FCBARCELONA.CAT

04.09.2009 11:00

India lifts trophy after Camp Nou stay

www.fcbarcelona.cat

The Indian national football team has won the Nehru International Cup 2009 after a one-month training stay in the Camp Nou.

The squad trained by Bob Houghton was in Barcelona from 6th July to 6th August and trained regularly in the Camp Nou. They were preparing for the Nehru International Cup 2009, which they had won in 2007. It seems that their time in Barcelona was well spent.

Hosts and champions

India was the host nation for this year’s competition, held from 19th to 31st August. They played five matches, four of them in the group phase. They finished second in the group behind Syria but went on the beat the Middle Eastern side in the final.

The final match between India and Syria ended goalless after the 90 minutes and then 1-1 after extra time. India lifted the trophy in the penalty shootout.

Apart from retaining their crown, one of the India players, Baichunh Bhutia, was voted best player of the tournament.