Brazil Under-20s continue their quest for a record-equalling sixth Under-20 World Cup title when they meet Tunisia Under-20s at the Estadio Unico Diego Armando Maradona in La Plata for Wednesday's last-16 battle.
The Selecao Sub-20 topped a closely-fought Group D to seal a path to the knockout rounds, while their African counterparts just about progressed with a third-placed Group E finish.
Match preview
Seeking to assert their dominance on the international stage after racing away to the Under-20 South American title, Brazil were brought crashing back down to earth in their opening Group D game, conceding three first-half goals in a 3-2 defeat to Italy.
The continental champions were made to pay for a disastrous opening 35 minutes on matchday one, but Ramon Menezes's side quickly consigned that opening defeat to history and hit the Dominican Republic for six without reply to leave them on the cusp of last-16 qualification.
Requiring all three points to draw level with Nigeria on the final day, Brazil put the Flying Eagles to the sword through Jean Pedroso and Marquinhos's efforts in a 2-0 win, thereby rising from the ashes to finish first in the group, matching Italy and Nigeria's six-point tallies but winning out on goal difference.
Unsurprisingly showing plenty of attacking flair early doors, Brazil were one of just three teams in the group stages to reach double figures in goals - netting 10 in total - as many as Argentina and one worse off than top scorers Ecuador, who hit Fiji for nine in one game.
Champions of the world in Under-20 football in 1983, 1985, 1993, 2003 and 2011, Brazil peculiarly failed to qualify for the 2013, 2017 and 2019 tournaments, but they reached the final in 2015 and are well on their way to redemption for their recent failures at this level.
In contrast, Tunisia's run at their recent continental championships ended in dismay - losing 3-0 to Senegal in the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations semis and suffering a 4-0 loss to Nigeria in the third-placed playoff - and their bid for World Cup glory began in similar fashion.
A 1-0 defeat to England on matchday one already had the Carthage Eagles fighting an uphill battle to progress through the groups, but they reignited their charge with a 3-0 thumping of Iraq, despite playing the final 15 minutes of that encounter with 10 men.
Tunisia's hopes of a top-two finish in Group E were ultimately dashed in a 1-0 reverse to Uruguay on Sunday courtesy of an injury-time Franco Gonzalez penalty, but with a total of three points and a +1 goal difference, Montasser Louhichi's bested France and Japan's records by the skin of their teeth to go through as the fourth-best third-placed team.
As a result, the current Carthage Eagles crop have made history for Tunisia, who have reached the knockout stages of the Under-20 World Cup for the first time in just their third appearance, going out in the groups during the 1977 and 1985 tournaments and subsequently failing to qualify for another 38 years.
Louhichi's men will no doubt make the long flight home satisfied with their side's work in Argentina, and should they pull off a giant killing of the Brazilians, a quarter-final against either Uzbekistan or Israel will be their reward.
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