With a spot in the semi-finals of the Under-20 World Cup on the line, Israel Under-20s meet Brazil Under-20s in Wednesday's quarter-final showdown at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario.
Ofir Haim's men ran out 1-0 winners over Uzbekistan to make it this far, while their South American counterparts crushed Tunisia 4-1 to continue their quest for a sixth title.
Match preview
Making the step-up to Under-20 level after coming agonisingly close to Under-19 Euros glory last year - losing to England in the final - Israel were solid yet unspectacular in the group stage, claiming four points from a possible nine to book a last-16 date with Uzbekistan.
With barely anything to separate the two sides on paper, the game followed the script to a tee, and extra time would seemingly be needed to settle the affair before Anan Khalaili popped up with a 97th-minute winner for Haim's side on Tuesday evening.
While Israel will have no intention of waving the white flag early doors against Brazil, a quarter-final elimination from their first-ever Under-20s World Cup would be nothing to scoff at, and they have scored in every one of their games at the tournament so far.
By keeping Uzbekistan at bay last time out, Haim's side also kept a clean sheet at the Under-20 World Cup for the first time, but their hopes of back-to-back shut-outs appear slim against Brazil's free-scoring starlets.
Expected to encounter few obstacles en route to a place in the knockout rounds, Brazil - who were crowned Under-20 champions of South America in February - scored 10 goals and gleaned seven points in their three group matches before stamping their authority on a trailblazing Tunisia side.
Ramon Menezes side assumed control of the last-16 tie thanks to goals from Marcos Leonardo and Andrey Santos, but a straight red card for Robert Renan on the stroke of half time would ostensibly open the door for a remarkable Tunisia comeback following the restart.
However, such a turnaround was not forthcoming, and in a frenetic added-time period, Matheus Martins and Chelsea starlet Santos extended Brazil's lead to four before Mahmoud Ghorbel belatedly got Tunisia on the board with a 103rd-minute consolation.
Scoring at least two goals in all four of their Under-20 World Cup contests so far this year, Brazil should enter the quarters as the firm favourites to go all the way now that host nation Argentina have been eliminated, as the Selecao Sub-20 seek a sixth crown at this level to match their counterparts in blue and white, but first they must avoid a giant killing in their maiden meeting with Israel's hopeful young crop.
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Having been sent off just seven minutes after coming on in their final group game against Japan, Israeli midfielder Ran Binyamin sat out the win over Uzbekistan through suspension, but he will be back at Haim's disposal for the quarter-finals.
Binyamin's fresh legs could very well come in useful, but Roy Nawi and captain Ilay Madmon should pair up in the middle once more, and the bulk of Haim's selection dilemmas unsurprisingly come in the final third.
In the wake of his injury-time heroics in the last 16, Khalaili may have played his way into a start over Dor Turgeman or Omer Senior, while Ariel Lugassy was withdrawn at half time on Tuesday and could now find his spot under threat from Hamza Shibli.
While Israel will welcome a player back from the naughty step, Brazil must rejig their backline to cope without the suspended Renan, while right-back Arthur is also banned for an accumulation of bookings.
Douglas Mendes should be a like-for-like replacement for Renan in the heart of defence, while Andre will be expected to cover for Arthur on the right-hand side, but Menezes has no injury concerns bedevilling his side.
Goalkeeper Mycael was dropped in favour of Kaique for the last-16 win over Tunisia, and the latter may have done enough to justify another run-out, while Martins's goal on Wednesday could be his ticket to a start on the left over Biro.
Israel Under-20s possible starting lineup:
Tzarfati; Feingold, Lemkin, Israelov, Revivo; Madmon, Nawi; Senior, Abed, Shibli; Khalaili
Brazil Under-20s possible starting lineup:
Kaique; Andre, Pedroso, Mendes, Kaiki; Marquinhos, Santos, Gomes; Savio, Leonardo, Martins
We say: Israel Under-20s 1-3 Brazil Under-20s
Israel may have left it incredibly late to continue their perfect World Cup scoring streak against Uzbekistan, but Haim's side can capitalise on Brazil's defensive absentees to prolong their purple patch in front of goal on Saturday.
However, a pity strike may be all that the European nation have to celebrate this weekend, as Brazil are also finding the back of the net for fun and can make up for any rearguard shortcomings with a glut of goals to march on to the semi-finals.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
