India set to inscribe history as FIFA U-17 World Cup kickstarts today
BY : News Gateway / FIFA U-17 World Cup / New Delhi /
India is all geared up for a historic moment as the boys take on USA in the FIFA U-17 World Cup opener match in New Delhi on Friday.
India U17 team will take to the field at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru stadium against USA in their FIFA U17 World Cup opener. For 21 members of the Indian squad, it will be a small but significant step in their careers but for an expectant nation which has never fielded a team in a football World Cup, it will be a giant leap towards realising its dream of competing in the senior World Cup. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the grand event.
India have a daunting task of pitting their wits against the USA for 90 minutes in their Group A opener. In a group containing Colombia and Ghana as well, coach Luis Norton de Matos and his boys certainly are the underdogs but will be hoping to put up a creditable show. Against USA, one of the regulars in this competition, it could be a tough night for the colts but the side will be hopeful of giving the Americans a run for their money.
India’s first priority on Friday will be to ensure their defensive organisation is perfect against a side which is very strong offensively. With Jeakson Singh anchoring the midfield and Anwar Ali leading the defence, India will be looking to ensure they do not concede any goals early on at least. Striker Aniket Jadhav has the pace to burn aplenty and will be a key cog in India’s counterattacks. With tall defenders like Namit Deshpande and Ali and a skilled free-kick taker in Sanjeev Stalin, Norton de Matos would want to make such situations count against USA.
USA, on the other hand, will have designs of making it out of the group stages and emphasis will be on notching a big win against India.
Friday is all about the fact that an Indian team is playing the World Cup for the first time ever. The need of the hour is to savour the moment and worry about the results later.
The match begins at 8 PM.