 | NEWS LOGO | |
HOME | NEWS | ENTERTAINMENT | CRICKET | LOCAL | ASTROLOGY | E-GREETINGS | CHAT | COOKING | MINDSPACE | ||
headlines national business sports cricket regional technology world travel autos health opinion | India, UAE to clash in World Cup qualifying round 16.51 IST 24th Apr 2001 Indian Football Coach Sukhwinder Singh is quite optimistic that his boys could once again defeat the United Arab Emirates (UAE) when the two teams clash for the second time on Thursday in the World Cup qualifying round. ''In Football, no one can safely predict what would happen, but we have good chances to prove ourselves,'' he told reporters soon after the team arrived in Dubai, en route to Al Ain in Abu Dhabi, where the crucial match is to be played. ''We appreciate that the U A E is a very strong side and definitely their minds are still fresh with their 0-1 defeat to India in Bangalore earlier this month.'' He said, ''We also know that the UAE have prepared well for the\ match as things did not go according to their wishes in Bangalore... It is a tough clash and UAE are aware of everything.'' The head of the Indian delegation Mohammed Shamsuddin said the team would do its best to improve its chances of moving into the second round. Indian ace Bhaichung Bhutia said he would like to see the Indian fans at the stadium. ''We will spare no effort to boost our chances in the tournament,'' he said. Speaking about India's 1-1 draw against Yemen at home earlier this month, Bhutia said, ''The result of our clash against Yemen was disappointing. We squandered many scoring opportunities and one of our shots hit the cross bar.'' Veteran striker I M Vijayan said the Indian team was coming up very strongly and would be hard to beat. The top team in each of the ten Asian groups advances to the final qualifying round. Two or three teams from Asia will qualify for the 2002 world cup finals in South Korea and Japan. Being the hosts, South Korea and Japan have already qualified. U A E, India, Yemen and Brunei are clashing for the only berth from group eight. Each side has played two matches with Yemen leading with five points, ahead of India on goal difference. The U A E, who crushed Brunei 12-0, are third with three points and Brunei are in the fourth place without a point. Meanwhile, U A E seem determined to amend for their away loss to India. ''The match is of high importance...It is a do or die game as it gives the winners a good chance to proceed on. Our players have to shoulder their responsibility and avenge their away defeat,'' according to Yousif Alsarkal, Deputy Chairman of the U A E Football Association. -UNI |
Balco employees to continue strike India denies Pak charge on military exercises 450 million dollar World Bank loan for Indian power-grid system PM to visit Russia in November Vajpayee to embark on electioneering from Saturday Laxman, Harbhajan get contract, thanks to Waugh’s word Shourie rules out review of disinvestments policy Commonwealth Secretary General to visit India on May 6 Nationwide chemists’ strike on Saturday Andhra Govt 'dragging feet' on probe into child trafficking Security forces battling militants in Kupwara Oppressed by the tyranny of the veil CBI appeal to split the Bofors case, start trial against Hindujas India all set to launch its first ICBM by 2002: US Curfew clamped in Colombo after riots |