New Delhi: India U-17 national team head coach Luis Norton de Matos has expressed confidence his players will deliver in the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India, which kicks off on October 6.
“The players are very focused and are very proud to play for the country. All the players are perhaps going to give their 200 percent and will play to the best of their abilities. It is evident that they are raring to go”, said Matos.
The squad are currently training in Gurugam, Haryana under the watchful eyes of the Portuguese coach and one can almost sense the high morale in the squad.
“The boys know the meaning and sentiment of wearing a national team jersey in a mega tournament like the FIFA World Cup. The sentiment of wearing the national colours and giving your all for the country runs deep in this team”
Matos further stated that the India U-17s, on their day, could put the best of teams under pressure and fight for a win.
“If we play to the best of our abilities, we can put a lot of good teams under pressure and give them a run for their money. Even if there is a five percent chance of winning a match, we will fight for the margin and try to extend it.
“On our day, we can put strong teams under pressure. In football anything is possible and we will take to the field keeping in mind that fact, to show the world that we belong on the same stage as them," he added.
India are in Group A with USA, Colombia, Ghana and Colombia, the first team to arrive for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The Indian Colts face USA on October 6, before locking horns against Colombia and Ghana on October 9 and October 12 respectively at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
Source: All India Football Federation
Source: the-afc.com