The Hindu : Sport / Football : It's advantage India

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 14, 2007
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It's advantage India

Principal Correspondent

KOLKATA: A draw in the away match places India in an advantageous position at home against Myanmar in the first round of the men's football qualifiers for the finals in 2008 Beijing Olympics. The return leg match of the Asian stage will be played at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday. And the onus of leading the country's fortune rests on the shoulders of a clutch of youngsters — the Olympic format specifies players below the age of 23 — who have recently graduated to the club order.

Long wait

It has been a long wait of 47 years since the national team last played in final stages in Rome Olympics in 1960. The successive years saw the team slipping out in the qualifying stages, as the competition grew stiffer in the continent. The last few years had been even worse as the Indian team exited from the first round of the qualifiers.

The situation may well be different this time as the new Indian outfit managed to evade an away defeat holding Myanmar 1-1 in the first round at Yangon.

This has helped the home side to a commanding position. A win or even a goalless draw will see India through to the second round clash against Iraq on February 28.

Hopeful

"We will be going for a outright win and are hopeful of doing that as the boys are in good form,'' said the Indian team manager and former international Santo Mitra.

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