Incheon:
Still smarting from the 0-5 thrashing by United Arab Emirates in their campaign opener, a battered Indian men’s football team take on Jordan here on Monday in their final group match with an early exit from the Asian Games staring on their face.
India will have to win Mondays’s match if they want to qualify for the pre-quarterfinals from the three-team Group G. Even a draw will send them packing as Jordan have beaten UAE on September 17.
Only two teams qualify for the pre-quarterfinals from Group G. The Indians will have to improve themselves several notches up from their last game if they have to have to make a match out of it against a superior side like Jordan.
A draw will be an outstanding performance for the team and they may hold their head high even if that will not be enough for them to make it to the next round.
The onus for India will again lie on captain Sunil Chhetri to deliver the goods as he has been doing relentlessly in the preparation matches ahead of the Games.
Wim Koevermans’ boys will also have to sharpen themselves at the back and not let their plucky opponents catch them cold on the break, which has led to their doom against UAE.
Jordan, on the other hand, will be on a high after edging UAE by a solitary goal to stay at the top of the table.
In their opening match against UAE, the Indians were completely out of sorts. Be it in defending or attacking, the Indians were outclassed by a much superior side in all departments of the game.
The series of mispasses, the ineffectiveness on the wings and the sluggish midfield losing almost every battle for the ball made matters tough for the Indian boys as a ruthless UAE took control of the game from the very beginning.
