Faced with an uphill task of carving out at least a morale boosting victory, the Indian football team will take on reigning Asian champions Japan in their penultimate encounter in the AFC Asian Cup qualifying league in Bangalore on Wednesday.
India, who had a pathetic dry run, losing all the four matches it played in Group "A", is hoping to put up a combined effort as a team in this match, despite being out of the reckoning from the Asian championship.
Expressing their displeasure over the ground condition at the Sri Kanteerava Stadium, venue for the AFC Asian Cup qualifying football match, the visiting Japanese team suggested the authorities to think about improving infrastrucure.
"I am not so happy with the condition of the ground. But we have to accept it and play. We cannot choose another," Japan's coach Ivan Ivica Osim said at a press conference.
"For the sake of the game of football, if Indians want to play better football, it is advisable to provide better playing conditions," said Osim, who appeared upset over the poor maintainance of the Karnataka State Football Association turf where he put his team through a gruelling practice session.
The grassless patches, muddy holes created by rains and uneven surface might have provoked Osim to come up with such a sharp reaction.
Seeking to compare the infrastructure created for football and cricket, he said "I know Indians are cricket lovers. I am willing to play on a cricket pitch for the sake of the game. I am not against cricket, but for only football," Osim said in a caustic response on the Kanteerava Stadium.
The Yugoslavian, who has been appointed Japanese football team coach recently, asked Indian football managers to take cue from Europe.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on India's skipper Baichung Bhutia, as the team expects him to pull off a miracle to outsmart Japan, which has already qualified for the next round with nine points along with Saudi Arabia.
The 10-day camp, which the Indians had ahead of Wednesday's game, has helped them fine tune their skills and understand themselves.
India coach Bob Houghton said "it is a tough task against Japan. India is playing against a good team."
The coach feels the side could put up a good show with Sandip Nandy as the custodian, Surkumar Singh, Deepak Mondal, Sanjiv Maria and N S Manju as defenders and Renedy Singh in the midfield. Bhutia and Manjit Singh in the striking line.
India will play its last match in the league against Yemen next month.
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