Two Pool A matches in the FIFA Under 17 World Cup was all it took for Boys in Blue to earn the reputation of a tough team. And with that confidence, Team India is set to take on mightier Ghana on Thursday in their third and final pool match. The boys have a tough task ahead—to play with a single-mind for a favourable result.
If the United States were surprised by the unknown package that India was in the first match, Colombia was lucky to escape with a 2-1 result in the subsequent game. Will the next match against African giants Ghana—their toughest opponents yet—add to their newly acquired reputation?
Though Thursday's match is a must-win for both the teams to stay alive in the tournament, India needs a better goal difference if it has to sneak past Ghana. “Ghana will be a physical as well as a mental challenge for us. They (Ghana) are a strong physical team who are quick on the ball. We would have to be on our toes for the entirety of the match, if we are to secure a win,” said India coach Luis Norton De Matos.
India’s defence has been difficult to break through; its mid-field has been busy in creating space and foxing the opposition markers. However, it lacked on the finishing front to convert moves into goals.
India went to the previous match with a 4-4-1-1 formation and the two lines of four have done a splendid job barring the instances of lapse in concentration and lack of experience that led to both the United States and Colombia capitalising on them straight away.
The story for Ghana hasn’t been too great either. In their previous two games, they had superior ball possession, but conversion rates were poor. It has scored only a lone goal so far in the tournament.
Goal keepers of both the teams will be the cynosure of all eyes. India’s Dheeraj Singh has been impressive right through with his knack of coming out of the box and clearing the ball. He has been a primary reason why oppositions have found it difficult to convert even point blank shots at the goal. His work under the bar has not just earned him accolades but he has caught the attention of talent scouts from many clubs.
Ghana’s 14-year-old goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim has already been signed up by Ghana’s premier club, Asante Kotoko and is also registered for the Ghana Premier League this season.
India’s mid-field has also played its part to perfection with Jeakson Singh being its heartbeat. Mid-fielder Abhijit Sarkar has also been very creative. The likes of Anwar Ali, Sanjeev Stalin and Boris Singh have also stood out with their efforts in the last match, but will have their tasks cut out against a speedier and more physical Ghana team.
