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Constantine keen to script a turnaround

Last Updated 04 September 2015, 19:28 IST

 As the beleaguered Indian football team gets ready to face Iran in what is touted to be its most difficult outing in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, chief coach Stephen Constantine said he wants to ‘give the fans something to cheer about’.

A 23-member Indian team, that arrived here on Friday, will take on Asian heavyweights Iran at the Sree Kanteerava stadium on Tuesday.

Stunned by lower-ranked Guam in their previous outing, the Indian players had been training in Pune since August 24. They also played a friendly against 185-ranked Nepal on August 31, which ended in a goalless draw.

With close to two months at their disposal it still needs to be seen if the Indians have made the most of the time to prepare of their tie against Iran, ranked 40th on the FIFA chart.

But a confident coach said that it was time for his side to deliver and give their supporters something to cheer about.

“We have great support here (in Bengaluru). The fans are really behind the national team. I appreciate that and so do the players,” said the national coach talking to the AIFF media.

“I hope we can give the fans something to cheer about. It will be a very difficult match for us but that’s the time you discover who you can depend on.”

Meanwhile, senior striker Sunil Chhetri too assured that he was geared up for the big game.

“I don’t know how many times will you get an opportunity to play a World Cup qualifier game against a team like Iran. A team that play World Cup year after year,” said the 31-year-old.

“I relish such opportunities. And I hope that boys too are looking forward to the tie and preparing hard for it. We want to go out as a unit and give our best. And then we will realise what we can achieve. I don’t think it can get any better than Iran in Asia. Just can’t wait for the tie,” he added.

The tickets for the Iran tie, priced from Rs 30 to Rs 400, are available on www.kyazoonga.com.

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(Published 04 September 2015, 19:28 IST)

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