Stephen Constantine : AFC Asian Cup qualification not going to be easy

02/07/2017

Although India have been handed a favourable draw, coach Stephen Constantine does not expect qualification for the AFC Asian Cup to be easy, citing the team's failed World Cup qualification campaign. The Briton said he was not building a team for just one tournament but for the next four-five years.

India were drawn into a group consisting of Asian heavyweights Iran and Oman along with Guam and Turkmenistan for the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers and were expected to finish third. However, the Blue Tigers could only manage one win in eight group games and finished last. on the table.

“Last time when we played the World Cup qualifiers we were drawn in a group with Guam and Turkmenistan who were ranked low favorites. Everyone went gaga seeing the draw and had taken it for granted that we will have it easy. I had tried to point to the strength of both Turkmenistan and Guam but in vain,” Constantine was quoted as saying by news18.com.

For the AFC Asian Cup 2019 Qualifiers India, ranked 129, have been drawn along with Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar and Macau. Kyrgyzstan are the highest ranked team in the group at 124, but have lost both their previous encounters against India. Myanmar are ranked 159, but have an even head-to-head record against India. In 19 meetings, both won eight each with the other three ending in draws.

"Myanmar made it to the FIFA U-20 World Cup Finals in 2015, and on merit. I hope everyone understands what it means. Kyrgyz Republic are a very strong opposition and it can never be easy,” Constantine said.

India have steadily risen in the rankings under Constantine, who was previously the country's head coach between 2002 and 2005.

“When I came in some two years ago, I inherited a squad which had an average age of 32 and there was a culture of ‘we will be selected and play because there is no one else’ among many. When you develop that attitude, you will never get the results that you intend to,” Constantine said.

"I am all for bringing in youngsters on the pretext of them wanting to do the job that I want them to do. Actually the squad needs to be a balance of experienced and young players. This is the second time that I have been here and I did the same thing the first time too – I am building a squad for the next 4-5 years. I always look to the future."

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