New Delhi, Nov 13
Bracing up for an unfamiliar astroturf, sub-zero temperatures and a sprightly opponent in Afghanistan, India’s football coach Igor Stimac today conceded that his team’s winless streak in the World Cup qualifiers won’t be easy to break in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
The away fixture against Afghanistan on November 14 is crucial for India to remain in the hunt to qualify for the World Cup. The Afghans are placed third in the group with one win and two losses, a notch above India who have two draws and a defeat so far.
“The climatic condition in Dushanbe is very different from what we have experienced in India at this time. It’s very cold and mercury level drops closer to sub-zero,” Stimac said.
The war-ravaged Afghanistan chose Dushanbe as their home venue for the second round qualifiers of the World Cup.
The Group E match will be played on an artificial turf in the midst of freezing temperatures. “Moreover, the match is scheduled on an artificial turf which our players are not used to. Afghanistan have chosen the venue to make others’ life difficult and we have an uphill task in front of us,” he added.
India occupy the fourth spot in Group E with just two points after consecutive draws against Qatar and Bangladesh. They had lost to Oman in their first match.
