Football team can reach
Asiad semis: Bhutia
Our Correspondent
Ace striker Baichung Bhutia feels India have a good chance of reaching the semi-finals of the football competition at the coming Asian Games in Busan.
The India skipper said his side is capable of beating any team, including World Cup debutants China.
"China is a strong team... but we are no longer pushovers. If we play to our full potential... the way we did in the LG Cup in Vietnam, we have a realistic chance of reaching the semis," Bhutia said.
He said his optimism stems from the "zeal and enthusiasm" that exists in the team.
"This is a much-improved side. The best part is that the team is very young and technically sound. Indian football has improved by leaps and bounds," he added.
Bhutia said the team holds much promise and should be "very good and consistent" in two years' time after getting maximum exposure at the international level.
He said the team has been playing very good football, particularly in the last three months, when it lifted the LG Cup in Vietnam.
Citing the match against Jamaica, on the recent tour of England, as the best India had ever played, he said the team is shaping well under coach Stephen Constantine, "who is trying different combinations and allowing players on the reserve bench the opportunity to prove themselves".
But he struck a note of caution when he said the team needs to shed its complacency and deliver consistently at the international level.
India outplayed Uzbekistan 2-0 in the first of their two friendly matches in Delhi last week but lost the second 0-1 on Wednesday. Baichung scored a brace in the opening match and created several chances in the second.
At the six-group 24-team Asian Games football tournament, India are grouped with China, Bangladesh and Turkmenistan.
Defending champions Iran kick-off their campaign on September 28 with a match against Mongolia at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium, which hosted three matches of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
World Cup semi-finalists and hosts Korea Republic will play Maldives in their opening Group A match in Busan on September 27.
Based on current performance and home advantage, the Koreans start as one of the favourites to win the gold medal. Besides Maldives, Oman and Malaysia complete their group.
Japan, Asia's other World Cup representatives to make it past the group stages, will meet Jordan, in their first match in Group D. Uzbekistan and Bahrain round off the group.
In the women's tournament, defending champions China face Taiwan in their opening match in Busan on October 2, while hosts Korea Republic clash with Vietnam in Changwon.
With only five teams participating in the women's event, the mode of competition is a one round league format where the top three teams will claim the gold, silver and bronze medals.
The men's groups:
Group A: South Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman
Group B: United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen, Thailand
Group C: China, India, Bangladesh, Turkmenistan
Group D: Japan, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Jordan
Group E: Iran, Qatar, Lebanon, Mongolia
Group F: Kuwait, Tajikistan, Hong Kong, Pakistan
