India's home exit at the U-17 Women's World Cup reveals deep flaws in the national game
By Samindra Kunti in Bombay
October 18 - In a repeat of the U-17 World Cup in 2017, India will finish with the worst statistics of any team participating in a World Cup on home soil, after losing 5-0 in their last group game against Brazil, another harsh reality check and an indictment of national football structures.
In their three Group A matches, India have scored 17 goals in total and none. There was some redemption with respectable performances against Morocco and Brazil after a humiliating 8-0 loss to the United States.
"India has a good chance of being one of the best teams in Asia," India coach Thomas Dennerby told a press conference. "You have enough talented players and we showed that today, but they need time."
"They have to come to a good environment where they do training sessions every day. It can't be like working very, very hard for two or three months and then stopping for two or three months and coming back. back because you will always reach the same level. Consistency and regularity of play is what we need."
The Indian Football Federation (AIFF) top-down approach has once again exposed Indian football. The country does not have a developed grassroots level. Five years after the first FIFA tournament held in India, it became painfully clear from the moment Indian girls walked out and onto the pitch at Kalinga Stadium.
"We have to have a good long-term program for them with a very good schedule because I know when I see your players that there are talented players. But we have to take care of them from an early age and let them play football in good academies In a big country like India it will be better if we have AIFF academies where we can have the best players from U17, Indian Arrows U19, senior team training together, seeing each other and having role models etc,” Dennerby said.
However, it remains to be seen how seriously the new AIFF leadership will take calls for more grassroots development.
India is in the running for the 2027 Asian Cup. On Monday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed that the Indians have been shortlisted alongside heavy favorites Saudi Arabia for win the rights to organize the final. Regardless of the outcome of the auction race, this suggests that the AIFF still views the game as a top-down project.
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1666144796labto1666144796ofdlr1666144796owedi1666144796sni@i1666144796tnuk.1666144796ardni1666144796mas1666144796
By Samindra Kunti in Bombay
October 18 - In a repeat of the U-17 World Cup in 2017, India will finish with the worst statistics of any team participating in a World Cup on home soil, after losing 5-0 in their last group game against Brazil, another harsh reality check and an indictment of national football structures.
In their three Group A matches, India have scored 17 goals in total and none. There was some redemption with respectable performances against Morocco and Brazil after a humiliating 8-0 loss to the United States.
"India has a good chance of being one of the best teams in Asia," India coach Thomas Dennerby told a press conference. "You have enough talented players and we showed that today, but they need time."
"They have to come to a good environment where they do training sessions every day. It can't be like working very, very hard for two or three months and then stopping for two or three months and coming back. back because you will always reach the same level. Consistency and regularity of play is what we need."
The Indian Football Federation (AIFF) top-down approach has once again exposed Indian football. The country does not have a developed grassroots level. Five years after the first FIFA tournament held in India, it became painfully clear from the moment Indian girls walked out and onto the pitch at Kalinga Stadium.
"We have to have a good long-term program for them with a very good schedule because I know when I see your players that there are talented players. But we have to take care of them from an early age and let them play football in good academies In a big country like India it will be better if we have AIFF academies where we can have the best players from U17, Indian Arrows U19, senior team training together, seeing each other and having role models etc,” Dennerby said.
However, it remains to be seen how seriously the new AIFF leadership will take calls for more grassroots development.
India is in the running for the 2027 Asian Cup. On Monday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed that the Indians have been shortlisted alongside heavy favorites Saudi Arabia for win the rights to organize the final. Regardless of the outcome of the auction race, this suggests that the AIFF still views the game as a top-down project.
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1666144796labto1666144796ofdlr1666144796owedi1666144796sni@i1666144796tnuk.1666144796ardni1666144796mas1666144796
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