Youth Cup: Alexandersson Urges Players to Display Strong Spirit for India

Manavgat (Turkiye), Feb 18 (NationPress) The Indian U20 women's team is set to face Jordan in their opening match of the Pink Ladies U20 Youth Cup at the Emirhan Sports Centre on Wednesday. This friendly tournament serves as a crucial preparation phase for India ahead of the SAFF U20 Women's Championship in July and the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers in August.

Coach Joakim Alexandersson's squad will also compete against Hong Kong on February 22 and Russia on February 25 during the U20 Youth Cup.

The initial challenge comes from Jordan, a team India has historically performed well against at the youth level. In the previous AFC U19 Women's Championship Qualifiers, India secured two victories over Jordan and suffered one defeat. In February 2023, the India U17 women triumphed over the West Asians in two friendlies, winning 7-0 and 6-0, with winger Pooja, who is now part of the U20 squad, netting two goals.

Jordan recently showcased their skills at the WAFF Women's Youth Championship last December, where they claimed the title on home ground by defeating Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Palestine, and drawing with Lebanon.

Head coach Joakim Alexandersson, who has been meticulously analyzing footage of the Jordanian team, acknowledges their physical strength but remains committed to India's aggressive playing style.

“Jordan are a physically strong team with several fast and assertive players who excel at exploiting space behind the defense. They are adept at building plays and frequently employ a high defensive line to induce mistakes. We aim to quickly shift the ball from side to side to evade their pressure and minimize unnecessary turnovers. Our goal is to control the match and effectively utilize the flanks and open spaces.

“We have been focused on our gameplay, including build-up, support, communication, and ball speed. We aim to take advantage of 2v1 and 3v2 situations. In terms of defense, we are honing our skills in low, mid, and high pressing.”

“Our goal is to enhance our aggression, improve our transition game, and regain possession swiftly. We are also emphasizing set pieces and finishing. I expect to see advancements in our defensive organization and the creation of quality scoring opportunities. I want our players to demonstrate courage and a big heart while representing their country,” Alexandersson stated on www.aiff.com.

The Young Tigresses arrived in Manavgat, a quaint town located 75 kilometers from the bustling city of Antalya, on Monday evening and are scheduled for their first training session later on Tuesday. Nestled in southern Turkey along the Mediterranean coast, the weather here is approximately 15 to 18 degrees cooler than in Bengaluru, where the team had been training for the past week and a half.

“The weather is ideal for football, albeit much cooler than Bengaluru. The hotel, food, and facilities are exceptional. It should be a fantastic experience,” he remarked.