Omar Esparza, César Villaluz; Giovani Dos Santos, Carlos Vela Coach: Jesús Ramírez