Ousted India take on DPR Korea in AFC Challenge Cup

Kathmandu: Knocked out of the tournament following two successive defeats, the Indian football team would look to salvage some pride when it takes on favourites DPR Korea in an inconsequential match in the AFC Challenge Cup on Tuesday. The Group B encounter is India`s last in the tournament.

DPR Korea are far ahead of India in the FIFA ranking and remain the only unbeatable side in the group so far. They go into the match with a huge psychological advantage as India have never managed to upstage them at the international level. The team has seven players who have played in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and they are expected to pile on the agony on Savio Medeira`s boys. "Whatever had happened is past. We need to look forward. All of us need to support each other and see that whatever mistakes we have committed in the past shouldn`t be repeated," said India coach Medeira. "DPR Korea are the toughest opponent. As they have already qualified for the semis, they would not be under any pressure. We still have many things to prove. "All of us need to do a lot of introspection and then come to a conclusion. We have to take a step forward for the betterment of football in India," he added. Former AIFF Footballer of the Year, stopper back Gourmangi Singh accepted the lack of a cohesive effort in the last two matches. "We didn`t play as a team. The coordination and understanding wasn`t there. We are a young side, we need to develop as a team, that too, fast," he said. There would be quite a few changes in the starting line-up. Central midfielder Adil Khan and striker Joaquim Abranches would be sitting out due to niggles. PTI