India who are hosts for next year’s much awaited U17 World Cup took part in the AFC U16 tournament in which they failed to make it out of the group stages. The Blues were drawn with Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE in a difficult group.

Focus On Nicolai Adam

Head coach, Nicolai Adam, has no doubt had a difficult start to coaching the Indian team. The German to his credit, has always encouraged the team and put no pressure on his squad even after underwhelming performances. With an eye on the U17 World Cup next year, Adam has his work cut out.

Defensive Frailties 

While the blues have scored goals, they conceded more. The biggest issue seems to be a lack of calmness in the back four. The team in the AFC tournament conceded goals after being in the lead against both UAE and Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the goals have also been conceded in quick succession. Adam will definitely be looking towards this with concern.

It is important to instill confidence in a team but confidence in the back four is of utmost priority. As seen with many top teams, ability to maintain composure while dealing with pressure is vital. A solid foundation would provide Adam with an opportunity to focus on the other aspects of the team.

Impressive Attack

The Indian attack impressed in the tournament scoring 5 goals in 3 games. The attacking trident of Aman Chetri, Aniket Jadhav and Komal Thatal particularly caught the eye. Pace on the wings and creative minds in the middle of the park are a positive for the Colts and certainly something to capitalize on.

On some occasions the lack of experience showed but this shouldn’t be a concern for the coaching staff. It is important that the players who impressed offensively are kept in good form and fitness for the World Cup.

Expectations For The World Cup

India have already qualified for the 2017 U-17 World Cup as hosts. It would have been a lot more promising however if they had qualified on merit which was the objective at AFC U-16. Looking to the prestigious tournament however, there are many positive signs that India can impress against big names.

Nicolai Adam and team have a lot of work on their hands but should take pride in the progress the team is showing. Defensive concerns are something that need to be addressed and the impressive attack capitalized on. A year of solid preparation should be the priority as the Blues look to make a name for India in a field where it has under-performed extensively in recent years.

Picture Courtesy: NDTV, SportsKeeda