Blue Tigers up to tame Lions
16 Oct 2012 7:22 AM IST
High on confidence after their recent Nehru Cup triumph, India take on Singapore in a rare international football friendly on a FIFA date, which will also be the first away match under coach Wim Koevermans, here tomorrow.
Having successfully begun his stint at the helm of affairs with a title win in the Nehru Cup last month, Koevermans would want to continue to maintain the momentum and collect some valuable ranking points on Tuesday at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
Being a match on a FIFA date, Koevermans has a full squad available to pick unlike the past wrangling between the AIFF and the clubs on release of players for such games.
A win for 168th ranked Indians against their opponents six place higher will be a good chance for them to stop the slide in the FIFA ladder which they have been experiencing despite the Nehru Cup win.
Singapore will be without some key players, including regular captain Shahril Ishak, but it won’t be easy for Koeverman’s men who have tasted success mostly on home soil.
India and Singapore have played 15 times against each other with the former having won seven matches while India were victorious on six occasions. The last the two sides met was in 2004 when Singapore won 2-0 in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.
Koevermans, himself, knows that it won’t be easy against Singapore who were playing the match as preparation for the AFF Suzuki Cup.
‘It’s nice to get to play a match on a FIFA date. We look to improve ourselves and are looking forward to a good match. It will be a difficult one,’ Koevermans said.
‘We have had a look at Singapore in a video session. They have the home advantage. But we play every game intending to win it and we will want to win this too. But as I said, it?s not easy,’ he said. Captain Sunil Chhetri said the team was excited about playing here.
‘We are excited to come here and play. Our last tournament was a memorable one. But that’s past. Now it’s up to us to take up the challenge,’ Chhetri said.
Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic, meanwhile, said that the visitors would be tough customers, especially captain Chhetri.
‘India come into the match as a confident team. Our primary plan will be to stop this man,’ said Avramovic on Chhetri.
WE CAN GET INTO TOP 100: SUBRATA PAL
There’s a certain calm in Subrata pal which is bound to strike you. A day prior to the International Friendly against Singapore, the ‘Spiderman’ spoke at length to www.the-aiff.com about Wim Koevermans, the changes in the National squad, FIFA Rankings and his assessment of Singapore as a team.
When asked about the fans reactions citing him as the best goalkeeper, he said, ‘There are 130 crore people in our country and they are independent to have their own mind. But I have been fortunate enough to be accepted by all across the length and breadth of the country.’
India lie 169th in the FIFA rankings and Subrata said India is way ahead of what the rankings suggest.
‘I can tell you we have the potential to be below 100. I need to thank the AIFF for arranging the International Friendly against Singapore.
We need to play on all FIFA Dates without fail for the next 18 months. If we play that regularly, I guarantee you, we will surely be below 100 in the FIFA Rankings. We are much better than 168!,’ said the talented goalkeeper. India face Singapore on Tuesday.
Having successfully begun his stint at the helm of affairs with a title win in the Nehru Cup last month, Koevermans would want to continue to maintain the momentum and collect some valuable ranking points on Tuesday at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.
Being a match on a FIFA date, Koevermans has a full squad available to pick unlike the past wrangling between the AIFF and the clubs on release of players for such games.
A win for 168th ranked Indians against their opponents six place higher will be a good chance for them to stop the slide in the FIFA ladder which they have been experiencing despite the Nehru Cup win.
Singapore will be without some key players, including regular captain Shahril Ishak, but it won’t be easy for Koeverman’s men who have tasted success mostly on home soil.
India and Singapore have played 15 times against each other with the former having won seven matches while India were victorious on six occasions. The last the two sides met was in 2004 when Singapore won 2-0 in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying match.
Koevermans, himself, knows that it won’t be easy against Singapore who were playing the match as preparation for the AFF Suzuki Cup.
‘It’s nice to get to play a match on a FIFA date. We look to improve ourselves and are looking forward to a good match. It will be a difficult one,’ Koevermans said.
‘We have had a look at Singapore in a video session. They have the home advantage. But we play every game intending to win it and we will want to win this too. But as I said, it?s not easy,’ he said. Captain Sunil Chhetri said the team was excited about playing here.
‘We are excited to come here and play. Our last tournament was a memorable one. But that’s past. Now it’s up to us to take up the challenge,’ Chhetri said.
Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic, meanwhile, said that the visitors would be tough customers, especially captain Chhetri.
‘India come into the match as a confident team. Our primary plan will be to stop this man,’ said Avramovic on Chhetri.
WE CAN GET INTO TOP 100: SUBRATA PAL
There’s a certain calm in Subrata pal which is bound to strike you. A day prior to the International Friendly against Singapore, the ‘Spiderman’ spoke at length to www.the-aiff.com about Wim Koevermans, the changes in the National squad, FIFA Rankings and his assessment of Singapore as a team.
When asked about the fans reactions citing him as the best goalkeeper, he said, ‘There are 130 crore people in our country and they are independent to have their own mind. But I have been fortunate enough to be accepted by all across the length and breadth of the country.’
India lie 169th in the FIFA rankings and Subrata said India is way ahead of what the rankings suggest.
‘I can tell you we have the potential to be below 100. I need to thank the AIFF for arranging the International Friendly against Singapore.
We need to play on all FIFA Dates without fail for the next 18 months. If we play that regularly, I guarantee you, we will surely be below 100 in the FIFA Rankings. We are much better than 168!,’ said the talented goalkeeper. India face Singapore on Tuesday.
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