India will take inspiration from their spirited first half show in their 0-6 defeat to Japan when they take on Australia in the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup. The Young Tigresses have shifted their focus to the Australian test, carrying forward key learnings from the Japan match while maintaining belief in their approach.
Head coach Joakim Alexandersson emphasized the importance of mindset as the team regroups. He told the girls that they performed very well in the first half and were able to compete with a good team. They just have to keep doing that.
India showed encouraging signs in phases of the opening match against Japan, particularly in their ability to match the tempo of the top opposition as they were only narrowly behind at half-time. However, sustaining that level across the full 90 minutes remains the next step.
Standing in India's way now is a physically imposing Australian side, expected to present a different dimension despite some stylistic similarities with Japan. The Young Matildas won their opening game 5-0 against Chinese Taipei.
Alexandersson said, 'I think it's going to be quite similar to Japan game. They try to play in a similar way. They want to attack with a lot of players, so that's something we can expect.'
He added, 'But I also think this team is a little more physical and aggressive than Japan. It means we need to play a bit faster and be a bit braver, with more quality when we have the ball.'
India's next two fixtures will be played at 4 pm local time, adding another layer to the challenge. However, Alexandersson remains confident that his side can cope with the conditions.
