Securing a knockout spherical berth appears tough however not not possible because the Indian soccer workforce takes on title contenders Australia in its opening group match of the AFC Asian Cup on Saturday.
Eliminated within the group stage of their final two appearances in 2011 and 2019, India face an uphill job this time additionally, as they’ve been clubbed with Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria in Group B.
India`s hopes of creating it to the spherical of 16 within the continental showpiece relies on the result of the match in opposition to Syria on January 23 as Australia and Uzbekistan (January 18) are method forward of them by way of high quality.
A win in opposition to Syria can put India within the third place within the group, providing an opportunity for a knock-out spherical berth. The prime two groups from every group, together with 4 greatest third-placed sides from throughout six teams, progress to the knockout spherical of 16.
Head coach Igor Stimac and captain Sunil Chhetri have already hinted that Australia (twenty fifth in FIFA rating) and Uzbekistan (68th) — the favourites to take the highest two spots within the group — are presumably out of attain for India.
India had crushed Syria prior to now — within the 2007 and 2009 Nehru Cup tournaments — and that gives a ray of hope for the Chhetri-led workforce, ranked 102 on this planet.
A knockout spherical berth will probably be an enormous achievement for India, who’re making their fifth look within the AFC Asian Cup, after coming shut within the final version in 2019, and particularly for Chhetri, who will probably be taking part in for the final time within the prestigious event.
The 39-year-old talisman will probably be taking part in in his third Asian Cup, after his 2011 and 2019 campaigns, having scored 4 objectives in six matches, probably the most by an Indian.
India will begin as clear underdogs on the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in opposition to mighty Australia, the 2015 champions, who’ve come right here with ambitions of regaining the title and who received 4-0 within the 2011 version group match in the one earlier conflict between the 2 sides within the event.
Australia are one of many common sides within the FIFA World Cup from Asia and they’re a assured bunch after making it to the spherical of 16 within the final version in Qatar. They had made a quarterfinal exit within the 2019 Asian Cup.
The Socceroos are a mixture of skilled and younger gamers with 19 of the 26 presently plying commerce in European leagues whereas solely 4 are taking part in within the home A-League. The remaining three play in Japan and Saudi Arabia.
India have come into the event with the perfect accessible squad, after three key gamers — defender Anwar Ali, defensive midfielder Jeakson Singh and nippy winger Ashique Kuruniyan — missed out on account of accidents.
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India have been additionally dealt a blow as midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad was dominated out of Sarurday`s match in opposition to Australia as he’s but to totally recuperate from the ankle damage he had sustained throughout an Indian Super League match in early December.
“Sahal will not be prepared but, not 100 per cent match for the match (on Saturday). We will do all the pieces we will to have him again for the remainder of the event,¿ Stimac mentioned of the Mohun Bagan participant on the pre-match press convention.
Chhetri appears to be getting higher with advancing age however regardless of his starvation for purpose, it won’t be simple for him and his team-mates to breach the Australian purpose, manned by captain and skilled custodian Mathew Ryan, who received the Asian Cup in 2015 and was a part of the squad that certified for every of the final three World Cups.
Stimac`s males would do nicely to maintain the injury to the minimal because the variety of objectives conceded could play a job later in deciding who makes it to the spherical of 16 as third-place workforce.
“We didn`t have much knowledge of Australian team back then (2011)…compared to minute details we have now. We have watched their friendlies against Palestine and Bahrain, we know which leagues their players are in, and individual clips on them,” mentioned Chhetri.
“With this familiarity, the fear factor goes out…of course they are a couple of levels above…but at least we know what we are up against.”
Statistically, the 2 nations have performed eight matches in opposition to one another with Australia having received 4 instances and India thrice, with one recreation ending in a draw. All of India`s wins have, nevertheless, come earlier than 1957.
The Indian males`s senior workforce can be taking part in for the primary time underneath Video Assistant Referee (VAR) within the match in opposition to Australia on Saturday. VAR know-how will make its full debut in Qatar following its profitable implementation from the quarter-final stage within the 2019 version within the United Arab Emirates.
All 51 matches on the Asian Cup in Qatar can even see VAR complemented by the Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) system.
The India-Australia match can even see Japan`s Yoshimi Yamashita creating historical past by changing into the primary girl referee to take cost of a recreation within the Asian Cup.
(With company inputs)
Source: www.mid-day.com
