BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — England beat Tunisia 1-0 and France collapsed against South Korea 2-1 at the Under-20 World Cup.
Matias Abaldo and Andres Ferrari starred as Uruguay overcame Iraq 4-0 in their Group E opener.
The top two teams get safe passage into the last 16, where they are joined by the four best third-placed sides.
Ukraine is the reigning champions after winning the 2019 edition in neighbouring Poland.
Dane Scarlett’s first-half header proved to be enough for England in La Plata. Tunisia had few opportunities to equalize during their Group E match.
“We controlled the game from start to finish. It is true we could have been a bit more ruthless, though,” England coach Ian Foster said according to AP.
“The boys were a little nervous, it is normal for the first game. There was a lot of anticipation ahead of this tournament.”
France’s nerves were also evident against South Korea in Mendoza.
South Korea opened the scoring in the 22nd minute through Lee Seung-won and doubled its lead in the second-half from a Lee Young-jun header. France finally scored from the spot thanks to Alan Virginius.
Meanwhile, Uruguay made light work of Iraq in arguably the most impressive performance thus far of the U-20 World Cup.
Matias Abaldo broke the deadlock following a canny pass from Franco Gonzalez, before scorer turned provider, delivering a glorious cross which Andres Ferrari headed home with aplomb.
The third came when Facundo Gonzalez’s header from a corner came back off the crossbar and went in off the goalkeeper.
Alan Matturro added the fourth with a powerful header from a corner in stoppage time, before celebrating elaborately with his shin pad. Uruguay and Iraq will return to action on Thursday against England and Tunisia respectively.
Gambia defeated Honduras 2-1 in an entertaining game at Mendoza Stadium in Group F.
A lightning-fast start saw Gambia take the lead after no more than 20 seconds, when Adama Bojang rifled home a stunning long-range effort. Honduras responded in kind just four minutes later, when Marco Aceituno headed home an inviting Isaac Castillo centre.
The Young Scorpions almost retook the lead midway through the second half, when Bojang burst beyond Honduras’s backline and skipped around goalkeeper Juergen Garcia, but Geremy Rodas did exceptionally well to get back and clear his effort off the line.
Bojang would eventually break through again. Garcia did well to save a low header from the forward, but he was on hand to turn home the rebound and fire The Gambia back in front.
Honduras thought lightning had struck twice when Daniel Carter headed in just four minutes later, but replays showed the substitute was marginally offside and the goal was chalked off.
The Gambia and Honduras will return to Group F action on Thursday against France and Korea Republic respectively.
Elsewhere, two of the title favourites lost their opening games when Italy upstaged Brazil 3-2 and Japan produced a shocking 1-0 upset win over Senegal.
Nigeria and Colombia won their matches in dramatic fashion, both by scores of 2-1 against much weaker rivals Dominican Republic and Israel.
Italy raced to a 3-0 lead in the Group D match, opening in the 11th minute when midfielder Matteo Pratti shot from close range.
Italy doubled its lead after Brazil goalkeeper Mycael failed to stop a cross and left the ball for a clear header by midfielder Cesare Casadei in the 27th. Casadei added a third in the 35th from the spot.
Brazil regrouped and scored two goals through striker Marcos Leonardo, the first in the 72nd and the second with a header in the 87th, but it was too little too late.
Senegal was stunned early by Japan in its Group C match in La Plata. Striker Kuryu Matsuki scored in the 15th and that allowed the Japanese to sit back.
Senegal winger Samba Diallo, one of the expected stars of the tournament, failed to deliver and was substituted in the 73rd.
Earlier, Nigeria trailed the Dominican Republic in their Group D match in Mendoza after Edison Azcona opened the scoring from the spot in the 23rd. But the African team’s high intensity paid off in the second-half.
The Nigerians equalized after an own-goal by left-back Guillermo de Peña in the 31st and got the winner with Samson Adeniran Lawal in the 70th minute.
Colombia faced difficulties before edging Israel with a late winner in their Group C match in La Plata. Dor David Turgeman scored for the Israelis in the 57th, but Colombia rallied with goals from Oscar Cortez in the 74th Gustavo Puerta in the 90th.
Colombia next plays Japan on Wednesday. In other matches Wednesday, Italy and Nigeria face off and Brazil takes on Dominican Republic.
Next up for England is Uruguay on Thursday.
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