From fun drills at practice to motivational speeches, captain and coach doing all they can ahead of the Saudi encounter.
India plays their last 16 match against Saudi Arabia this evening and all of India’s players are charged up and looking forward to the game. They have finally left behind all the under preparedness that plagued their participation at the start of the competition and are keen to make an impact in this knockout encounter. Against a higher ranked team and one which has played excellent football, the Indians have their task cut out. But they don’t seem flustered: from fun drills at practice in trying to keep the boys relaxed to motivational speeches from the coach and captain, all is being done to keep the team spirit high.
At practice both Igor Stimac and Sunil Chhetri addressed the boys and charged everyone up. The skipper was clear it is the Asian Games and it is for the country. Come what may the Indians will give it their all. When asked to speak, Sunil, in his own imitable style said it was one of those matches which the boys can be proud of. It is an opportunity and they should just give it everything they have, said the captain.
The coach said India will not concede a single inch. They will run, tackle, push and do all they can to make it hard for Saudi Arabia. Win, lose or draw, they will need to be proud of the effort.
With no injury concerns, this is one match that can define how much Indian football has progressed. While Saudi Arabia is a much better team, in rankings and otherwise, in sport it is never say never. Even if the win percentage is 1 percent, there is still that 1 percent chance. And the Indians know it. Now it is on the boys to put in their best effort on the pitch.
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