It might be a preparatory match. Still, forcing a team like Real Madrid to a 3-3- draw was undoubtedly an excellent performance. The chief coach of the under-17 national team, Bibiano Fernades did not hesitate to speak out that this was the most memorable performance his boys exhibited on Wednesday, finishing a 3-3 draw against Real Madrid under-17 at their home. 

In a bid to fulfill the dream of playing in the Fifa under-17 World Cup, to be held in Peru from 10th November to 2nd December in Peru, the National under-17 team is aiming at the forthcoming AFC under-17 championship, scheduled to commence in Thailand from 15th June. The four semi-finalists will be qualified for the World Cup.

The Indian probables started playing exposure matches in May last year. They played against Uzbekistan. They lost to the UAE under-20 side by a goal. They lost to Qatar by three goals in the first match but bounced back with a superb 3-0 victory against them in their second and concluding match. The team then, in a five-week exposure in Spain, won 4-1 against Atletico Madrid Under-17 and won also against U-16 Atletico Madrid. Before their match against Real Madrid, Indian juniors lost only against Leganes 2-0. The team had a superb outing against Real Madrid where Indian juniors even leading 2-1 after the break. Shashwat Panwar, Thangalsoun Gangte, and Ralte scored for India.

Bibiano speaking to Parallel Sports from Madrid over the phone on Thursday, "They were already motivated to have heard about playing against such a big team. So, all of them had an inspiring show, especially in the second session. Real Madrid under-17 is one of the premier teams in Spain's under-17 league along with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid."

Commenting on the football development, especially about the youth, this experienced coach asserted, "The footballers in the youth league take part in 38 League matches and 10 to 12 more competitive matches including other knock-out tournaments every year, and their football journey starts at the age of five or six. I was amazed to have seen that nearly 5000 competitive matches, starting from the grass route, youth, and the senior level, take place across Spain every Saturday and Sunday." 

The 44-year-old coach asserted saying, "Let our youth footballers take part in 40 to 50 competitive matches every year. I am sure India will reach the final phase of the World Cup very soon. A lot of potential footballers in every position will come up from the Leagues and if they can be scouted and nurtured properly then we will have not only one team, rather two or three more teams which will earn the capability of winning major international tournaments." 

Indian juniors before going to Germany for around a two-week training and exposure program, will play their last preparatory match against Getafe. The team in Germany will be based in Frankfurt, and then return to India. Bibiano sounded optimistic when he stated, "We are with AFC Cup defending champions Japan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. The boys as they have been performing, will not give up."