India gaffer Igor Stimac commended the Indian Arrows project and organized the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India for advancing a “new generation of players“. India showcased its finest cap in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers on Saturday.
Previously, India playmaker Deepak Tangri had also credited the side’s triumph to the Indian Arrows project.
India concluded, in short, its campaign by registering 4 points. They recorded a 2-1 win against Oman and a 0-0 stalemate versus the Kyrgyz Republic. This tally takes them to just two points trailing the group leaders UAE.
The Croatian boss most importantly was full of praise for the man between the posts, Dheeraj Singh. The keeper’s staging in goal has been extraordinary in the competition. Singh only conceded twice in three games, one of the two being from the spot, with saves in the penalty shootout topping off a truly breath-taking display.
Stimac was quoted saying, “Saving those two penalties in the shootout was something extraordinary“.
He continued, “He’s already been with the senior team for a while. He’s already competed in the AFC Champions League last season and he was magnificent there.”
“He’s a fantastic stop-stopper at the penalty shootouts. We believed he could come up with a few saves there.”
India however, still stand a slender chance to make it to the finals. As a result, Only the four-best second-placed teams out of 10 groups are entitled to qualify. India are in at ninth place presently.
“We still have hopes to qualify for the finals. The boys absolutely deserve it. Everyone in India sees that we have a bright future ahead,” the coach added.
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