Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
New Delhi: As India gears up to host the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 which kicks off on Friday, the senior national team have been pushed out of the limelight.
Head coach Stephen Constantine men, however, are also preparing for a very important assignment - the crucial AFC Asian Cup 2019 Qualifier against Macau on October 11
India, unbeaten in the three matches in the Qualifiers, need a victory against Macau in their Group A tie to seal a berth in the Asian Cup UAE 2019 which Constantine feels will be “historic.”
“The game against Macau in Bengaluru is one of the most important games in our history for a long time. If we are able to win it and qualify for the Asian Cup, I think it will be an achievement,” Constantine said in Mumbai.
“The key behind the success is the work,” Constantine stated. “The support from the Mr. Praful Patel and Mr. Kushal Das (All India Football Federation President and General Secretary respectively) has been exceptional. My purpose has always been to build a team for the future. That’s how I think and that’s what I do as I think that’s the manner we can sustain the momentum,” the coach maintained
“We have quite a strong core at the moment. If someone goes out because of an injury, the other one can come in and there isn’t much loss in quality,” Constantine stressed, only to add: “But it takes time.
“We are focused on the match in Bengaluru. It’s in our hands, or should I say our feet, and we are aware of the type of football which Macau will try to play. As they did at home, they may try to park the bus and we need to be patient, continue doing the hard work and find a way to unlock them.”
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