Just a day left before the Asian Cup kicks off in Doha tomorrow. This is a showpiece event in Asian Football. Where the best in Asia compete with each other to win the coveted Title. But this year its extra special as our very own team India will be in action after a gap of more than two decades. The men in Blue qualified for this tournament after winning the AFC Challenge Cup last year.
Things have not gone very well for the team leading up to the Asian Cup as they lost most of the friendly games and the team manager walked out of the training camp in Dubai recently after an alleged tiff with the head coach, Bob Houghton but now it’s time to focus on the positives and keep all the negatives and the past aside and get ready for the tough challenge ahead.
All the three teams in India’s group are better ranked and way ahead of our team in all the aspects of the game. South Korea, they don’t need any introduction, Australia well they are also a wonderful team with players like Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill in their ranks. Bahrain, one of the best teams in Asia and they can be considered the dark horse of the tournament.
As a fan we think from our heart and we want our team to win the Asian Cup, but we will have to be a bit realistic about India’s chances even if we are thinking from our heart as they will be playing against two teams who have played the World Cup especially South Korea, the team which beat all odds to reach the 2002 World Cup Semi finals. Australia is also no pushover and Bahrain will be playing in conditions will be similar to their country and they are also superior to India.
But I am looking at the Asian Cup from a different perspective without worrying about the results. My thinking is that India’s Asian Cup appearance will bring about the World’s attention towards India football and our players will get a platform to showcase their talent where the scouts, agents and club officials from around the world will be present and others will be watching them on television. Vancouver Whitecaps, an MLS team will be keeping a close eye on India’s goalkeeper Subrata Paul and I am sure few more players will be under the scanner. Even if a few of our players get contracts in better leagues abroad it will be a big achievement for India Football.
So here is wishing our team all the very best and it will be a matter of great pride for all the fans when the National anthem of India will be played at a tournament of this magnitude after a gap of 27 years. I am sure our team will fight till the end and never give up come what may. Come on India!
“11 players a billion heartbeats some hearts beating more than others”
looking forward for all the matches that India is Playing against.. although in a tough group stage wit the likes of Aussies n Koreans but the its gud for Indian futbal as dey take on european based players which the Indian players get so much to learn from not just the technical skills but also the psychological pressures which they all have before a big game n how to tackle that. wish India all the best n jus njoy the game. gud luck.
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