Can underdogs show bite?

Advertisement

Chandigarh, January 12

A lot has changed in the 13 years since India’s 0-4 loss to Australia in the AFC Asian Cup — there are new faces aplenty, a new coach and an atmosphere of positivity engulfing the team and fans.

While that fateful 2011 night when Bob Houghton’s team were left ashen-faced after an Australian masterclass will still be in the back of the mind of the fans, there is a reason to believe that Igor Stimac’s men will try and banish those memories tomorrow.

And the reason is simple: India are playing in back-to-back Asian Cups for the first time and have enjoyed a spectacular 2023 wherein they won three trophies while displaying a perfect blend of attacking and defending — something that can’t be associated with the Indian teams of past.

“We are excited that the kick-off time is close. We have had a nice 12 days here working hard. All the boys are excited and we are looking forward to the game. Hopefully, it turns out to be wonderful for our 17 debutants. It is a place for them to learn,” Stimac said today.

The 2019 heartbreak, when they missed out on the knockouts by a whisker, is another reason that will fuel the team to go one better this time. But, the road ahead is going to be tougher to navigate than ever. The Indian prospects seem murky after having been drawn in a tough Group B alongside world No. 25 Australia, Uzbekistan (68th) and Syria (91st).

Their best bet to qualify for knockouts is to win against Syria and fight for a draw against either World Cup-level Australia or a fearsome Uzbekistan. To put it in numbers, Sunil Chhetri and Co will need at least four points from the three group games to advance as one of the four best third-placed teams along with the top-two group finishers.

“Our target is to have a good performance in the next three games as a team and as a country and use the experience from the tournament for the future,” Stimac said. “I’m not putting any pressure on the players. We will go out and fight.”

A tall ask

Australia are coming on the back of a strong last-16 finish at the 2022 World Cup, also held in Doha, and are among the favourites to lift the trophy. “We’ve come here for a reason — to win this Asian Cup,” Graham Arnold asserted, adding, “It’s the only tournament that we probably can win.”

The Socceroos, too, are a physical side like Uzbekistan and would love to take the game away at set-pieces, with defender Harry Souttar, standing at 6’6’’, at the heart of their plans in dead ball situations. Stimac has already identified the importance of set-pieces at this level, for which he had also roped in the services of former England international Trevor Sinclair recently.

“We don’t have to give away set-pieces. We know the strengths of Australia. They caused a lot of problems to England (in a friendly in October) and we can expect the storms coming out of them. We need to stay compact and do everything possible to stop crosses from the flanks,” he said.

Qatar begin defence on a bright note

doha: Asian Cup hosts Qatar kickstarted their title defence with a 3-0 win over Lebanon in the tournament opener today with a brace from their prized playmaker Akram Afif and a goal from Almoez Ali. Following a glitzy opening ceremony with Qatar’s ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani also in attendance at the Lusail Stadium, the two forwards stole the show.