NEUFC head coach Robert Jarni felt the Indian senior national team can expect a positive result against Bangladesh in their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier in Kolkata on October 15.
The Indian senior national team will face Bangladesh at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), Salt Lake in Kolkata.
Moments after the Blue Tigers (India) and NorthEast United Football Club (NEUFC) played a 1-1 draw in a friendly match in Guwahati, Jarni lauded India’s performance against Qatar which he felt was “nearly perfect.”
India played against Qatar in their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 joint qualifiers Round 2 match in Doha on September 10.
“Tactically, the game against Qatar was nearly perfect. India could have scored towards the end of the game and take all three points from there,” said Jarni, the former Croatian professional footballer.
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“But now, against Bangladesh, they need to prove the point and I think with this set of players whom Stimac has chosen, the Blue Tigers can expect a positive result against Bangladesh.”
Sunil Chhetri scored India’s sole goal in the 1-1 draw against NEUFC, an Indian Super League (ISL) club side in the 34th minute – a strike which was nullified by Ghanian World Cupper Asamoah Gyan in added time of the first half.
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Indian national team head coach Stimac explained that the team will need to work on “setpieces, combinations and choose the best team” when they hit the pitch against Bangladesh, said an AIFF media team report.
“We’ll need to work on set-pieces, combinations and choose the best eleven for the game. We have another four days for recovery before the match,” Stimac said after the friendly match. “The boys are ready. We’re very excited to go to Kolkata.”
Meanwhile, Sandesh Jhingan suffered a knock in the first-half and was substituted by Nishu Kumar. “We will have a close look at Sandesh’s injury and assess it accordingly,” Stimac informed.
The India national team will reach Kolkata on October 13, 2019, the report added.