Bhubaneswar (Odisha): After losing 1-2 to Nepal in their second game at the ongoing Hero Gold Cup, India women’s football team head coach Maymol Rocky said the team was still on track despite the minor blip.
“One loss does not mean you are a bad team. We are still on track, and can definitely do better. There is still one match to go. We will go all out to secure a positive result,” Maymol said after the match at the Kalinga Stadium.
“We are a young side and I am sure the girls are strong-minded and will bounce back. We will prepare hard for the coming match and play our hearts out against Myanmar,” she said.
India will next face title favourites Myanmar in their last group stage match on February 13 as they search for a spot in the final.
In the current standings, Myanmar are on top with six points from two games, followed by India and Nepal with three points each, while Iran are yet to open their account.
The tournament regulations state that in case teams are level on points, the goal difference will be considered to determine the rankings. In a situation that the goal difference is also the same, goals scored will be the deciding factor.
If all of the above stays the same, the head-to-head record in the group stage between the two teams will come into play. Currently, India have a goal difference of 0, while Nepal stand at -2 and Iran at -3.
Talking about her team’s next opponents, coach Maymol said: “Myanmar are the strongest team in the tournament. They have a good set of players in every position and are ranked much higher than us as well.”
The two sides faced off in Myanmar in November last year in the 2020 Olympic Qualifiers Round 1, with India falling short by a 1-2 margin after a heroic display.
“We also have a number of quality players in our team. We will go all guns blazing. The team will play as if it is our last game in the competition and will go all out,” she said.
In the previous meeting in Yangon, it was Ratanbala Devi who had scored the lone Indian goal, which was quite similar to her effort against Nepal on February 11. The 19-year-old midfielder opined that her team has the required quality and temperament to pick up the three points.
“We came close to defeating Myanmar at their home four months ago. This time, we will have the home advantage and we will look to make it count,” Ratanbala said.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]