Coach Nicolai Adam’s side must overcome Iran, who top Group A alongside United Arab Emirates on four points, to have any chance of advancing to the knockout phase for only the second time after also reaching the quarter-finals in 2002. The easiest equation that one can hope for is an Indian victory against Iran and hope that UAE get at least a point from Saudi Arabia (to be played simultaneously at Bambolim Stadium).
The Goan Network
Margao
Facing the threat of an early elimination, hosts India will need to post a win to stay afloat in the AFC U-16 Championship when they take on formidable Iran in a must win Group A clash in their last league match of AFC Under 16 championships at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda here on Wednesday at 7pm.
The situation is so similar to 2012. India then coached by Colm Toal and playing in the AFC U-16 Finals in Tehran had to then win their last Group League match against China to keep alive their chances of making it to the quarterfinals, a match which eventually ended in a 2-2 draw.
A day prior to India’s last Group A League match against a “quality” Iran, it’s exactly the same. India need a win to keep alive their chances of making it to the quarterfinals. However, the present India U-17 World Cup Coach Nicolai Adam isn’t much willing to go into calculations.
"I think none of the boys are at all calculating. Personally, I don’t even like to calculate. It’s not at all interesting for me,” he briefed the newsmen on the eve of the match . “Right now the focus is to recollect our energy and when we go to the pitch at 7pm tomorrow (September 21, 2016), we would be focussing on getting three points. After that, we will see,” he adds.
The easiest equation that one can hope for is an Indian victory against Iran and hope that UAE get at least a point from Saudi Arabia (to be played simultaneously at Bambolim Stadium).
‘Are Iran beatable?’ “It will be super difficult. They have a lot of quality in their side,” he asserts, only to repeat, “…a lot of quality. Jersey nos 17 (Mohammad Ghaderi) and No. 21 (Allahyar Sayyad) have impressed me so much,” he informs. “We had met Iran last year in Tabriz in the AFC U-16 Qualifiers and they had beaten us 3-0,” he recollects.
“Going into the match we are definitely not the favourites just like we were never the favourites in the Group. But yeah, like any other Team we play to win every match and no Team is unbeatable,” he states.
“But one thing is certain -- Iran will have the same respect for us as we have for them and they won’t take us lightly. We had set the target for the semis as you always have to aim for the Sun to reach a mountain top. Everything is possible,” he feels.
“You need to remember that we are preparing for the U-17 World Cup and honestly we can’t be in a better situation than this. The fact that we are in with a chance going into our last Group League match is an achievement in itself,” he opined. “This is competitive youth Football at its best.”
Though the Indian boys have won all hearts, the slump in momentum in the second half in consecutive matches has stayed the talking point among all. Nicolai nevertheless stresses “not everything can be explained in Football.”
“I mean it,” Nicolai says. “We released uncontrolled steam in our first match and that may have had an effect in our second match. But how do you explain that the boys were running all over after conceding two in two minutes after 83 minutes and even equalised against Saudi Arabia? Where did it come from,” he queries. “You cannot explain everything in Football.”
“Fitness has never been my concern. Actually Football is played between the left and right ear “ it’s a mental game and all about mental strength.”
The Coach also urged the “Football loving” fans of Goa to cheer from the stands.
“Talk to your employer and get a permission of maybe coming in an hour late to Office on Thursday. The boys deserve the numbers in the stands. I promise we won’t be easy to beat. We will give our best,” stays his message to the fans.
Iran, who have four points, just need a draw to advance in the knockout round.
However, Iran coach Abbas Chamanian said his team will not play for a draw and will look to register an outright win.
"We are not going into this match looking for a point, we will play offensively and we are only thinking about three points from the game against India. We will be looking for a victory from the first minute. We respect India but we have one goal and that is to reach a higher level," he said.
As Group A reaches a pulsating climax with all four teams still in the hunt for a place in the quarter-finals, Saudi Arabia will have to defeat UAE on Wednesday in another Group A match, which will be simultaneously be played at GMC Stadium, Bambolim, if they want to avoid an early exit.
Mohammed Al Abdali's team have looked impressive in spells but allowed a two-goal advantage to turn into a 3-2 reversal in their opener against Iran before conceding at the death in the draw with India.
"After the game against Iran we realised that the deciding match would be against UAE and we started to prepare the players mentally for this game," said Al Abdali, Saudi Arabia coach.
UAE coach Abdelmajeed Al Nemer said his team will try its best to qualify.
"The game is going to make all the difference and it will be really tough. But we will try our best to qualify," said Abdelmajeed Al Nemer.
