The quar­tet of joint pre-tour­na­ment favourites, Brazil and Spain, Venezuela and Cana­da will be hop­ing to se­cure their quar­ter­fi­nal places when match­es in Group C and D of the Fi­fa Un­der-17 Women's World Cup con­tin­ues at two venues to­day. In Group C at the Ato Boldon Sta­di­um, Cou­va, Eu­ro­pean cham­pi­ons, Spain, com­ing off a 4-1 whip­ping of Asia's Japan will meet Ocea­nia's New Zealand from 4 pm.

Las Ro­ji­tas as Spain is known were not at their best in that match but they post­ed the re­sult they want­ed, in con­trast to the young Foot­ball Ferns, who im­pressed on their way to a 2-1 set­back against tour­na­ment new­com­ers Venezuela. An­oth­er loss for the New Zealan­ders, will mark an­oth­er ear­ly ex­it. Three hours lat­er at Cou­va, the Venezue­lans will look to se­cure their sec­ond round pas­sage with a vic­to­ry against Japan. Venezuela has al­ready made his­to­ry by seal­ing their maid­en suc­cess in a Fi­fa women's tour­na­ment and they will be ea­ger to record an­oth­er achieve­ment by reach­ing the quar­ter­fi­nals.

To do that, they will need to see off a Japan side that graced the last eight two years ago. Away at Mal­abar, the Re­pub­lic of Ire­land will aim to bounce back from their loss to Brazil when they take on Cana­da from 4 pm. The Canucks are com­ing off a hard fought 1-0 win over a waste­ful Ghana in their open­er on Mon­day. The Gha­ni­ans, mean­while go in­to their clash with the ever-dan­ger­ous "Se­le­cao" as Brazil is called know­ing an­oth­er de­feat will spell the end of their as­pi­ra­tions of reach­ing the sec­ond round.

To­day's Match­es

Group C:

New Zealand vs Spain, 4 pm.

Japan vs Venezuela, 7 pm.

Ato Boldon Sta­di­um, Cou­va

Group D:

Rep of Ire­land vs Cana­da, 4 pm.

Ghana vs Brazil, 7 pm

Lar­ry Gomes Sta­di­um, Mal­abar