Tashkent [Uzbekistan], October 31 (ANI): At stake are ‘satisfaction, honour and repute’ for the Indian Senior Women’s Team as they tackle Uzbekistan of their final match of the Paris 2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament Round 2 on Wednesday on the Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent at 5.30 pm IST.
Back-to-back losses in opposition to Japan and Vietnam have dashed the Blue Tigresses’ Paris dream. Two video games the place India went down honest and sq. regardless of exhibiting glimpses of what they’re able to. But head coach Thomas Dennerby reiterated that when you find yourself taking part in in opposition to groups of this stage, simply glimpses are by no means sufficient.
“Absolutely, the most important thing for us is to have a better build-up and not give away the ball easily. That is the main problem. We need to fulfil our roles in the defensive organisation,” he mentioned as quoted by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
“But if we have our best day at work, I think we are definitely capable of getting a draw or a win against Vietnam. But some small individual mistakes destroyed that game,” he added.
Following losses to 2 World Cup groups, India face a relatively acquainted face in Uzbekistan. The Blue Tigresses performed a pleasant with the hosts in March on the Pakhtakor Stadium, dropping 2-3. Goals from Dangmei Grace and Indumathi Kathiresan cancelled out Diyorakhon Khabibullaeva and Lyudmila Karachik’s strikes earlier than Kamila Zaripova nicked the win within the 92nd minute.
Expecting an identical tight contest once more tomorrow, Dennerby nonetheless, identified the largest distinction might be that this time, it’s a aggressive match, and Uzbekistan’s Olympics hopes are nonetheless alive regardless of dropping 0-2 to Japan on Sunday. Midori Honda’s aspect had overwhelmed Vietnam 1-0 earlier than that courtesy of Khabibullaeva’s objective.
“We play the host and it is going to be crowded. But still, we need to play for our honour. We need to show that India are a good team. So I really hope that the girls are ready to fight even though we cannot come to the Olympics next year. But of course, fighting for your reputation and honour should be, I hope, enough motivation,” mentioned Dennerby.
Very little might have gone proper for India, however probably the most optimistic particular person performances have come from the boots of defender Ritu Rani, in keeping with Dennerby. The 26-year-old has earned the belief of the Swedish coach, who deployed her at proper centre-back in a brand new five-at-the-back formation in opposition to Japan. India needed to re-adjust their backline once more after Dalima Chhibber’s harm earlier than the Vietnam match, the place Ritu’s first rate and no-nonsense efficiency at right-back was admired by Dennerby.
“Individually, I am feeling good. Winning the coach’s trust and getting the chance to play is what a player wants,” mentioned Ritu.
“But as a team, our performance has not been up to the mark. Our results could have been different if we had done better,” she added.
Ritu made her India debut in 2019 on the COTIF event in Spain, and first performed below Dennerby within the Brazil tour in 2021, beginning within the match in opposition to Venezuela. “In that match, the coach told me that my performance stood out in the team. He trusts me to come on in any situation and I am always ready for that,” she shared.
“Now football is like this. Everybody has to play in different positions. There is a difference between playing in central defence and at full-back, but I felt settled,” mentioned Ritu concerning her new place within the final match.
It’s not simply defence, but in addition her ball-playing skills which have caught the attention. It was Ritu’s free-kick help that landed India’s first objective of the event as Sandhiya Ranganathan headed her lofted ball into the online.
“Now, we are looking forward to our last match. We have nothing to lose now. Uzbekistan are a good side, but not that good that we cannot beat them. We need to win this match in any case. We want to head back home with a victory,” Ritu mentioned. (ANI)