- India take on Ghana in their final group A game in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi on Thursday.
- The match is scheduled to start at 8pm.
- In India, the match will be broadcasted on SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 2 HD, SONY ESPN, SONY ESPN HD, SONY TEN 3 and SONY TEN 3 HD and DD Sports channel. It can be viewed online on the SonyLiv app.
India has transformed from rank outsiders to valiant fighters drawing all-round praise. This thursday, the team will face another test against former champions Ghana in their final group A game of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Delhi on Thursday.
Not many had given India any chance against Colombia after their 0-3 loss to United States in their opening match but the home side put up an inspiring performance. The hosts went down 1-2 in their second match, but scored their first FIFA World Cup goal, courtesy Jeakson Singh.
Coach Luis Norton de Matos' defensive gameplan was executed to near perfection by his players against Colombia and the tournament debutants would have eked out a win had a bit of luck gone their way.
Colombia largely dominated the match but as de Matos later asserted, the outcome of that game could have been different had India taken the lead in the first half. It could have happened if Rahul Kannoly's first half stoppage time volley had not hit the post.
With the expectations now rising, de Matos and his boys would be aiming to show that the performance against Colombia was no fluke and they were worthy competitors in this global showpiece, where they were automatic qualifiers as hosts.
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But it will not be easy for them as Ghana is the most physical side in the group. No doubt, the two-time former champions Ghana will start as clear favourites in Thursday's final Group A match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Even a win for India, which is unlikely though not improbable, is not expected to take them to the knock-out stage as USA have already booked a round of 16 berths while Colombia and Ghana are on three points each.
Without any point so far, India has conceded five goals and scored once to have a goal difference – which will decide the group rankings if two or more teams have equal points – of minus four, the least among the four teams in the group.
Coach de Matos had to understandably devise a defensive gameplan and banking on counter-attacks through quick transition to offensive mode. De Matos knows that it is easier said than done with his player lacking in competition experience.
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He is happy with the game plan but has said that the side needs a lot of improvement in the transitional and attacking aspects. Maintaining the shape in a well-organized formation has been pivotal to his tactics.
Playing mostly in 4-4-1-1 formation, the Indian team maintained its shape very well throughout the match against Colombia and the little gap between the two defensive lines of back four and midfield four did not give much space to the rival attackers.
De Matos is likely to continue with the same strategy against Ghana on Thursday. If India can go to the breather goal- less just like they did against the Colombians, it will be interesting to see whether he will think of opening up the game and press for goals.
Goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh has been one of the two best performers for India and is likely to continue at that position. The other good performer Anwar Ali is expected to marshall the Indian defence along with Namit Deshpande, who started against Colombia, at the center of the back-four.
Anwar, who has been praised profusely by the USA and Colombian coaches, got a few knocks in the previous match but played the whole 90 minutes without any problem.
Boris Singh and Sanjeev Stalin are expected to be in the starting line-up as right and left full-backs respectively.
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Boris, who returned to the side after missing out the match against USA, did a good job against Colombia and he was the supplier of the Rahul Konnoly volley that thudded the goalpost.
Stalin was the one who took the corner kick from which Jeakson Singh scored India's first World Cup goal.
De Matos has a lot of options in the midfield as he has packed the squad with players who can play in these positions.
Ghana, who beat Colombia but lost to USA, would be looking for a win to be assured of an automatic slot in the round of 16 as that will ensure them a top two finish in the group.
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