India take on tricky Myanmar

Yangon, March 27 

The Indian men’s football team would look to open its AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign on a positive note when it takes on Myanmar in a tricky match here tomorrow. India have been boosted by a 3-2 victory over Cambodia in an international friendly last week but it will not be easy to get three points against Myanmar.

Though Myanmar are 40 spots below India (132nd) in the latest FIFA rankings, they have a better head-to-head record, and Stephen Constantine’s men will have to play out of their skins if they are to come out triumphant. “The players have worked very hard to prepare for the game against Myanmar and it will be a challenge for us. We have the utmost respect for Myanmar as they are a very tough side. I expect a very tough and tight game,” Constantine said.

“India can beat anybody on their day. But that does not mean that you cannot have a bad day. Sometimes there are good days, sometimes there are bad days,” he added.

India have been clubbed in Group A of the qualifying round alongside Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar and Macau. Three points will give India a much-needed fillip in a tricky group. “We believe we have a chance to qualify for the Finals and so does Myanmar and so does every team in the group. Hence it is vital not to lose our first game,” said Constantine. 

Sunil Chhetri, who will captain the Indian side, said past records will be of no real significance once the teams take to the pitch. “We have watched a lot of videos of Myanmar’s former matches. And it is clear that we cannot underestimate our opponents,” he said. “We have come here for three points but it will be an uphill battle against Myanmar.” — PTI

England, Germany stay on course, Dutch axe Blind

paris: England and defending champions Germany remained on course for the 2018 World Cup while Danny Blind was sacked as Dutch coach after his misfiring team faced missing a second straight major Finals. 

At Wembley, Jermain Defoe marked his international comeback with a goal as England toiled to a 2-0 victory over Lithuania. Defoe, 34, who was making his first England appearance since November 2013, hit the target midway through the second half for his 20th international goal.

Substitute Jamie Vardy added a second as England tightened their grip on first place in Group F. Gareth Southgate’s side are now the last team in European qualifying yet to have conceded a goal. England have 13 points, four ahead of Slovakia with just the nine group winners in Europe guaranteed a place at the Finals in Russia in 2018.

Germany maintained their 100 percent record with a 4-1 win over Azerbaijan in Baku as they moved to 15 points in Group C. The world champions and Switzerland are the only two teams in Europe to still have perfect records. Meanwhile, Blind was sacked as Netherlands coach after a 2-0 defeat to Bulgaria 24 hours earlier left the team’s chances of reaching the Finals hanging by the slenderest of threads. — AFP