Sydney [Australia], March 8 (ANI): It all comes right down to the final Group C match towards Chinese Taipei for the Blue Tigresses.
India’s hopes of constructing it to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 quarter-finals are very a lot alive regardless of defeats towards Vietnam (1-2) and Japan (0-11) in Perth.
Win by a margin of greater than a aim, and they’re going to enter the final eight, ought to Japan defeat Vietnam on March 10, within the simultaneous kick-off, in line with a launch.
India also can scrape by way of as Group C runners-up in the event that they win by any margin, however rating no less than twice. Further, even a 1-0 margin could also be sufficient ought to the Group B recreation between Uzbekistan and Bangladesh finish in a draw on Monday.
The Blue Tigresses, who had arrange camp in Perth, a few weeks previous to the Asian Cup, have now shifted base to Sydney, the place they’ll face Chinese Taipei on the Western Sydney Stadium, at 14:30 IST on Tuesday, March 10. Japan play Vietnam on the identical time, at Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth.
India left Perth on Sunday morning and arrived in New South Wales within the night. On Monday, they’ll maintain their official coaching session within the morning, adopted by a go to to the Western Sydney Stadium to familiarise themselves with the match venue.
India head coach Amelia Valverde spoke about instilling the do-or-die mentality into the gamers, forward of the essential match, the place the specified consequence might give the Blue Tigresses a shot at qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
Valverde stated, ‘As lengthy as we nonetheless have an opportunity, and we all know we do, we are going to combat till the very finish.’
‘But we have to concentrate on getting ready the absolute best match forward (towards Chinese Taipei),’ she continued. ‘We should flip the web page as rapidly as doable as a result of we all know we will present a greater model of ourselves than what we noticed (towards Japan), one thing much like what we confirmed final Wednesday (towards Vietnam).’
The heavy defeat towards Japan was not a consequence that may have been anticipated. However, India midfielder Sangita Basfore has put the consequence behind her and is already wanting ahead to the subsequent recreation.
‘It was a difficult match, sure, but it surely doesn’t diminish the hassle that the workforce put in,’ she stated. ‘Japan are an excellent workforce, and taking part in towards them gave us many classes, which we intend to take ahead into the subsequent match and carry out higher.
‘Our final group stage recreation is towards Chinese Taipei, and we nonetheless have an opportunity. We will go into that match with hope and willpower, and attempt to ship a powerful efficiency,’ stated Sangita. (ANI)