The good news for Igor Stimac’s side is the return of two first-team regulars — Lallianzuala Chhangte and Sahal Abdul Samad — into the squad, who were ruled out for the second game due to injury.
India will look to beat the odds and stopgap from qualification into the knockouts when it faces Syria in its last group-stage game of the AFC Asian Cup 2023, at the Al Bayt Stadium on Tuesday.
The Blue Barracuda were left chasing murk against Uzbekistan in their former game, losing the match 0- 3, which made their chances of progressing, nearly insolvable. —
They will now have to beat Syria and stay for results in other groups to seek qualification as one of the four stylish third-placed brigades.
The good news for Igor Stimac’s side is the return of two first-platoon regulars into the team, who were ruled out for the alternate game.
Lallianzuala Chhangte (groin problem) and Sahal Abdul Samad (ankle injury) were spotted training with the full team and the trainer verified that the full set of 26 will be available for the game.
“Before coming then, we were well apprehensive of how unlucky we were with the injuries and how affected we were going to be then without four crucial players. But we did everything to learn as important as possible, to ameliorate and grow our game, and to use this experience in our further plans, ” Stimac told journalists in the pre-match press conference.
India traveled to Qatar without protector Anwar Ali, winger Ashique Kuruniyan, and midfielder Jeakson Singh while an injured Sahal had to miss the first two games.
“We’re still focused and well concentrated on what we could achieve and do then hereafter. So, all the boys then will do everything possible. Is that going to be enough? We’re not sure, that’s in God’s hands. But hopefully, we’re going to use one of our chances( to score), ” Stimac added.
Syria, on the other hand, has been a defensively sedulous side, securing its half with discipline like a typical Hector Cuper platoon. Under the Argentine, who guided Egypt to the FIFA World Cup in 2018, Syria has lost just one game with a thing- periphery of further than a thing so far.
It held Uzbekistan to a draw, lost 0- 1 to Australia, and sits third in the standings, above India. Its chances of qualification are more advanced than its coming opponent, with Syria demanding anything but a loss to finish third.
Cuper experimented with many shapes before the event and has returned to his partiality for a 4-4-2 conformation. With unchanged starting line-ups in both its games, fatigue might be a factor for Syria.
In the other Group B game, Uzbekistan will look for vengeance when it meets Australia at the Asian Cup after four times.
The Uzbeks, who had finished as the quarterfinalists at the 2015 edition of the event, were knocked out by the Socceroos through a 4- 2 palm on penalties in the round of 16 of the 2019 Asian Cup.
With a new trainer and a fresh batch of youths, Srejko Katanec will look to settle scores for the country against the 2015 Asian champion. The White Wolves need to just avoid a loss against Graham Arnold’s side to qualify for the knockouts.
Both games are listed for a 5 pm IST kick-off, with Australia facing Uzbekistan at the Al Janoub Stadium. Know More Latest Football News…
