Moments after India were drawn in the Group A of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 alongside the United States of America, Colombia and Ghana, Head Coach Luis Norton de Matos said, “that India are ready to make an impression in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.”

“In football, the word impossible does not exist and we are going to fight in every game, in every moment to give it our best on the pitch,” he said.

“The boys are not afraid of any team and that is a very positive notion. If we have 20 percent chance of winning a game, we will ensure that we make it a cent percent,” Matos added.

India will clash against the USA in their opening match of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 on October 6, 2017 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the Capital, before taking on Colombia on October 9 and Ghana on October 12 respectively.

AIFF President Praful Patel sitting besides Matos said: “All games which India play will have a large audience and we will ensure to give India all the support it can get from the fans.”

“The AIFF along with the Government of India will ensure that maximum number of schools and colleges come over to the Stadium to cheer for the Nation,” Patel stated.

Reflecting on India’s opponents in the FIFA U-17 World Cup Matos said, “USA have only missed one FIFA World Cup in this category and they will pose a tough challenge for us, we have to be on our toes to give them a tough fight.”

“The teams in the FIFA U-17 World Cup will have at least ten years of experience but we are not afraid to play our game. All the three teams we will face will be very strong.”

“Colombia are one of the best South American teams and they will be very tough and very strong on the pitch. So will be USA and Ghana,” Matos reflected.

India U-17 national team defender Sanjeev Stalin thanked AIFF for giving them the opportunity to play in a World Cup.

“To play a FIFA World Cup is a moment which a player reveres all his life,” Stalin pronounced. “I need to thank the AIFF for bringing the World Cup to India and giving us an opportunity to play in the tournament.”

The Indian U-17 World Cup Squad had been on an exposure trip to Europe and had faced National Teams of Serbia, Macedonia and Hungary, which according to Coach Matos “aided in the development of the team, both physically and technically.”

“The most important thing right now is to prepare for the future and work for the development of football in the country.”

“It is possible to play against any team in world football all you need is support from the fans and time to develop as a team,” he informed.

GROUP A
India, USA, Colombia, Ghana

India’s fixtures in the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017:
October 06: India vs USA
October 09: India vs Colombia
October 12: India vs Ghana

(AIFF Media)