Honduras Under-17 head coach Israel Canales says his side has learnt valuable lessons from their opening 7-0 loss to Brazil as they prepare to face Zambia in their next match on Friday at the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
Making their debut appearance at the global tournament, the young Catrachos endured a tough start against the South American giants, but Canales remains upbeat about his team’s chances going forward.
“The stage took its toll on the boys,” he told FIFA’s media. “Their state of mind is understandable, and we’re going to work on overcoming it. Concentration and motivation will be key for the upcoming games.”
Despite the heavy defeat in the opening match, the coach drew positives from brief moments of quality shown by his players.
“We had glimpses of who we are, of what we expect,” he said. “The World Cup is just beginning for us, and there are still two games left.”
Canales expressed belief that his team will show improvement when they meet Zambia, saying the experience against Brazil has helped them “loosen up” and better understand how to approach their next challenge.
“Our goal is clear: to qualify for the next round,” he concluded, insisting that the Brazil defeat will serve as an important lesson for his young side.
Zambia opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Indonesia. Any result other than a defeat will send Young Chipolopolo to the knockout stage.
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