Coach Bob Houghton feels defending champions India will be the team to beat in the Nehru Cup football tournament which gets underway in Delhi on August 19.
Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia remains a doubtful starter ahead of their Friday's match against Bahrain in the Asian Cup football tournament as he has still not recovered completely from his calf muscle injury, coach Bob Houghton said.
The Indian football team will participate in the White Caps Nation Cup, in Vancouver, Canada, its first tournament under new coach Bob Houghton.
Injury will keep India's key players out of the match against Afghanistan in the AFC Challenge Cup in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
As the Indian football team gears up to lock horns with German giants Bayern Munich in Bhaichung Bhutia's farewell match, Climax Lawrence feels former coach Bob Houghton has instilled enough confidence in the side to take on any opposition.
Opposition from national football coach Bob Houghton and captain Bhaichung Bhutia has led to a rethink by the All India Football Federation on the five-foreigner quota in the I-League. The AIFF has also sought views of state associations on the issue.
The influence of iconic cricketer Sachin Tendulkar transcends any sport in India and national football captain Bhaichung Bhutia says he draws inspiration from him to bring laurels for the country.
With national coach Bob Houghton reportedly disagreeing with the proposal of India playing friendlies against African sides, All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Emergency Committee could not finalise the schedule for the India's international matches that were due to be played in the next two.
Mohun Bagan coach Carlos Roberto Perreira said too many local fixtures is detrimental to the development of Indian side.
Dempo have refused to release Joaquim Abranches after they were requested by the AIFF to send him for the national camp in Dubai less than 15 days prior to the Asian Cup 2011.
India's English football coach Bob Houghton says state associations will have to be brought into the fold if India wants to finally achieve the aim of playing in the 2018 World Cup.
Described as a "nonsensical" tournament by national coach Bob Houghton, Santosh Trophy will not feature any member of the Indian senior football team this year.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has taken strong exception to the outbursts by Dempo's striker Joaquim Abranches and Viva Kerala's midfielder N P Pradeep against the national body.
His agent Simon Bayliss said the 22-year-old striker is not interested in playing for India and is all set to pursue his career in England.
The star striker decided to join the ongoing camp in Kolkata, reversing his retirement plans from international soccer.
Team manager Pradeep Chowdhury's out-of-the-blue decision to part ways with the Indian football squad has not gone down well with national players, who are preparing in Dubai for the Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Doha from January 7.
The touring Indian football team went down 0-1 to Portuguese second division side Clube Desportivo de Mafra in their second practice match of the week at the Mafra ground in Lisbon on Thursday. Mafra striker Bonifacio scored the only goal of the match in the 52nd minute to hand India only their second defeat in the two-month training-cum-competition tour of Portugal.
India coach Bob Houghton said the crucial Nehru Cup football match against the West Asian will be a real assessment of his team.
The national team's improved performance will be vital to tap growing corporate support.
India will tour Portugal later this month and then stage an international tournament to help improve the national team.
India soccer team will tour Portugal next month and then stage an international tournament to help improve the national team, coach Bob Houghton said.
The two stalwarts of Indian football failed to measure up to coach Bob Houghton's high fitness demands and were axed from the team for the Asian Cup qualifier.
India beat China U-20 2-1 to clinch third place in the Vancouver Whitecaps Nations Cup.
India are ranked 130 in the latest rankings, which Brazil continue to lead.
The AIFF will announce the appointment of former Dutch international Wim Koevermans as the Indian football coach besides discussing issues concerning hosting of the Nehru Cup during its executive committee meeting in New Delhi.
Former Dutch international Wim Koevermans is all set to take over as the chief coach of the Indian football team for a two-year term, ending a more than a year's search for a full-fledged occupant for the top job.
Unveiling Sunil Chhetri's hidden side: From troublemaker to inspirational captain!
Football was not very close to Sunil Chhetri's heart during his days as a bubbly teenager with proclivity for pranks. He was only looking to use the sport as a vehicle to gain entry to a reputed college and continue his education.
Veteran striker Sunil Chhetri will be spearheading the Indian challenge and besides his longtime teammate Sandeep Jhingan, he will also be able to avail the services of Chinglensana Singh and Lalchungnunga.
Despite losing 0-4 to Australia, India earned respect for their doggedness from their formidable opponents who said Bob Houghton's wards deserved to be in the Asian Cup football tournament, the continent's biggest football event.
The AIFF dropped as many as 13 senior players who were part of the 23-member squad for the Asian Cup in Qatar early this year. Most of the youngsters, who were part of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifying tournament in Malaysia, were named in the probables' list.
India dropped seven places to 143 in the latest FIFA rankings following the 0-3 loss to Japan in the Asian Cup qualifier in Bangalore.
Chhetri has played for India 142 times and has scored 92 goals, the most by an Indian. He is also currently the third most prolific scorer in international football among active players, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The All India Football Federation is exploring the possibility of selecting Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) for the Indian football team.
National football team goalkeeper Subrata Paul is set to become the first Indian player to join a first division side in Europe as he has been offered a six-month contract by Danish top tier club FC Vestsjaelland.
'After one week, I was told by the head coach of Sporting Lisbon 'you are not good enough, get lost to B team'
India football captain Sunil Chhetri believes that the country's budding soccer players should get a chance to train in European academies in order to improve their skills. The man with 72 international goals described his stint with Sporting Lisbon as a 'great experience'.
Football coach Bob Houghton said domestic and national leagues were hampering India's international performance.
National Anti-Doping Agency chief Navin Agarwal confirmed the former India captain was tested by NADA officials in March but declined to elaborate further.
But how much has the national team actually improved?
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