AFC Asian Cup | Not interested in players’ ages, but their abilities, says Stephen Constantine

After playing a goalless draw against Oman in an international friendly, the Blue Tigers are all set for the prestigious AFC Asian Cup which is scheduled to begin from January 5 in the United Arab Emirates. Coach Constantine picked the final 23 players who will take part in the tourney. India left out Manvir Singh and Lallinzuala Chhangte and will play its first match on January 6 against Thailand at the Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi. With an average age of 25, Team India is going into the tournament with the second youngest side led by the experienced Sunil Chhetri. 

“I never differentiate between seniors and juniors. They are all playing for India. I’m not interested in their ages, but their abilities. Our average age is about 25. The situation is fantastic for Indian Football where we can foresee a team for the next 10 years,” Constantine said after the game against Oman, reported PTI. 

“After this tournament, we’ll have a young Indian squad with an experience of playing in an Asian Cup.”

According to the coach, the players did well to stop a strong team like Oman in the international friendly as they held them to a goalless draw. India did get a few opportunities of scoring goals but the forward line failed to capitalise on that which the coach said was important for the side.

“It was a very good game for us. Oman were a very difficult opponent and have been unbeaten in the last 12 months. The boys worked very hard and I’m very pleased with the positive result. It was phenomenal from the work-rate perspective. The numbers are exceptional. We were superb physically,” the chief coach said. 

“We won’t get six-seven chances in these sort of games. We need to convert the two or three which we get. We gave the ball cheaply at times. We try to score in every game but you are not going to score in every game.”