The feat of playing in India's first-ever FIFA tournament should spur the boys to bring out their best and deliver something worthy of a host country. PTINew Delhi: India stand on the cusp of history as the hosts are set to make their debut in a FIFA event against a formidable USA in a Group A match of the U-17 World Cup, which begins here on Friday.
India qualified automatically for the event as hosts. They have prepared well with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) sending the players for training tours in Europe and a tournament in Mexico.
Known for their man-to-man marking, USA are the firm favorites in the match to be played at the refurbished Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The game is set for an 8 pm kick-off.
Most of the American players ply their trade in Major League Soccer youth teams and a couple of them are set to play in top European clubs as well.
India would enjoy the home advantage, and captain Amarjit Singh and his team-mates have promised to be competitive at the showpiece event.
The feat of playing in India's first-ever FIFA tournament should spur them to bring out their best and deliver something worthy of a host country. They will also be the first Indian players to feature in any World Cup.
Odds are stacked heavily against India as the players lack competitive matches. The Indian colts also don't attend any professional academies unlike their American counterparts.
Moreover, the Indian team was assembled in just seven months by head coach Luis Norton de Matos who took over in March after the sacking of German Nicolai Adam.
Adam, who was made India U-17 head coach in February, 2015, built a team by scouting talent from across the country through trials and tournaments, but he got the boot early this year after a reign of two years for allegedly abusing the players.
Portuguese de Matos has made several changes, bringing in at least half-a-dozen players in key positions.
The two teams are more or less unknown quantities to each other. A pragmatic de Matos has, however, warned against any miracles, conceding that there is a big gap between his boys and the other teams.
Focus on defense
The Portuguese tactician has indicated that India cannot play an open game and his focus would be on strong defense and not to concede goals. His strategy would be to rely on smooth and swift transitions from defense to offense and hit on the counter-attacks.
He is expected to start Moirangthem Dheeraj Singh at the goal while center-backs Anwar Ali and Jitendra Singh are certainties.
Sanjeev Stalin should start as the left full-back while Hendry Antonay is expected to man the right-full back's position in place of Boris Singh, who was ruled out after picking up a red card against Iran in the AFC U-16 Championship in Goa last year.
The six-feet-two inch defensive midfielder Jeakson Singh could be the key man who will strengthen the defense besides helping captain Amarjit and Suresh Singh Wanjam in the midfield.
Komal Thatal, who scored a brilliant goal in India's campaign against Brazil in the BRICS Cup last year, has been doing well at the left flank while Aniket Jadhav is expected to start as the lone striker.
de Matos has conceded that USA are strong going forward, and the Indian defense and the goalkeeper will have to be solid and patient to keep them at bay.
"They (USA) will be strong in attack and we have to prepare to counter their attack. We have to be strong in defense," de Matos said.
US captain and striker Josh Sargent will sign with Bundesliga club Werder Bremen next February when he turns 18. He also played at the U-20 World Cup in Korea earlier this year, making him the first US player since Freddy Adu in 2003 to play in the U-20 and U-17 World Cups in the same year.
Tim Weah, son of former FIFA World Player of the Year and Liberia great George Weah, is another striker and a big talent. He signed with Paris Saint-Germain earlier this year.
Not being complacent
US head coach John Hackworth has, however, refused to take India likely.
"We've played India once before, we were successful against them. But it wasn't in the opening game of the World Cup, it wasn't them hosting a World Cup. My feeling is that, and from the information I've heard, there's going to be a very loud crowd.
"They (India) are incredibly athletic and hard-working team. We are going to have to beat the host country in the opening game and that is a difficult challenge," Hackworth said.
The US team has 17 players who were part of the team that played in the qualifying tournament -- CONCACAF U-17 Championship in April -- in which they finished second, losing to Mexico in the final on penalties.
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