FIFA U-17 World Cup: India can match others, says coach De Matos

New Delhi: Indian U-17 national head coach Luis Norton de Matos on Thursday assured that his boys will give their best and fight for a result in the FIFA U-17 World Cup which will commence from October 6.

“Even if there is five percent chance of winning a match we will fight for the margin and try to extend it,” said de Matos.

“If we play to the best of our abilities, we can put a lot of good teams under pressure and give them a run for their money. On our day, we can put strong teams under pressure,” he added.

This will be the first time an Indian Football team is participating in the FIFA World Cup. Earlier, India failed to qulify but, this year the country as a host earned an automatic qualification for the World Cup.

The young Indian clots are at present training at the Conscient Football ground in Gurugram and Matos sounded optimistic about the team’s performance. “The players are very focused and are very proud to play for the country. All players are perhaps going to give their 200 percent and will play to the best of their abilities. It is evident that they are raring to go,” he said.

The Portuguese Matos who was appointed in March this year, has already built a strong team and was confident that his boys will give 200 percent in the field and play to their full abilities.

“The players are very focused and are very proud to play for the country. All players are perhaps going to give their 200 percent and will play to the best of their abilities. It is evident that they are raring to go,” he said.

India have been paired up with USA, Colombia and Ghana in Group A of the World Cup and although the home team is the weakest on paper, 63-year-old Matos was optimistic about his team’s chances.

According to him, “In football anything is possible and we will take to the field keeping in mind that fact, to show the world that we belong on the same stage as them.”

India will take on the USA in the first match of the World Cup on October 6, before locking horns against Colombia and Ghana on October 9 and October 12. All the matches will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi.