Praful Patel met India U-17 team at practice session yesterday

The prodigy earned further recognition recently when German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen reached an agreement to sign a professional contract with Josh when he turns 18 next year. As a coach I have prepared well, players know what they need to do when they start tomorrow. “The very fact that our boys will be getting a chance to rub shoulders with the best of the world is awesome”, All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel said. School children and local fans cheered on Ghana and Colombia in the first game of the day. “Matos” words should serve as the flawless inspiration for the young Indians as there would be no mental pressure like it happens when administrators, and even media, talk of the team making it to the knockout stage.

While the composition of the Indian U17 team has changed drastically over the course of the past 16 months since that game, the core of 10 players is still there. That’s actually the period the United States may try to put the game beyond the hosts.

Kohli is an ardent football fan and has been actively involved with the sport in the country.

Good Luck boys, make us proud! Of course, they do not know the exact team we will play. “It is an inspiration for us”, concluded the coach. “So, I tried to play as many matches as possible”.

“StarTimes acquired the broadcast rights of these sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup in over 48 territories in Africa, and other league games such as the Serie A, Bundesliga, French Ligue 1, Chinese Super League and Eredivisie to ensure that our subscribers across the globe are satisfied”, Elegbede said. “We are also not able to get any information also here”, said a group of youths hanging around the stadium on Friday.

FIFA has brought football to a new stage in India. “We will fight to win each match even if there is only five percent chance of winning. We welcome them and salute their commitment”.

Those expecting coach Luis Norton de Matos to pull off a miracle of India progressing from the group would do well to remember Jose Mourinho’s unforgettable self-appraisal.

And he ended his media address with a promise. More than the result though, Matos stressed on the fact that India had taken its first step to taking football to another level: “I’m very excited since Indians like football and go into the tournament with the confidence that we’ve worked very well and very hard”.

Many, from Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli to President Ramnath Kovind, have wished the team good luck but as is often the case with Indian football, only one voice made complete sense.