This might be the one Indian metropolis the place the phrases “World Cup” don’t evoke solely despair. Last Thursday’s 1-0 win towards Kuwait has led to a spike in demand for tickets to Tuesday’s recreation. But on condition that India are up towards Asian champions Qatar who “destroyed”, as per India head coach Igor Stimac, Afghanistan 8-1, hope must be tempered by a dollop of actuality.
“There is nothing to lose for us and a hell of lot to gain. So, let’s go for it,” mentioned Stimac in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
In 2019 with out Sunil Chhetri, India had been the one Asian crew to take a degree from Qatar. It stays the one level India have from three outings within the World Cup qualifiers towards the facet that beat Japan 3-1 within the 2019 Asian Cup closing. In that World Cup qualifier away, Gurpreet Sandhu made 11 saves and India escaped to a 0-0 draw regardless of Qatar having 27 photographs (India had two) and 15 corner-kicks (India managed one).
“Would rather that I have to work less and get the same result or better,” mentioned Sandhu forward of this 2026 World Cup and 2027 Asian Cup qualifier.
But that recreation in Doha was preceded by almost two months of coaching, mentioned Stimac. “Four years later, the reconstruction is finished but it won’t stop.” Stimac mentioned India have grown from being a crew that struggled to take the sport to Bangladesh and Afghanistan, each come-from-behind attracts after the shock consequence towards Qatar, “because players such as Sandesh Jhingan, Brandon Fernandes and Rowllin Borges were not available.”
Now, they’ll play 11 video games towards opponents reminiscent of Kuwait, Iraq and Lebanon and maintain clear sheets in some, mentioned Stimac. And keep unbeaten at dwelling. While he mentioned he would all the time need Ashique Kuruniyan, Jeakson Singh and Anwar Ali – all out with long-term accidents – the distinction now could be that there are quite a lot of younger gamers who’ve come via the method, who perceive that tempo within the Indian Super League (ISL) is completely different from that of a global recreation. “So, now we won’t get caught if there is an injury.”
To the listing above, add Manvir Singh. The scorer within the 1-0 win towards Kuwait might not be obtainable on Tuesday. He skipped coaching on Monday night, the session preceded by an extended blast from a fogging machine minutes earlier than the India bus arrived at Kalinga Stadium.
If India miss Manvir’s bodily presence on the correct, Stimac may change to 4-3-3. Anirudh Thapa, Suresh Wangjam and Lalengmawia Ralte may then type the midfield. Or, Sahal Abdul Samad may drop into midfield. Sunil Chhetri may have Mahesh Naorem and Udanta Singh on both facet within the entrance three.
“India once had a group of good players. Now, I see a team,” mentioned Qatar coach Carlos Queiroz drawing on his expertise as Iran coach through the 2016 qualifying cycle.
Qatar are the world’s 61st ranked crew, which locations them 31 slots above India. But since that 2019 qualifier, they’ve had a forgettable World Cup and an under-20 Asian championship the place additionally they misplaced all three group leagues video games together with 1-9 to Australia.
So, enter 70-year-old Queiroz to reset and rebuild. Since Italy in 1934, Qatar are the one crew to have performed the World Cup finals as a result of they hosted it. Under Queiroz, Qatar misplaced 0-4 to Iran and Panama and 1-2 to Kenya however the Portuguese polyglot mentioned he would love them to be one of many prime groups on this planet by 2026.
Including Asian Cup golden boot winner Ali Alomez and midfielder Hassan Al-Haydos, there are 12 gamers on this squad with World Cup expertise. “It is a big advantage to be in charge of a team for four years. But we did not start from zero,” mentioned Queiroz.Qatar could have opened with an enormous win however need extra, he mentioned.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
