Ahead of Tuesday’s mega showdown when India would take on the USA at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup opener, head coach Thomas Dennerby on Sunday insisted it was time the hosts showcased their ability to shine in women’s football.
“It’s not only about the result now. It’s about the performance to show that Indian girls can play football,” said Swedish footballstrategist Thomas LennartDennerby, who currently trains India women’s national football team.
“We have our own goals, and we are ready to fight for them. Against the USA, Brazil or Morocco, we are determined to earn points and score goals,” the 63-year-old coach said.
India, in a couple of years, can have a very successful team on the women’s side, DEnnerby believed.
“We want to dish out a good performance. So, they feel that India really can challenge the best teams in the world. Also, when it’sshown on TV, it helps a lot. And it’s good for the younger girls to have role models to look up to. And hopefully, some of these girls, in a couple of years from now, can take the next step to the senior team and so on–you can keep on having them as role models for many years. Young girls should know they can have a successful career in football,” he said.
The coach said since February, the Indian girls have prepared well, including exposure tours to Italy, Norway and Spain.
“We are going to this tournament with a really good fitness level now and the girls have learned about positioning, where to go when we lose the ball and where to go when we win the ball back and how to open up the game and start playing and quickly come back when we lose the ball again. All these tactical details and positioning have become really good. So, I hope it’s going to be difficult to score against us.” the head coach said.