New Delhi [India], October 17 (ANI): The Indian senior ladies’s soccer group have been saved busy for the final couple of months. After tenting for greater than six weeks in Bhubaneswar, the Blue Tigresses participated within the Asian Games for the primary time in 9 years. Now, the Thomas Dennerby-coached squad have landed in Saudi Arabia for the ultimate leg of their preparation forward of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifiers Round 2 in Uzbekistan later this month.
India had been left wanting extra of their two defeats to Chinese Taipei (1-2) and Thailand (0-1) on the continental video games final month, and Dennerby has blended emotions concerning the group’s exhibiting in China. Speaking to the-aiff.com from Abha, Saudi Arabia, the Swede stated, “In one way, I was very happy with the team because I think our performances were definitely up to the mark. We played against two higher-ranked teams. We gave them a big fight, and that was good. But when you play a tournament like the Asian Games, you cannot only be happy playing well because that is not what really counts. Points matter, and we didn’t get those in any of the games, so of course, I was very disappointed about that. But overall, it’s also important to have played two games despite the fact that we didn’t win. It helped us a lot to prepare because now we know a little bit more about the level of the team.”The problem mendacity forward within the Olympic Qualifiers is considerably more durable, with Japan, among the many greatest in not simply Asia however the world, awaiting the Blue Tigresses within the opening fixture on October 26. Vietnam, who made their FIFA Women’s World Cup debut this 12 months, and hosts Uzbekistan, ranked 50, make up Group C. Four groups – the group winners and the very best runners-up throughout the three teams will make their approach into the subsequent stage of Paris 2024 qualification. Dennerby believes the runners-up spot is what India, the lowest-ranked group within the group, can realistically hope to realize.
“Everybody involved in football knows that Japan, against whom we will start the Olympic qualification round two, is a really strong team. The only team who beat the world champion (Spain) 4-0 in the World Cup this summer. They played the Asian Games with, you can say, their B team. The A team were playing against Argentina, who they beat 8-0. So we know it’s a really strong opponent, definitely. But of course, games are not decided on paper. We’re going to do whatever we can to win that game. We never enter the field and have the feeling that, yeah, it’s okay if we only lose with three or four goals. We can’t have that approach. Because if you have that approach, you usually also lose,” stated the 64-year-old.
India will then sq. off in opposition to Vietnam on October 29 and Uzbekistan on November 1 in Tashkent. There’s a way of familiarity for the Blue Tigresses in Uzbekistan having performed a pleasant in opposition to the hosts in March this 12 months. The Central Asians gained 3-2 courtesy of an injury-time winner. Grace Dangmei, who gained two trophies enjoying for Uzbek aspect Sevinch Qarshi final season, and Indumathi Kathiresan scored the targets for India.
“I can say that we will not enter the field being afraid of Vietnam and Uzbekistan. We lost narrowly to Uzbekistan last time. At that time, we also missed a couple of players who are with us now. I will say that Team India are a little bit stronger than it was in March. Vietnam is also a team we respect a lot. But we’re not afraid of anything. So, we will do whatever we can to take that spot as the best runners-up, because I guess it’s going to be tough to beat Japan for the top spot. So realistically, we should be very happy with second place,” shared Dennerby.
India have confronted Uzbekistan 5 occasions since 2019, leading to one draw and 4 defeats. Three of these defeats have come by a one-goal margin. The Blue Tigresses have been getting nearer and nearer, and now’s the very best time to get that elusive win on this fixture, in accordance with Dennerby. “The friendly we played in March showed that we can definitely beat them. Of course, when it’s a competitive game, there’s a different approach from both teams. But hopefully, the girls feel that we are coming closer and closer. We have lost to Uzbekistan a few times in the past also. But I think that it’s good for the girls to have the feeling that we are getting closer to beating them,” he stated.
Again highlighting the significance of enjoying two aggressive matches on a giant stage just like the Asian Games, Dennerby defined how the video games have helped the group perceive the areas they must work on.
“We nonetheless must develop numerous elements of our sport – the build-up from behind, and the ending as a result of a goal-scoring probability is simply an opportunity if not transformed. The last cross or the ultimate cross is essential, and it should include numerous accuracy. But additionally, we have to place ourselves within the field effectively. When we get the prospect, we have to hit the goal. As lengthy as you do not hit the goal, you do not put the ball contained in the body, you possibly can’t rating.
“So, we need to be sharper in both the offensive and defensive boxes. I think that the situations in which Chinese Taipei and Thailand scored are situations that we could have handled. It is a bit of weak defending and weak decision-making. So, when you play better teams, you need to be super sharp in both boxes,” Dennerby concluded. (ANI)