India eye turnaround vs Morocco

Bhubaneswar: “But the good thing is there are still two matches to go,” coach Thomas Dennerby had said after India’s dismal start in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup on Tuesday. “I hope we can show all of India that we can play better than this, that we are much much better than this, when we play Morocco.”
Getting two days to recover and regather after 8-0 thrashing at the hands of the USA that sent them to the bottom of the Group A table, the hosts will be back on Friday at Kalinga Stadium to make the most of a last chance at hope for a place in the knockouts.
And this time, all the girls will have a sound grip on the ground after reports post the opener that some of the girls — requiring No. 5 size and under — had to wear their new boots right out of the box, without the luxury of breaking in their new cleats as the consignment had reached late.
While the Astam Oraon-led Indians were outpowered by the physicality and technical superiority of the US players, Morocco might be a more equal opposition for the hosts.
“We have a good chance against Morocco tomorrow (Friday). If we can show the right attitude, we can score and get some points,” the Swede said on Thursday. “We need to fight it out — we have no other option left.”
But their opposition on the day will also not leave the field without a fight in a do-or-die clash between the debutants. Morocco, too, lost their opening tie of the World Cup, going down against Brazil by a solitary strike.
Although placed above India on third spot in the table, they know that a defeat on Friday could undo their ambitions of a better show as the first representatives at the age-group tournament from North Africa, something that their skipper Yasmine Zahour had talked about at the press conference on Monday.
While backing his wards’ chances, Dennerby did not play down the challenge that the Africans would be posing for the team. “Morocco are a strong team that defends well. They are technically good with their passing game, the accuracy is also impressive. We have watched them play against Brazil and scoring against them will be a challenge,” he said.
“But for us, it is either a win or out of the tournament. The girls need to play free football and they should avail every chance that comes their way. If they are afraid to hold on to the ball, then they may lose the game immediately.”
And unlike on Tuesday, the Indians can expect a packed stadium to cheer them on in this last bid with all tickets for the game sold out this time.