Their preparation was removed from ideally suited however the Indian football team would take inspiration from the draw in opposition to Asian champions Qatar in 2019 once they face the identical opponents in the second-leg match of the joint World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers on Thursday. India had held mighty Qatar 0-0 in September 2019 right here, a consequence thought-about as one of the finest for the aspect in latest instances.
But India are enjoying their dwelling match right here as the Qatari capital was chosen as the centralised venue for all the remaining Group E matches after the qualifiers had been halted final yr because of the COVID-19 pandemic. India’s efficiency, nevertheless, has gone south since then whereas Qatar, the group toppers, have come into Thursday match on a excessive.
They beat Luxembourg (1-0) and Azerbaijan (2-1) and performed out a 1-1 draw in opposition to Ireland in the worldwide pleasant matches in March. India are coming into this match after a demoralising 0-6 drubbing in opposition to the UAE in a world pleasant in March.
On prime of that, India’s preparation has been hit exhausting as they needed to cancel a nationwide camp scheduled in early May in Kolkata. The team reached right here on May 19 solely to search out that the gamers wouldn’t get the amenities they’d have needed. Stimac himself had expressed the frustration, saying that it was “not a great preparation” for the World Cup qualifiers.
On the positive side, Stimac will have the chance to field a full strength Indian team after a long time with all the core players available for selection and without injury concern. That 2019 match against Qatar did not have talisman Sunil Chhteri due to a viral fever and his return will surely boost the confidence of the young Indian side. Chhetri also missed the two international friendlies in March, including the one against UAE, as he was recovering from COVID-19 infection.
But there will be gulf is class between the two sides. Qatar are ranked 58th in the FIFA chart against India’s 105th. “Qatar are one of the top teams in Asia. They have had some decent results against top European and South American teams in the recent past,” Chhetri mentioned. “The final time we took some extent in opposition to them makes us assured as a team. We perceive that they’ll come out all weapons blazing at us, and we have to stick collectively as a team.” In that drawn game in 2019 also, Qatar dominated throughout with waves of attacks on the Indian citadel. It was to the credit of goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Sandesh Jhingan-led defence that stood tall to deny the Qataris a win.
Currently fourth in Group E with three points from five matches, India are already out of reckoning for a World Cup berth but still in contention for the 2023 Asian Cup. Qatar have won five out of their six matches in these qualifiers.
Boasting of a lethal attacking line-up with top striker Almoez Ali and Hasan Al-Haydos leading the pack, Qatar would be looking at nothing less than a convincing win.
India Squad –
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Dheeraj Singh, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Narender Gehlot, Chinglensana Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Adil Khan, Akash Mishra, Subhashish Bose, Udanta Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco, Rowllin Borges, Glan Martins, Anirudh Thapa, Pronoy Halder, Suresh Singh, Lalengmawia Ralte, Abdul Sahal, Yasir Mohammad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Bipin Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, Ishan Pandita, Sunil Chhetri, Manvir Singh.
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