India is about to play their first World Cup when they take on the United States on October 6 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The nation is gripped by the football fever and the young guns are eagerly waiting to showcase their talent at the holy grail of youth football and that too in front of the home crowd.
Chances are India might not even win a single game and will probably be knocked out in the group stage of the tournament but the result, in this case, it's not important, what’s more, important is the opportunity of playing in front a huge crowd and being the first Indians to play in the World Cup, a unique experience these players will cherish for lifetime.
It’s also about the opportunity to play against top-notch players at considerable high level which will have a significant impact in their development and it might also be the start of something tangible that could be beneficial for years to come.
All eyes will turn towards India once the showpiece event kicks off and here are few Indian player who can take the tournament by storm through their performances.
The Kolhapur lad will spearhead the Indian attack and will have to bear much of the responsibility to find the back of the net. The forward has the pace to burn and can cause serious problem to the opposition defenders. He was also among the 10 Indians selected by Germany legend Paul Breitner to represent India the FC Bayern Youth Cup in 2014.
The attacking midfielder is blessed with quick feet and has the fair which he uses to beat opponents. The boy from Sikkim is the creative hope of the Indian team, who can also score a one or two screamers himself. In the build-up to the tournament, no player caught the attention of the observers more than Komal did. He scored eight goals in 30 appearances for India U-17 and proved that he can be prolific from the midfield as well.
The six-feet-plus central defender is among the tallest members of the squad and will be a physical and aerial threat in both boxes. In a sport where most players are still single-footed, Anwar is comfortable with both feet which can prove vital in the transition from defence to offence. He will be one of the key pieces in the jigsaw as they take on the world’s best backed with the most impossible of odds.