India coach Stimac seeks good start in Asian Cup qualifiers
KOLKATA: Igor Stimac said though there can be “no easy games for India”, his team is fit to last “three games in seven days” in the Asian Cup qualifiers next week.
India, Stimac believes, have a group of young players who, if nurtured well, can surprise in the years to come.
“The expectations are biggest but options limited, the base (of players) limited. I knew all that but came here to challenge myself.”
An important step in that challenge would be to take India to their second successive Asian Cup finals. The final round of qualifiers pits them against Cambodia (June 8), Afghanistan (June 11) and Hong Kong (June 14) in Kolkata. India can qualify as group toppers or one of the best five second-placed teams. For that, a good start would be important, said Stimac.
“Cambodia are likely to defend deep. We will have to deal with the ball in short areas in the front third. Ashique Kuruniyan and Udanta Singh will not get much space to operate.”
Singh and Kuruniyan come off an iffy ISL season. Ditto Anirudh Thapa, Mohammed Yasir and Brandon Fernandes.
But that may well be down to some of them playing in different positions.
“Club form is something we can’t always rely on,” Stimac said. “We look for technically good players, players with good muscle strength and try to keep pushing them to achieve their limits.”
The lack of form of his attacking midfielders is also why Stimac said he is hoping Sahal Abdul Samad can stretch his “great season” with Kerala Blasters. And that Liston Colaco’s muscle injury heals.
About the remaining teams in India’s group, Stimac said, Afghanistan and Hong Kong have “similar quality” but the former will be more physical and have players groomed in the lower leagues of Europe, “where they can play good organised football all year.” Hong Kong have four naturalised Brazilians and “we will have to see how much value they bring.”