India may be the top-ranked side in the Intercontinental Cup beginning here tomorrow, but head coach Stephen Constantine is expecting "different problems" from each of the three opponents and said that his team would need to be tactically prepared to shine in the tournament.
India take on Chinese Taipei tomorrow at the Mumbai Football Arena in the lung opener of the tournament which also has New Zealand and Kenya. The home team is ranked 97th ahead of Kenya (111), Chinese Taipei (121) and New Zealand (133).
This four-nation tournament was conceptualised to test the Indian team ahead of the Asian Cup to be held in the four cities of the UAE from January 5 and February 1.
"We will use these games as a preparation for Asian Cup. We are looking forward to the game against Chinese Taipei tomorrow. Kenya and New Zealand will be giving us different problems. Physically we are prepared and we need to now prepare tactically," Constantine told reporters at the pre-tournament press conference.
"I am aware of the quality of the players whom Kenya and New Zealand have brought in and they are playing all across Europe," added the Indian coach.
He said the team has done analysis of its opponents through watching video clips.
"We have broken down our opponents. We have had separate sessions with individual players and are looking at the video clips both from matches and training sessions to get better," Constantine said.
There are still eight months for the Asian Cup and the head coach informed that the team has a busy schedule lined up.
"We have Asian Games, then SAAF Championships, there we have the October-November windows. There will be a camp before we head to UAE for Asian Cup, quite a busy schedule. There is a lot of football to be played between now and Asian Cup," the Briton said.
He informed that the Indian team has 11 U-23 players.
"I have 11 U-23 players in the squad but we also need the senior players to lead, guide and mentor these players, its not easy," he said.
Constantine also spoke about two new support staff -- Joel Carter and Claus Peeterson.
"Claus works with individual players who are not quite ready. He is a rehab specialist and the players really enjoy and need the session. Carter is doing match analysis and is a coach in his own right."
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