The Indian football team for the U-17 World Cup today left the country for an exposure tour to Europe where it will play a series of practice matches in Portugal, France, Hungary and a tournament in Italy.
The 26-member squad, accompanied by seven officials including head coach Norton de Matos, will train in Lisbon till May 15, and will play practice matches against U-17 youth teams of leading Portuguese clubs like Sporting Lisbon, Benfica, Estoril and Setubal.
The squad would then proceed to Paris to play a practice match against Paris Saint-Germain U-17 team. The Indians will also have a match against the Italian U-17 national team in Rome and will also be participating in the Lazio Cup.
The Lazio Cup is a tournament played among 16 teams and the expected teams include Albania U-17, Colombia U-17, a team from CAF Canadian selection, and local teams such as Fiorentina, Lazio, Sampdoria, Cagliari, Pescara as well as teams from Serie B Italia and Serie C Italia.
The Indian team also has confirmed matches against Hungary U-17 and matches against Spanish clubs during their tour to Spain.
