How India prepared
The India team’s preparation for the FIFA U-17 World Cup started in mid-2015 after Nicolai Adam was appointed coach. The German was sacked in January 2017, but India’s exposure trips continued under Luis Norton De Matos. They have played 109 games in two
2015
TOUR OF GERMANY (JULY 26 TO SEPTEMBER 9) U-16 players played against Eintracht Frankfurt, Red Bulls Salzburg.
SAFF CHAMPIONSHIP – FOR U-16 B SIDE (AUGUST 8-18) Finished 2nd to Bangladesh, losing 3-5 on penalties. In the league, they beat Sri Lanka 5-0, lost 1-2 to Bangladesh, beat Nepal 1-0 in semi-final.
U-16 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS
(SEPTEMBER 16 to 20) India beat Bahrain and Lebanon but lost to Iran. TOUR OF SPAIN (SEPTEMBER 9 to OCTOBER 4) India U-16 won two and lost to clubs such as Villarreal, Levante. TOUR OF DUBAI (DECEMBER 4 to 12) India U-16 won all the four matches against sides like Spanish soccer Academy, Al-Hamriyah Sports Club.
2016
TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA (FEBRUARY 14 TO MARCH 3) Their biggest margin of win was against Botswana: 10-1 AIFF YOUTH CUP (MAY 15 to 23) India U-16 finished last in the five-team tournament. TOUR OF GERMANY (JUNE 8 to AUGUST 21) They lost to top teams like Norway, Bayer 04 Leverkusen U-16. After this, the B team played a friendly in Russia losing 0-2. AFC U-16 CHAMPIONSHIPS in India (SEPTEMBER 15 to 21) Lost to Iran and UAE and drew against Saudi Arabia. BRICS U-17 CUP in India (OCTOBER 5 to 13) India U-17 lost all matches and finished last among five teams.
ATLETICO PARANAENSE INTERNATIONAL
in Brazil (DECEMBER 12 to 18) India lost to top teams like Uruguay and Atletico Paranaense.
2017
TOUR OF GERMANY (JULY 26 TO SEPTEMBER 9) India U-17 lost 0-8 to Russia U-18.
GRANATKIN MEMORIAL CUP IN RUSSIA (JANUARY 10-20) India won only one match out of five, against Belarus U-18. They lost to Latvia, Iran, Estonia and Tajikistan. TOUR OF PORTUGAL (APRIL 18 TO MAY 9) India lost to clubs like Sporting Lisbon and Benfica. EUROPEAN TOUR Including Lazio Cup (MAY 16 to 25) India won against an Italian side. 2ND EUROPEAN TOUR (JUNE 2 to 29) India U-17 drew against teams like Macedonia and Serbia FOUR-NATION TOURNAMENT in Mexico (AUGUST 3 to 6) India lost to Mexico and Colombia. The latter is in the same group as India in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.