SAFF U-16: India eye berth in final in Bangladesh clash
KATHMANDU, March 4: A spot in the final of the SAFF U16 Women’s Championship will be on the line when the Indian team takes on Bangladesh in their second match of the tournament at the ANFA Complex in Lalitpur, Nepal on Tuesday.After a thumping 7-0 victory over Bhutan in Friday’s opener a win against the in-form Bangladesh would see the Young Tigresses book their place in the final with a match to spare. Bangladesh opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over hosts Nepal on Saturday. “A hundred percent, we will enter the pitch against Bangladesh with the mentality to win and play pressing football. We don’t want a defensive game. We’ll go all out for the three points,” said head coach Biby Thomas on the eve of the match. Bangladesh have had the edge over India in the SAFF women’s youth tournaments from U15 to U20 levels. Out of the total 13 meetings since 2017, Bangladesh have won seven, India have won three, while the other three have been draws.Having watched Bangladesh’s victory over Nepal two days ago, Thomas shared his opinion on the opponents. “Bangladesh are always a decent team. They have a few experienced players who have played for the U17s. Overall, they looked an organised side in defence, midfield, and attack. We have to be fully concentrated.”The few experienced names include Arifa Akter, Thuinuye Marma, captain Arpita Biswas, and goalscorer Prity, who played for Bangladesh in the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers last year.The tournament was initially planned to take place at the Chyasal Stadium, which has natural grass. However, after an inspection three days before the first match, the pitch was deemed unfit to play and the tournament was shifted to the ANFA Complex with artificial turf. The majority of the Indian players have never played competitively on turf before, but with every training session, they are getting more used to it. (IANS)
Goa to host next Beach football national championship
NEW DELHI, March 4: Goa will host the Beach Football National Championship this year, the All India Football Federation announced on Monday.The decision to give Goa the hosting right was made during All India Football Federation’s Beach Football Committee’s virtual meeting.The dates of the tournament are yet to be announced.AIFF had successfully hosted the first-ever men’s Beach Soccer National Championship last year in Surat in January, following which the sport made a debut at the National Games.The meeting was chaired by Ganapati Palguna, and attended by Acting Secretary General M. Satyanarayan, Deputy Chairperson Jignesh Patil, and members S. Dhanasegar, K. Nizamuddin, Sanjay Meshack, and Upen Patel.“Requests had come in from various Member Associations of the AIFF that the Federation provide some aid for them to acquire Beach football equipment, which can be difficult to obtain,” and AIFF media release said. The Beach Soccer Committee also suggested that the various states, especially those in the coastal areas, be encouraged to hold their own competitions (PTI)
Italy’s Domenico Berardi to miss Euro 2024 due to injury
SASSUOLO, March 4: Key Italy forward Domenico Berardi will miss the European Championship after being diagnosed with a complete tear of the Achilles tendon in his right leg on Monday.The Sassuolo player is slated to undergo surgery on Tuesday, the club said, and likely won’t return until next year.Returning from a separate injury in January to his left knee, which required surgery, Berardi went down in the 58th minute of Sassuolo’s 1-0 loss at Hellas Verona after controlling an errant kick from Verona goalkeeper. He immediately grasped his right ankle and was eventually helped off the pitch by teammates.Berardi provided two assists during Italy’s run to the Euros three years ago and was expected to be on the team this year. (AP)