New Delhi: Having spanked Bhutan 5-0, the defending champions India have already consolidated their position in the group and just need to secure a draw against Sri Lanka tomorrow in the last league encounter of Group A to sail into the semi finals of the SAFF Championship 2011, but all that Indian Coach Savio Madeira has on his mind is to avoid complacency and go for a win. He wants his boys to go for a victory so that they could carry the winning momentum into the semis.
“We are taking it as any other game and preparing in the same way as we have doing throughout the tournament. Every opponent is good and we would play to win,” said the confident Madeira.
The men in blue who started off with a draw got back its lost sheen against Bhutan, is expected to go pretty much with the same line up apart from few changes, as Madeira would not like to disturb the winning combination.
“As I have earlier said that there are not too many changes I can make in the team as this is not the right time to do any experiments,” added Madeira.
The pair of Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua up in front would not possibly be disturbed as Madeira always feels that they are the best combination available and are the mainstay of the Indian attack. Madeira however might start off with Steven Dias, who was rested for the match against Bhutan to add some experience to the midfield combination which was on the fire in the previous match. And if it is the way as being anticipated then the possible midfielding combination would be Clifford Miranda, Locus Ramare, Climax Lawrence and Dias.
However Nirmal Chettri who replaced the star Indian defender Samir Naik who was ruled out due to twisted ankle would retain his place in the side as Naik is still recovering from the injury. This means that the responsibility to guard India’s citadel is now vested upon the likes of Nirmal, Mahesh Gawli, Gaurmangi Singh and Rahim Nabi with Karanjit Singh as the first choice goalkeeper.
Even though Madeira is confident that his boys would do the job for him is not taking the Lankan players lightly and is wary of the fact that all the teams have the potential and can run away with if they get hot.
“Defeating Bhutan was not easy and so would be the case with Sri Lanka. They have come here to win and would come strongly at us after their loss to Afghanistan. I have asked the boys to take them seriously and hope that they do well,” said Madeira.
On the other hand for Sri Lanka who is placed third on the table, it looks a stiff job to make it to the semis considering the fact that both the frontrunners of the group India and Afghanistan are on a roll and is in no mood to show any leniency to their opponents. If Sri Lanka has to progress into the semis, a situation which ideally does not fit the card, would require Bhutan to beat Afghanistan by a margin of two goals or more and then defeat India or salvage a draw. But the situation is unlikely to happen as both India and Afghanistan are on a roll and has emerged as the favorites to win the Championship. And if Sri Lanka really has any plans of troubling India in the match, then they would require Nipun Bandara, who scored a brace against Bhutan to fire on all cylinders.