Come 8 pm on October 6, millions of Indians will witness a never seen before spectacle, as India – considered by many as the ‘sleeping giant’ of football – will make its much-awaited World Cup debut when the Under-17 team takes on traditional heavyweights the USA at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
A warm welcome and best wishes to all teams taking part in the @FIFAcom. I am sure #FIFAU17WC will be a treat for football lovers.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 6, 2017
More than 50,000 spectators will attend the historic game. India’s Under-17 side, which was not even there when India was surprisingly awarded the tournament by FIFA, is one of the weakest sides in the tournament and it will take a herculean effort from the colts to progress from the group which comprises USA, Columbia, and Ghana.
However, hope sustains the world and the football-obsessed fans of India are also hopeful of seeing some fireworks from the youngsters. Messages have been pouring in from all the quarters for the boys, and eminent sports personalities of the country also did not remain behind.
Here are some of the messages for India’s Under-17 team which will shoulder the hopes of millions in the coming days:
My best wishes to the @IndianFootball U-17 team for the World Cup! Enjoy your game & chase your dreams because dreams do come true! @FIFAcom pic.twitter.com/lrqgX1olD5
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 5, 2017
Best wishes to @IndianFootball for organising & participating in #FIFAU17WC for the first time. May u give your best on & off-field@FIFAcom
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 6, 2017
Good Luck boys, make us proud! ? #BackTheBlue #FifaU17WC @indianfootball pic.twitter.com/RlqdgN0w7n
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) October 2, 2017
Wishing the @IndianFootball team all the best for today's FIFAU17WC. Make us proud boys??.
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) October 6, 2017
Wishing the @IndianFootball team all the best for the upcoming #FIFAU17WC. #BackTheBlue ??☺️ pic.twitter.com/fl52NsN5CM
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 5, 2017
भारतीय @FIFAcom U-17 फ़ुटबॉल वर्ल्ड कप में भाग लेने वाली सभी टीमों को शुभकामनायें, अच्छा खेलो दिल जीतो मैच जीतो @Ra_THORe @fifamedia #?????
— Manoj Kumar OLY?? (@BoxerManojkr) October 6, 2017
Finally, the World Cup is here. Good luck boys! pic.twitter.com/UGyir17ei9
— Bhaichung Bhutia (@bhaichung15) October 6, 2017
The big boys got together to #BackTheBlue & wish the U-17 @IndianFootball team ahead of the country's #FIFAU17WC debut! ??
Watch ?? pic.twitter.com/6J6FV1Vufo— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 5, 2017
Wishing the @IndianFootball team all the very best for the #FIFAU17WC .As hosts ,the whole country is going to cheer for you .
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) October 6, 2017
Meanwhile, head coach Luis Norton de Matos admitted that the upcoming tournament would be India’s first step towards the future and also insisted that anything is possible in football.
“It is a huge moment for India to be participating in the World Cup. But this is only the first step towards the future,” De Matos said on the eve of the match.
“The players know very well what they are facing tomorrow, but football is a game where anything can happen. We have to prepare and know the strengths of our opponents and weaknesses,” de Matos added.