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regular-article-logo Friday, 22 November 2024
Our Bureau

Asian Games: Igor Stimac plots second win

Indian football team’s head coach is now planning his strategy for Sunday’s crucial match against Myanmar

Our Bureau Calcutta Published 23.09.23, 09:07 AM
Igor Stimac.

Igor Stimac. AIFF

For Igor Stimac, Thursday’s 1-0 win over Bangladesh is a thing of the past.

Riding captain Sunil Chhetri’s 85th-minute penalty in the Group A match of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, the victory raised hopes of India’s entry into the second round after 13 years.

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The Indian football team’s head coach is now planning his strategy for Sunday’s crucial match against Myanmar.

“I am now thinking about the Myanmar match and we need to make sure we qualify,” Stimac told the-aiff.com from Hangzhou. “Whether it is a draw or a win, we must qualify. At the same time, I must say that when we hit the pitch, we do it to win,” he added.

Currently, India are placed second in Group A behind China, who have six points. Both India and Myanmar have three points from two matches each, but India are ahead because they have scored more goals than Myanmar. Even a draw against Myanmar would be enough for Chhetri and his men to advance as the second team from the group.

Asked whether the various difficulties the squad faced while going to the Asian Games had any effect on the team, Stimac said: “I never speak about the difficulties we faced before coming here (Hangzhou). I always keep the players away from the heat."

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