Going into the knockout clash, what pleases head coach Goutam Ghosh most is not the fact that the boys in blue have pumped in six goals, conceding only one in the two matches they played so far, but the manner in which they tasted success staying true to the principle.
"The boys are improving with every game," Ghosh said.
"I said the other day that rectifying the mistakes we committed against Sri Lanka is the main aim. In training on the eve of our match against Bangladesh, I stressed on the weaknesses. It was heartening to see the boys not repeating the same errors and playing to the plan perfectly," he added.
"Football is such a beautiful game that with every game you discover new areas to work upon. Against Afghanistan the aim remains the same, to work on our weaknesses," he quipped.
The Afghans won one and drew two matches in the group stages, finishing with five points from three outings while India have logged full points from their two games.
"Afghanistan are a very tough side. They play a in a conventional 4-4-2 formation," Ghosh informed ahead of the match at the Army Ground.
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
