The biggest game for host India’s U17 Women’s team is here with a tough battle against the USA on 11th October to kick-off the first FIFA women’s football tournament in the country.
Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 11 October 2022
Time: 20:00 (IST)
Venue: Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar
Match Preview
The long-awaited is finally on the doorstep and for India, this is a tournament the nation is hosting after a lot of turmoil. India were originally selected to host the 2020 edition of the tournament but due to Covid it got canceled. The football governing body then decided to name the country the host for the 2022 edition of the biennial tournament. The team itself had to overcome a shocking incident of sexual misconduct to one of the players by now sacked assistant coach Alex Ambrose during their pre-tournament exposure tour to Europe. If that was not enough for the girls to bear, FIFA suspended Indian football and initially scrapped the nation’s hosting rights for the tournament due to third party interference in the workings of the All India Football Federation or AIFF. It was only after the election of the new AIFF committee FIFA revoked the ban and the tournament is going ahead as planned. In short, the U17 Women’s team had to go through a lot for the tournament they are aiming to make a steady impression for their dream to be a future star in women’s football in the nation. India are placed in a rather tough group with five-time CONCACAF championship winners the USA, CONMEBOL champions Brazil and relatively unknown competition debutants Morocco. All of the group stage games for India will be played in Kalinga Stadium.
The opening game of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup for India is against the USA before they face Brazil and then Morocco. As said the USA’s U17 Women’s team have dominated continental football and although they haven’t reached the knockout stages in the last three editions they will be favorites to get out of this group alongside Brazil. The forward line of the opposition is what India needs to be wary of. The striking pair of Amalia Villarreal and Melina Rebimbas will be instrumental in their side hunt to escape the group stages each scoring eight career goals at the U17 level. They will wish to carry forward the momentum of their success at their continental level not losing a game in the CONCACAF championship. USA’s aim is to better their second-place finish in the inaugural edition of the competition back in 2008. The young Blue Tigresses will wish to be adventurous in certain stages but defensive discipline will be the priority, especially for the first two games. India could settle into a mid-block rather than a low and use counters as their weapon down the wings. Coach Thomas Denneby is optimistic to reach the knockout stages of the competition but inside him, he knows it is a difficult job at the present state. Picking up a draw will be no less glorious against an experienced opposition at this level but scoring only three goals and conceding 23 goals in 2022 prior to the World Cup doesn’t sound opportunistic for the team. However, India are expected to show a fight in their spirit to create some magnificent memories in the tournament.
India U17 Women’s Team Squad
Goalkeepers: Monalisha Devi Moirangthem, Melody Chanu Keisham, Anjali Munda.
Defenders: Astam Oraon, Kajal, Naketa, Purnima Kumari, Varshika, Shilky Devi Hemam.
Forwards: Anita Kumari, Lynda Kom Serto, Neha, Rejiya Devi Laishram, Shelia Devi Loktongbam, Kajol Hubert Dsouza, Lavanya Upadhyay, Sudha Ankita Tirkey.
India’s head coach Thomas Denneby announced a fairly known squad for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup. The Swede has been in the setup for both the junior and the senior women’s team and knows his players well. Hence, not many changes were made to the side that got to play seven international games in 2022 with the core of the team staying together for the last 18 months. The side will be captained by defender Astam Oram who has also got senior national team experience in her locker. Shilky Devi will be pivotal in keeping the balance in midfield with her main job being to screen the back-four having played for the senior team as well. The attack will be of great attention with Lynda Kom leading the line. The Manipur-based player has been the main source of goals for the national side and is expected to perform on a higher stage. Clean sheets will be crucial if India stands a chance to get past this challenging group so the responsibility falls on the shoulders or rather gloves of Melody Chanu to keep out as many shots as possible.
