France assured of quarter-finals berth

BHUBANESWAR: France became the first team to virtually assure themselves a spot in the quarter-finals with a dominant 7-1 win against Poland in a Group B match for their second win in the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's Junior World Cup 2021 here on Thursday.

France, who had stunned hosts and defending champions India 5-4 in their opening match on Wednesday, scored three goals in the first quarter as they did not allow Poland to play their game and registered a comprehensive victory at the Kalinga Stadium here.

Forward Corentin Selliers scored a hattrick and skipper Timothee Clement struck a brace of goals for France while Igau Antonin and Bournac Jules scored a goal apiece for Les blues as they came up with another dominant performance.

The second win in the four-team Pool B put France on top with Poland second with one point from a win against Canada. With India playing Canada in the last match of the day, there are only three matches remaining in the group.

The first three matches on the second day of the competition produced 48 goals with Argentina setting the record for the win by the biggest margin before Spain rewrote it.

Argentina, who won the title in 2005, set the ball rolling with a 14-0 win against African minnows Egypt, in the process setting India's record for the biggest win that India had set in beating Singapore 13-0 in the Junior World Cup in 1982.

The Netherlands then handed South Korea a 12-5 thrashing to set the record for most goals in a match as both teams combined to produce 17 goals.

Spain, who had defeated India in a penalty shoot-out to win their lone bronze medal in 2005, then handed the United States an absolute shellacking, handing them a 17-0 verdict to set the record for a win with the biggest margin and equalling the record for most goals scored in a match. IANS

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