Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

India upbeat as 50-day World Cup countdown starts

The tournament featuring 24 teams to be played at six Indian cities is set for an October 6 kick off.

Luis Norton de Matos

Bengaluru, August 17: As the 50-day countdown to the FIFA U-17 World Cup begins, India's coach Luis Norton de Matos believes his wards are getting ready for the big event.

The tournament featuring 24 teams to be played at six Indian cities -- Goa, Guwahati, Kochi, Kolkata, Navi Mumbai and New Delhi is set for an October 6 kick off.

The hosts fine-tuned their preparations by by playing a four-nation tournament in Mexico also featuring Chile and Colombia.

The Indian colts had mixed fourtunes in the tournament, suffering reversals against the hosts and Colombia while holding the formidable Chile 1-1 after conceding an early goal.

Matos bancked on the positives though, "It's vital to detect weakness when facing challenges during the games," he said.

"We conceded five goals from corners and that means that we need to work on our positioning in set pieces"

"We need to concentrate, communicate and defend well in corners", Matos added.

The Portuguese coach believes the stalemate against Chile was as good as a win.

"We came back from a goal down to hold them despite plying with a man down in the second half.

"The Team improved with every game and the ultimate reward of the series was the game against Chile which ended in a draw", Matos said.

India's performance won plaudits even from the rival camp coach Hernan Caputto

"It was a very difficult match, the way India approached the match was very interesting. I'm sure India is a team that will give its best and make their country proud in the World Cup," said Caputto.

Story first published: Thursday, August 17, 2017, 14:53 [IST]
Other articles published on Aug 17, 2017