India can do it: Bhutia
It is no secret that India faces a mission impossible like scenario after it was drawn in a tough Group D in the second round of qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
They are the lowest ranked side in a group comprising Oman, Turkmenistan, Guam and Iran and making the cut for the third stage is perhaps seemingly even more difficult than climbing Mount Everest.
However, Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia feels India can do the impossible. “Obviously it’s a very tough group,” he told Mirror on the sidelines of The Heineken Foosball league national finals in Bangalore yesterday. “It’s going to be tight but not impossible for India to finish second. All the sides are better than us. With Iran, away matches are going to be crucial. If they try to draw those matches and play defensively away from India, they can make it possible,” he added.
Longer camps needed
“Before the matches, they definitely need to camp longer with Constantine. If he can get more time with team, then they can do better. He’s got that experience dealing with the national squad and Indian football,” Bhutia said.
“When he was handling India the last time, he took us up the ranking. I have played under him and I feel if he gets more time with the team the results are bound to come.”
Bhutia also feels the Indian Super League could help identify future Indian talent at a very young age, helping them mature as a player.
“Players like Romeo Fernandes, Sandesh Jhingan and others are now a household names. I hope these stars can take India to heights in the future,” he said.
They are the lowest ranked side in a group comprising Oman, Turkmenistan, Guam and Iran and making the cut for the third stage is perhaps seemingly even more difficult than climbing Mount Everest.
However, Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia feels India can do the impossible. “Obviously it’s a very tough group,” he told Mirror on the sidelines of The Heineken Foosball league national finals in Bangalore yesterday. “It’s going to be tight but not impossible for India to finish second. All the sides are better than us. With Iran, away matches are going to be crucial. If they try to draw those matches and play defensively away from India, they can make it possible,” he added.
Bhutia, who is India’s second highest goalscorer with 42 goals, feels the players have to spend more time with coach Stephen Constantine in order to put up a fight against their higher ranked opponents.
Longer camps needed
“Before the matches, they definitely need to camp longer with Constantine. If he can get more time with team, then they can do better. He’s got that experience dealing with the national squad and Indian football,” Bhutia said.
“When he was handling India the last time, he took us up the ranking. I have played under him and I feel if he gets more time with the team the results are bound to come.”
Bhutia also feels the Indian Super League could help identify future Indian talent at a very young age, helping them mature as a player.
“Players like Romeo Fernandes, Sandesh Jhingan and others are now a household names. I hope these stars can take India to heights in the future,” he said.
