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New Zealand football coach Fritz Schmid today dubbed India lying somewhere between "a sleeping giant and a rising competitor". Schmid is here with his team to take part in the Hero Intercontinental Cup, starting June 2. "I appreciate the opportunity to play in the hero Intercontinental Cup as for countries like us it provides an excellent option to play against three potential strong opponents and have a look at players who will take us forward for the future," he said. Asked what impression he has about football in India, he sounded optimistic. "India is somewhere between a sleeping giant and a rising competitor. It's a big country and from my activity back in the Asian Football Confederation I realised there was a lot of activity at the top level with their professional league.