Brilliant England top Brazil

England will go into the FIFA U-17 World Cup knockout phase as serious contenders for the title after they moved through from the group stage with a superb 2-1 win against favourites Brazil in Korea Republic.

Spence heroics
Tournament debutants England trailed three-time champions Brazil by two points at kick-off in Goyang City with the already qualified South American side having scored 13 goals in two matches. John Peacock's side only needed a point to ensure second place in Group B but fell behind to a 19th-minute Tales free-kick from at least 35 metres out that swerved into the top corner. Late in the first half Henri Lansbury equalised with a penalty following a Rafael handball and after Alex Smithies saved Lulinha's spot-kick, England captain Jordan Spence won the game in added time with a neat finish.

Last 16
England topped the group and Korea DPR finished third with their late 1-0 win against New Zealand, but the Asian side must wait to see if they make the last 16. England will play one of the four best third-placed teams in Jeju on Thursday while 24 hours earlier Brazil meet the Group F runners-up, a position currently held by Germany.

France chance
Also going through today Peru won Group A with a 1-0 defeat of Costa Rica, who progressed too thanks to Korea Republic's 2-1 victory against eliminated ten-man Togo. The third-placed hosts must now wait to see if their three-point tally, one less than their northern neighbours, will be enough. On Saturday, France must beat Japan to have a chance of progressing from Group D while European champions Spain, already through, need a draw with Argentina to seal first place in Group C.