The aspiring Indian team knows that the AFC tournament is one big opportunity to win a ticket to the 2027 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

India’s head coach Amelia Valverde is well prepared to face Japan in Group C match of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 scheduled to be held Saturday at Perth’s Rectangular Stadium in Australia.

She also knows that the Japanese women’s football team is far better in all aspects of the game than the aspiring Indian team that is eager to win a ticket to the 2027 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The Costa Rican football expert also knows the best solution to tackle the strong Japanese side at this moment is to change the mindset of the Indian players.

“We hope to deliver a strong performance, to be very competitive again, as we were last Wednesday,” Valverde was quoted as saying by AIFF (All India Football Federation) website.

“At certain moments the game (against Japan) may demand that we be flexible from a tactical point of view,” the head coach added.

The head coach has prepared her team for Saturday’s encounter against Japan. “We need to focus our energy on our own team. We want to try to manage the game and take it in the direction we believe is best, while adapting to their characteristics,” she told AIFF.

The best thing Valverde must have told her team is to frustrate the Japanese forward line from scoring. The main goal however, will be to stay on course to advance to quarterfinals and grab a spot for the 2027 World Cup.

The Indian team faced off the field issues of playing kit not fitting properly and making last minute arrangements, but must have settled down after the first match.

The Indian team had to work hard against Vietnam in the opening match. India came back from a goal down to level the score but conceded a second goal which denied them to open their account.

EOM