Bangkok [Thailand], June 22 (ANI): Ahead of his facet’s match towards defending champions Japan within the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-17 Asian Cup, Indian head coach Bibiano Fernandes stated whereas defeating Japan is simpler stated than accomplished, “funny things have happened in football”.
It is all the way down to the final recreation in Group D of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup for India, and it’s the largest one of all of them up to now. Japan await the Blue Colts in a match that shall be performed on the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, one that can determine the destiny of the boys from the subcontinent, as per a press launch from the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The Indian head coach stated he’s conscious of the mammoth job that lies in entrance of his facet however feels that it’s a mountain that his boys can scale, in the event that they persist with the plan.
“It is quite simple for us. We need to win against Japan, and that should be enough to take us through to the quarter-finals. However, that is easier said than done. Japan are one of the best teams in this competition, they are the defending champions. It would not at all be easy, but it is not impossible,” stated Fernandes as quoted by the discharge.
“Funny things have happened in football, and you never know. We will go into the game as the underdogs, no doubt, but if a couple of chances go our way, and we play to the plans, we can get what we were looking for,” he stated.
Group D remains to be an open affair on the ultimate matchday, as all 4 groups stand an opportunity to make it to the final eight. For India, it’s a moderately tough equation, the place they must defeat Japan and hope for Uzbekistan to get at the least a draw towards Vietnam.
“It is difficult, but the boys are really motivated to do well against Japan. It is an opportunity to play against one of the best teams in Asia, and I am happy to say that that is not lost on them. We have to believe with all our heart, and hopefully, providence will favour us once the match comes to an end,” stated Fernandes.
The Blue Colts haven’t been capable of fireplace as onerous as they might have wished to of their first two video games, drawing 1-1 towards Vietnam, and dropping 0-1 to Uzbekistan. Fernandes has been engaged on sure areas the place he feels India has been missing.
“The last game was not a good result for us, though the boys tried their best. We know we have to do better, we know what is required in the game and how to approach it. It is just a matter of putting ourselves together as one unit and executing those plans. We have been lacking some pace on the wings as well. We have worked on that before the Japan game, and we will try to achieve what we want to,” the coach signed off saying.
India’s conflict towards Japan in Group D of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup will kick off at 5.30 pm IST. (ANI)