Having played three matches, India have won one (Tajikistan), lost one (Iran), and drawn one (Afghanistan), knocking out Tajikistan and Afghanistan on the way. Blue Tigers head coach Khalid Jamil, at the pre-match press conference, exuded the positivity that surrounds the team at the moment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAll our players are fine and are all positive after these results. We must continue this positivity into the next game. I have a good feeling that we could get a positive result,\u201d said Jamil. \u201cWe felt from the very start that we could do something good here, and I must say that it is the belief and hard work of the players that have brought us to the CAFA Nations Cup play-off stage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe commitment that the players showed was amazing \u2013 be it seniors or juniors, everyone contributed. The way they adapted to the conditions was commendable. I never felt like we were here to just participate \u2013 we came with a purpose, and the feeling was always positive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While Jamil has surrounded the Blue Tigers camp with an air of positivity, the India head coach is wary of the potential threat that 79th-ranked Oman possesses; India are 133rd in the FIFA rankings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOman are a very good team. They have a good coach (Carlos Queiroz) and quality players, and they\u2019ve done well in their group. It will definitely not be easy, and we\u2019ll have to fight for everything. But we are ready for it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India have faced Oman on 10 occasions, though the Blue Tigers are yet to win a match against the latter. The Reds have won seven of these matches, while three have ended in draws.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite the past record, Jamil is looking for a win. He said, \u201cFirst and foremost, we must get a result \u2013 that\u2019s the most important thing.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India have scored two goals (both in a 2-1 victory against hosts Tajikistan), and both have come from set-pieces. While Jamil\u2019s men are working on increasing their scoring propensities, the India head coach, is more intent on putting in a good performance as a unit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt does not matter how you score, as long as you do well. Sometimes, you score from open play, while on other occasions, you score from set-pieces \u2013 it\u2019s all a part of the game. what matters at the end of the day is that you get the results,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOf course there\u2019s focus on scoring from open play too. We will keep trying until we succeed. We\u2019ve created a lot of chances, but I still feel they are not enough,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to create more and convert them.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India are preparing for the two AFC Asian Cup 2027 Group C Qualifier matches against Singapore (October 9 and 14) next month, though the head coach feels that it is important for the Blue Tigers to focus on one game at a time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I\u2019ve believed from the beginning that participation in the CAFA Nations Cup was a very good decision. The more matches we play, the better we get. It\u2019s a great opportunity to prepare and build the team further,\u201d he said. \u201cBut right now, we are only thinking of the Oman gamne.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India are preparing for the two AFC Asian Cup 2027 Group C Qualifier matches against Singapore (October 9 and 14) next month, though the head coach feels that it is important for the Blue Tigers to focus on one game at a time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I think Oman are a very competitive side, but we know what we have to do. We\u2019ve been preparing for the last three days, and everyone has recovered very well. We hope to give our best,\" said Boris.<\/p>\r\n\r\n