Intercontinental cup 2018: Anas Edathodika opens up on why Stephen Constantine called up U-23 players 

The Indian football team is all prepped up to host the 4-nation Intercontinental Cup, starting from June 1 in Mumbai. And in a bid to strengthen the squad, some selected U-23 players have been called up to the senior team.

Speaking on the same lines, national team defender Anas Edathodika praised the Indian U-23 football outfits' performance in July 2017’s Asia Cup U-23 qualifiers, that led to some players' selection in the senior team camp, ahead of the four-nation Inter-Continental Cup.

India had lost to Qatar 0-1 and Syria 0-2, but then, thrashed Turkmenistan 3-1 in the U23 qualifiers in Doha, Qatar.

Speaking at a press conference prior to Sunday's training camp at the Mumbai Football Arena, in Andheri, the 31-year-old said,

“We need to be mentally strong, that's why young players have been chosen. The coach (Stephen Constantine) is confident (of their abilities). They played very well in the Under-23 qualifiers against Qatar, I too was impressed.”

He went on to opine that the younger generation is more adept at physical challenges, courtesy of exposure to superior fitness infrastructure from an early age.

The 2018 Intercontinental Cup is being organized as a preparatory tournament for Stephen Constantine's men who have qualified for the AFC Asian Cup 2019.

It will strengthen India’s preparation for the mega-event to be held in UAE next year, their second qualification to the Continental Championship in eight years, last being in Doha 2011. India has been clubbed with Bahrain, Thailand and hosts UAE in the Asian Cup.

On the other hand, the Blue Tigers kick-off their campaign in the inaugural edition of the Intercontinental Cup on June 01, when Constantine's men face Chinese Taipei in the first match.

The tournament also features New Zealand and Kenya. Kenya was roped in after South Africa had to bow out due to schedule mismatch.