According to the latest FIFA rankings, India has climbed to 96th rankings. This is the best-ever rise in rankings for India in the last 21 years. However, coach Stephen Constantine has advised the players not to get carried away with the rise and focus on their game as there is a lot coming next.
Constantine said, “There is always the next game which comes to your mind. So it’s not always possible to enjoy the moment. That’s how life is as you are always trying to get better. People may be tempted to go crazy with the recent rise in rankings and the results, but we cannot get carried away.”
According to him, the team has worked well and it is their teamwork that has led them to this achievement.
“I don’t think it’s got to do anything with magic. It’s just a respect for my job and respect for my players, as much it’s the respect for the people around me. These are the key ingredients to any national team moving forward. “Football team is never about one single person. I take responsibility when the team is not doing well and share the praise when the team is doing well. That’s how it is,” he said.
Talking about the progress of football in India over the years, Constantine said, “I was here some 10 years prior and at that time no one knew me. I have always had an emotional attachment with India. Having said that, 2015 was the first year after the Indian Super League was launched. “I could foresee a change coming as Indian Football had itself decided that it needed to change. I felt that I could help them go forward. Luckily, Mr. (Praful) Patel also thought the same.”