Tardy defends team after sloppy display

Group CRwanda 0-2 EnglandCanada 0-3 UruguayGroup EUSA 3-0 Czech RepublicNew Zealand 4-1 Uzbekistan Today’s fixturesGroup AKorea DPR vs NetherlandsMexico vs Congo Group BJapan vs FranceJamaica vs Argentina JUNIOR Wasps coach Richard Tardy refused to blame his players after Sunday’s disappointing 2-0 Fifa U-17 World Cup Group C defeat by England. Tardy was instead full of words of encouragement in his post-match interview. “A defensive blunder had a great consequence on the game. After that, it was always going to be hard to bounce back,” he said. “Of course the boys were nervous and you cannot blame them for that but we are past that now. We play Uruguay next and have to start thinking about that game,” he added. “The players are disappointed but we have to pick ourselves up, that’s what a team is about. It’s a good opportunity to show our mental strength, which I think is great.” After clinging on in the first half, a defensive blunder by centre-back Heritier Turatsinsize allowed Hallam Hope to score the opener on the 68th minute before Liverpool’s prospect Raheem Sterling curled in a second in the dying minutes. Rwanda’s best chance came just before Hope’s opener, when Bonfils Kabanda’s shot cannoned off the England crossbar. That was one of the few chances for the Junior Wasps, who were playing their first match at any global football tournament. England should have taken a three-goal lead in the first half but were denied by Rwanda’s goalkeeper Marcel Nzarora and their own poor finishing. Rwanda’s next game is on Wednesday against Uruguay who went top of the group after a convincing 3-0 win over Canada’s Canucks. Today, defending champions ‘the Netherlands’ face Korea DPR while hosts Mexico entertain Congo Brazzaville. The Africans pulled off the first shock of the tournament when they beat Holland 1-0 on Saturday. Mexico thrashed ten-man Korea DPR 3-1 in the other Group A game. Ends

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Tardy defends team after sloppy display