PANJIM: After participating in the AFC U-16 and grabbing just a point in the group stages. India are set to face yet another test in the five-nation BRICS U-17 football tournament clashing swords against Russia in their opening encounter, on Thursday, at Bambolim, at 8 p.m.
Ahead of the opening clash, Nicolai Adam touted the five-nation BRICS U-17 football tournament, wherein the Indian colts face Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa, as value addition to the experience of the Indian squad.
Addressing a press conference in the city, ahead of the BRICS Football Tournament, Nicolai Adam said “We are thankful for the BRICS Tournament and it helps us to gather more experience under our belts whilst exposing us to strong teams”
“We have to be well planned and well organised until the FIFA World Cup. I hate to lose, we have the full squad with no injuries, except one, Aniket has a minor injury, but he will be able to play and our team main priority is to prepare well for the World Cup 2017” he added.
Speaking further Nicolai commented that “BRICS is a mini World Cup, with five teams from five different confederations, playing for the title; we will play with the same team, which played in the recently concluded AFC Cup.”
Commenting on India’s opponents in their opening fixture of the Cup, Russia, Nicolai said, “Russia are a fantastic Team and we respect them as opponents”
“They (Russia) finished their qualifying campaign with nine points and we look forward to giving them a hard fight comes tomorrow.”
The Russian U-16 National Team had won matches against Latvia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova in their qualifying campaign.
Russian Head Coach Dimtry Ulyanov had earlier said in the Press Conference that, “We are expecting a tough challenge from India. However, we are ready for the Tournament as we come on the back of a Tournament in France and had participated in the UEFA Development Tournament as well”
Reflecting on the performance of the India in the AFC U-16 Championship, Nicolai said, “We did a long analysis for the AFC U-16 Championship and there are some technicalities that we need to work upon”
