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The Indian Dream: We Hope We Can Follow The German Model - Indian National Team Coach Bob Houghton
The German model...
01-Jul-2010 9:18:00 AM
By Rahul Bali
No we are not referring to Claudia Schiffer or Heidi Klum here! For sure, the two are certain head turners but we shall focus on the German national team who have been one of the most impressive sides in the ongoing 2010 World Cup.
The Mannschaft have as many as six players - Sami Khedira, Mesut Oezil, Jerome Boateng, Manuel Neuer, Dennis Aogo and Marko Marin, from their Under 21 side which won the European championships last year beating England 4-0.
Interestingly, the final was played at Malmo in Sweden where exactly thirty years back, a certain Bob Houghton took Malmo FF into the European Cup final where they lost narrowly to Nottingham Forest 1-0.
Youth development being one of the primary projects of Houghton in India, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) plans to keep the boys who were part of the India U-19 squad along with a few other youngsters for the next four and a half years and thereby, prepare them for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers which begin in five years from now.
“The Germany U-21 side convincingly won the European Championships last year and it’s not surprising that a lot of players from there are part of their World Cup squad. Now that is their coach’s call that he (Joachim Loew) has.
“There is no bigger platform or competition than the World Cup and it is certainly not a place to prepare players for the next big tournament if he has taken them for that purpose. You can’t do that. Obviously, he has taken them as they are his best players which is evident.
“The German team is a proof of the wonders of youth development and we hope that we can do something similar. Most of our young players don’t play regularly and we hope we could do something about it and hence, the idea of keeping the players together came about,” explained Houghton.
The Englishman threw light on the possible make-up of the Indian team who could participate in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
“In about five year’s time, the boys in the U-21 (AIFF XI) team would be say of 24 years. A few boys from our next U-19 team would also be part of it and they would be 22 to 23 years. Even someone from the following U-19 team could possibly be ready for the qualifiers. So it’s a progressive system. We shall also have a few of our players from the current Asian Cup team as the experienced members in that team,” said the 62 year old.
With India being placed in a tough group at the 2011 Asian Cup having the likes of Australia, South Korea and Bahrain for company, the chances of making it into the next round has certainly become difficult.
“Obviously it’s not a matter of opinion that we are in tough group when you have the number1, 2 and 6 (in Asia) alongside. It is the strongest group by a long way and no one can dispute that.
“Now we have two choices. Either to say that we can’t play against that standard of teams such as Australia or to think that we will do our best and gives ourselves the best possible chance which is what the AIFF is doing,” pointed Houghton.
Having made the choice, the Indian national team departed for Portugal for the next two months where they shall undergo training and also play several friendly matches to prepare for the mega Asian football event at the start of the next year.
The Mannschaft have as many as six players - Sami Khedira, Mesut Oezil, Jerome Boateng, Manuel Neuer, Dennis Aogo and Marko Marin, from their Under 21 side which won the European championships last year beating England 4-0.
Interestingly, the final was played at Malmo in Sweden where exactly thirty years back, a certain Bob Houghton took Malmo FF into the European Cup final where they lost narrowly to Nottingham Forest 1-0.
Youth development being one of the primary projects of Houghton in India, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) plans to keep the boys who were part of the India U-19 squad along with a few other youngsters for the next four and a half years and thereby, prepare them for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers which begin in five years from now.
“The Germany U-21 side convincingly won the European Championships last year and it’s not surprising that a lot of players from there are part of their World Cup squad. Now that is their coach’s call that he (Joachim Loew) has.
“There is no bigger platform or competition than the World Cup and it is certainly not a place to prepare players for the next big tournament if he has taken them for that purpose. You can’t do that. Obviously, he has taken them as they are his best players which is evident.
“The German team is a proof of the wonders of youth development and we hope that we can do something similar. Most of our young players don’t play regularly and we hope we could do something about it and hence, the idea of keeping the players together came about,” explained Houghton.
The Englishman threw light on the possible make-up of the Indian team who could participate in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
“In about five year’s time, the boys in the U-21 (AIFF XI) team would be say of 24 years. A few boys from our next U-19 team would also be part of it and they would be 22 to 23 years. Even someone from the following U-19 team could possibly be ready for the qualifiers. So it’s a progressive system. We shall also have a few of our players from the current Asian Cup team as the experienced members in that team,” said the 62 year old.
With India being placed in a tough group at the 2011 Asian Cup having the likes of Australia, South Korea and Bahrain for company, the chances of making it into the next round has certainly become difficult.
“Obviously it’s not a matter of opinion that we are in tough group when you have the number1, 2 and 6 (in Asia) alongside. It is the strongest group by a long way and no one can dispute that.
“Now we have two choices. Either to say that we can’t play against that standard of teams such as Australia or to think that we will do our best and gives ourselves the best possible chance which is what the AIFF is doing,” pointed Houghton.
Having made the choice, the Indian national team departed for Portugal for the next two months where they shall undergo training and also play several friendly matches to prepare for the mega Asian football event at the start of the next year.
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