When goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu walked out for warm-up at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium ahead of the opener against Australia, he was surprised to see fans waving Indian flags and cheering for the national team. This was in faraway Qatar, yet the Indian football team felt at home with over 30,000 fans cheering them. Apart from the hosts, no other team has had such support in the opening round of the AFC Asian Cup.
“It felt incredible with so many cheering for us,” Gurpreet told TOI on Tuesday. “Whenever we play for India and have the privilege of seeing so many people at the stadium, that too away from home, it feels extra special. The support motivates us and helps give everything on the pitch. We enjoy and we want to
make sure that those watching enjoy as well.”
The opener against Australia didn’t make for great viewing with India pushed into their own half for most part. For the first 45 minutes, though, the World Cuppers failed to open their account but did enough after the change of ends to register a predictable 2-0 win.
India (rank 102) next face Uzbekistan (rank 68) in a game where they need at least a point to stay alive in the competition. It’s another tall task, but the team isn’t short on confidence.
“The team was hungry before the first game and now we are hungrier to prove ourselves and get some points on the table. We did not get anything from the first game but there were positives as a team. Uzbekistan will be a challenge, but knowing that points will help our cause, it’s a motivation. We will go all out so
that we give ourselves, and the fans, something to cheer,” said Gurpreet, who has represented the nation 67 times and worn the captain’s armband in 10 games.
Never mind the defeat against Australia, India had positives to take from the opener, particularly in the first half when Igor Stimac’s side defended resolutely, said Gurpreet.
In the second half, it all fell apart, just as the coach had warned prior to the start of the continental showpiece.
