India Vs Bangladesh Football Match: Igor Stimac urges Kolkata fans to fill the stadium to back India against Bangladesh next month.
India gave a heroic performance against Asian champions Qatar at their own den, as the Blue Tigers were able to fetch one point despite the odds predicting their defeat against the Arab country.
It was even more surprising because India marched the field without the skipper Sunil Chhetri and in form player Ashique Kuruniyan. Thus, everyone thought that India will be humiliated this time after Qatar thrashed Afghanistan in previous match.
Yet, the Indian contingent managed to remain in the loop and gave a tough fight to Qatar, as they failed to score even once despite 14 shots, courtesy to disciplined Indian defence and heroic performance by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
After a spectacular show by the Blue Tigers, Igor Stimac is happy with his players and wants to continue this type of performances, and also urged Indian fans to turn up in more numbers.
“Our performance against Qatar is an invitation to fans for our next home game. We have heard a lot about the passion for football in Kolkata. I want to see a full house at the YBK Stadium fans in Kolkata for our match against Bangladesh,” the All India Football Federation’s website quoted Stimac as saying.
“We deserve that and I expect them to come and help us get the three points,” he added.
India were earlier criticized for their “poor fitness” against Oman, as they dropped a one-goal lead against the visitors to only lose the match by 2-1. Thus, to counter it, Stimac also stated that their performance against Qatar proved their fitness capacity.
“Against Qatar, we proved to everyone who was talking about a lack of fitness among the players. Qatar are in a different league as compared to any team in Asia and my boys made sprints till the very last minute. They defended with such concentration throughout, which really proves their fitness capacity,” said Stimac.
With the International break coming to an end, India will next face Bangladesh for the World Cup qualifiers on October 15.
