looking to emulate his wonder goal against Brazil in the BRICS Championship last year, the fleet-footed Indian midfielder Komal Thatal has promised that the team will give its best until the end when they take on United States in the U-17 World Cup opener on Friday.
Placed in Group A along with Ghana, Colombia and USA, India have a difficult task of progressing through to the knock-out stages. The opening match in itself will be a real test of character against a star-studded United States squad. However, Thatal has guaranteed his team will put up a hard fight in front of their home fans. "We respect every team in our group, but we are ready to face them and give them a hard fight. We will give it our best on the pitch and will fight until the last breath," the midfielder said www.the-aiff.com.
He said the team is prepared and are raring to go for the match. "We are prepared, mentally and physically. We are raring to go and at the moment there is a lot of excitement in the camp. Everyone wants the next few days to fly by and arrive on match day," he quipped.
When the team step on to the pitch on 6th October, it will be an historic moment for Indian football. Komal wants the fans to turn up in huge numbers and back the team. "It will be a big and historic moment for not only Indian Football, but for each and every Indian. This will be India's first ever participation in a FIFA World Cup and we expect the nation to get behind us and cheer for us. Come, support us, fill the stadiums as this World Cup is not only ours, it is every Indian's," he added.
On a lighter note, Komal was asked whether he would be able to come up with a repeat of his wonder goal against Brazil last year, the youngster said the entire team performance matters more than an individual one.
"I cannot promise that but we play as a team, we win as a team, we lose as a team. Our strength lies in unity and if I can help my team by scoring a goal then so be it. But at the end of the day, it is unity that counts and not individuality," he concluded.