Buoyed by the latest triumph within the Intercontinental Cup, the Indian soccer workforce will enter the SAFF Championship 2023 as a assured unit and look to increase its dominance within the match. India will face Pakistan of their opening outing on the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday, and the match is all set to be performed as per schedule after the latter obtained their India visa on Monday evening. Placed low within the pecking order, Pakistan won’t supply India an enormous problem however the Blue Tigers might be keen to start out their marketing campaign on a rousing word, and provides different aspirants a powerful message.
Eight-time champions India are drawn into Group A alongside Nepal, Kuwait and Pakistan. The different competing groups are Lebanon, Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh who’ve been drafted into Group B.
The Intercontinental Cup victory will add to their need to land one other trophy to the cupboard. India had warded off sturdy opponent Lebanon 2-Zero on Sunday on the Kalinga Stadium to win the occasion.
It was India’s first victory over Lebanon in 46 years and that skipper and No. 1 striker Sunil Chhetri managed to etch his identify on the rating sheet would increase Indians’ morale.
The Indian workforce would hope for Chhetri to proceed in the identical vein within the SAFF Championship as nicely. If one wants a bit of private motivation, Chhetri can look to surpass Mokhtar Dahari of Malaysia, who has 89 targets in opposition to his identify, because the second highest-scoring Asian footballer.
Chhetri has 87 targets for India from 137 matches and three extra targets within the SAFF tourney will propel him to a uncommon milestone.
Beyond these private milestones, India may also have a proud workforce file to protect. They are the defending champions, having received the match in 2021 however that is only one glittering leaf in a complete of 8 SAFF title wins.
So, India might be keen so as to add a ninth title to their kitty in Bengaluru. India have received the match in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2021. The solely groups who’ve managed to grab the glory away from India are Maldives (2008, 2018) and Bangladesh (2003).
A victory within the SAFF match may also assist India acquire some useful FIFA Ranking factors and go up within the ladder.
Preparing for the AFC Asian Cup, India coach Igor Stimac was conscious of the highway forward for the workforce.
“I know we can do better. As a coach, I cannot show satisfaction. I am happy now but we are not going to stop working, will look to do better and push for more,” Stimac had stated after the Intercontinental Cup win.
It is not going to sound very pleasing for India’s opponents within the SAFF Championship as they know {that a} sharp house facet is a steep mountain to climb.
India squad: Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Phurba Lachenpa Tempa.
Defenders:Subhasish Bose, Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, Akash Mishra, Mehtab Singh and Rahul Bheke.
Midfielders: Liston Colaco, Ashique Kuruniyan, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Rohit Kumar, Udanta Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Jeakson Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Lalengmawia Ralte, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rowllin Borges, Nandha Kumar.
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Rahim Ali, Ishan Pandita.
Wednesday’s matches: Kuwait vs Nepal, 3.30 PM; India vs Pakistan, 7.30 PM.
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