5 reasons why India can progress beyond the group stage of FIFA U17 World Cup 2017

Come Friday, India will be up against the United States of America in the opening match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in what will be the first time the second-most populous country in the world will be represented at any major FIFA tournament.

History will be scripted when the young Indian team takes on the Americans at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. While it will be a proud moment for every Indian and they will hope for the best, participation is one thing and performance is another.

Can the youngsters progress to the knockout stage of the tournament? What are the chances? Here, we give five reasons on why it is very much a possibility.

#5 A team can progress even if they come 3rd in their group

A total of 24 teams have been divided into four groups each. India certainly do not have a ‘group of death’, as they would call, but in Ghana and the United States, they have two very strong opponents. Columbia, also, are a very competitive side and it will be difficult for India to qualify for the knockout stage.

Their best bet may be to progress as the third team of Group A, provided they have a little luck riding on their side.

For those who are unaware, from each group, two of the best teams (in terms of points, goal difference, goals scored… you know the drill) will progress to the next round. Additionally, four of the best third-ranked teams from the six groups will also qualify.

Who knows, if India can register at least one win from their group stage matches, they might just progress to the Round of 16.

#4 Climate and weather conditions

It is not rocket-science when they say that India’s climate and weather conditions are not exactly ideal for football. India enjoys extreme tropical climate throughout the year. Yes, it is considerably cooler in October, but the heat and the humidity are still pretty high.

Most of the footballers of the visiting nations who will feature in the tournament are not used to this kind of climate. They are used to playing in cooler conditions, and it will be a challenge for them to adapt. In India, it will be warmer, more humid and the legs will start to tire out sooner.

Of course, all the teams have prepared ahead and have given time to their players to acclimatise to the climate. But India can definitely take advantage of their home conditions. After all, they are used to playing in the heat, having been born and brought up within the country.

#3 Home support

Compared to the US, Ghana and Columbia, India may be lacking in skill and experience but they will be buoyed by the fact that they are a part of the historical group of players that will be the first from the country to play in a FIFA World Cup.

Moreover, they will also be egged on by a raucous home support. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, where India are scheduled to play all their group games, is expected to be sold out. Already, the government has purchased a large number of tickets which will be handed over to a number of schools throughout the city.

At least for the opening game, we can expect a full stadium. Given the reputation of India being a football crazy nation, it goes without saying that everyone in the stadium will be cheering their hearts out in support of the home team.

#2 Preparation

Right after India won the bid to host the tournament in December 2013, a plan was jotted down which involved a group of teenagers crisscrossing the globe in search of worthy opponents.

By the time the Indian team reached Delhi earlier this week, they had travelled 18 countries spanning four continents, racking up more than 200,000 air miles and played over 100 matches. More than Rs 15 crore has been spent by the government and the AIFF on their preparation, and this is just a fraction of the total investment.

In contrary, the other countries did not even have established U17 teams until the very last moment. The Columbian players, in fact, have spent less than a month together as they are more attached to their respective clubs.

All this may not necessarily guarantee a winning performance, but certainly, this bunch of millennials are more accustomed to playing together than the other teams.

#1 Talent

As far as talent goes, India is not very far behind some of the other nations.

Take our captain, Amarjit Singh Kiyam. He is an exciting central midfielder, known for his ability to break up the play through crucial interceptions and to feed inch-perfect passes to his teammates.

Then, there is Komal Thatal, the one who is reportedly being scouted by Manchester United. Remember his goal against Brazil at the BRICS Cup last year? His ball control is impeccable, dribbling, a joy to watch. In the forward line, we have Aniket Jadhav, pacey with terrific control and an eye for the goal.

Among others, we have Boris Singh, who runs tirelessly down the flanks and opens up the play. Standing at six-foot tall, Dheeraj Singh Moiranthem, the goalkeeper, is known for his quick reflexes and anticipation.

We should be excited about this Indian team and at the very least, they are capable of causing an upset or two in the group stage.