Gibraltar’s U15 national football team concluded their campaign at the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan with a 2-1 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on Friday. The win marks a historic achievement for the nation, with officials suggesting the result may represent the highest ranking ever attained by a Gibraltar national football team at any level since joining FIFA. The tournament, which featured 189 teams, utilized an 8v8 format consisting of two 20-minute halves. Gibraltar began the competition by finishing third in their initial group stage, which placed them in Tier C. Throughout the week, the team navigated a losers’ pathway after an initial defeat in the round of 32, eventually progressing through the round of 16 and quarter-finals to reach their final ranking match. Their opponents, Trinidad and Tobago, entered the final after a series of matches that included losses to France, India, and Namibia, followed by a 2-1 victory over Liberia. Gibraltar’s final performance capped a week in which the squad recorded three victories and two draws, though the two draws were subsequently decided by penalty shoot-outs. Tier C proved to be a highly competitive segment of the tournament, featuring national teams from countries including France, Hungary, Japan, and Nigeria. By securing a victory in their final match, Gibraltar ensured a finish above the 96th position, which was the lowest possible ranking for teams placed in Tier C. While the team’s final official standing is pending the publication of the tournament’s complete rankings by FIFA, the performance follows a successful season for the squad, which included a strong showing at the UEFA Development Tournament in San Marino. The inaugural event saw a total of 940 matches played, with the main final scheduled between Czechia and Spain.
Article source: Gibraltar Chronicle | Image credit: Gibraltar Chronicle