AFC Asian Cup: Carlos Queiroz heaps praise on India

Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, who has been the longest-serving coach for the Iranian national football team, has heaped praise on Indian football team after their emphatic 4-1 victory over Thailand in their opening match of the ongoing AFC Asian Cup.

Queiroz, who is considered as one of the most decorated managers in the ongoing Asian Cup, said that the team has made great progress over a period of time. He also congratulated the players and the coach for achieving a fantastic team result.

"It is a completely different team since we played them. I saw you guys playing recently. The India Team has made great progress," AIFF quoted Queiroz, as saying.

"It is a brilliant win and a very good performance. I would like to congratulate not only the coach Constantine but the entire team and the supporters. It has been a fantastic result for the team. When you perform like this in the first game of the Asian Cup, it only shows that you are going in the right direction," he added.

The 23-player India squad which comprises not less than nine U-23 players is the second youngest team in this edition of AFC Asian Cup after Vietnam.

The Portuguese Coach who has guided three different countries (South Africa in 2002, Portugal in 2010, Iran in 2014 and 2018) to FIFA World Cup opined that giving youngsters a chance to prove their abilities is a right thing to do and is necessary if the aim is to take the national team forward.

"I think it is the right thing to do. When we need to prepare the team for the future, you can't do it without the fresh pair of legs. If you are trying to take the National Team forward, you need to think about the present, as well as take care of the future. If you don't do that you only get stagnated," he said.

India will take on hosts UAE in their next match of the tournament which is slated to be held on January 10 at the Zayed Sports City Stadium.