Ahead of their SAFF Championship semi-final clash against India on Thursday, Maldives football team coach said he was confident that his side can come out victorious against the hosts.
After losing 1-4 to Afghanistan on Monday, Maldives were resigned to second spot in Group B and will face India in the first semifinal whereas Afghanistan will face Sri Lanka in the second semi-final.
"Even if we had won yesterday's game against Afghanistan, we would've had to win the semifinal and the final to lift the trophy. So we should not be anxious about the clash. I'm confident our team after a good rest can beat India," Herbert was quoted as saying by Maldivian daily Haveeru on Tuesday.
Despite the confidence, Herbert said he was wary of India's home advantage and admitted that the South Asian giants have a strong young team.
India have beaten the island nation six times in the knockout stage of the SAFF Championship previously.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
