India has been positioned in Group A, together with Asian champion Qatar, Kuwait and the winner between Afghanistan and Mongolia, after the AFC second spherical of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, which happened on the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
What does the draw imply for the Blue Tigers?
For Igor Stimac’s Indian group, it may be too quickly to consider taking part in within the World Cup in 2026. But, the Blue Tigers have a reasonably robust likelihood of creating it to the third spherical of qualification, with the groups they’ve within the group.
As anticipated India is the second-highest (99) ranked group within the group, after Qatar (59). The different groups India will face are Kuwait (137) and the winner between Afghanistan (157) and Mongolia (183).
If the present kind is considered, the primary set of matches (November 16 and November 21) couldn’t have come at a greater time for Blue Tigers. High on confidence after profitable the Intercontinental Cup and the SAFF Championships, Stimac’s males will look to begin the qualifying marketing campaign on a powerful be aware.
However, confidence is not going to be sufficient as a result of the Indians begin their marketing campaign in opposition to tough clients in Kuwait after which go on to play defending Asian champion Qatar.
Kuwait- acquainted however tough opponents
India will play Kuwait in its first qualifier on November 16. Both groups have the benefit of gauging the strengths and weaknesses of their opponent due to their latest clashes collectively.
Kuwait is 38 locations beneath India however the Al-Azraqs have proven that rankings hardly matter when they’re taking part in the Blue Tigers.
Kuwait, which was invited to compete on the 2023 SAFF Championships, confronted India twice – as soon as within the group phases and as soon as within the closing. While India beat Kuwait within the closing, to clinch its ninth SAFF title, it was on penalties. During the regulation time, India principally discovered it troublesome to interrupt down Rui Bento’s males, with the match ending 1-1. The group stage match each groups performed additionally completed in a 1-1 draw.
So successfully, India has not crushed Kuwait in regulation time – one thing Igor Stimac will look to alter within the qualifiers.
That being mentioned, there was a time when Kuwait thrashed India 9-1 in a pleasant match in 2010. From that place to taking part in out a draw – the Indian group has proven optimistic indicators.
Will the underdog mentality come into play in opposition to Qatar?
When India performs its second qualifying match in opposition to Qatar on November 21, the Blue Tigers will undoubtedly be the underdogs in that match. Not solely is Qatar 40 locations above India in rankings, however the Maroons are additionally higher in every single place in all departments when it comes to particular person high quality on paper.
The solely issue that may be working to India’s benefit is that matches will not be received on paper. In latest occasions, a sure dogged angle to gnaw outcomes has been working in India’s favour and that’s precisely what Stimac might be asking his group to do.
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In truth, the final time when each groups confronted one another was in a World Cup qualifying match in 2019, the place the Blue Tigers misplaced by a slim 1-0 margin, that too taking part in with 10-men after Rahul Bheke was despatched off within the seventeenth minute. In the match earlier than that, India performed a goalless draw with Qatar.
The stability is actually tipping in Qatar’s favour, however the present crop of gamers within the Indian group can actually tip it of their favour on their day.
Complacency can harm India in opposition to Afghanistan/Mongolia
It stays to be seen which groups between Afghanistan and Mongolia India will face in Group A of the World Cup qualifiers.
At the outset, a match in opposition to Afghanistan and Mongolia looks like a straightforward day within the workplace for the high-flying Blue Tigers. However, simply as India could cause an upset in opposition to Qatar being the underdog, Afghanistan and Mongolia can do the identical in opposition to India, which is able to begin because the favourites.
India’s matches in opposition to Afghanistan/Mongolia are scheduled to be held in March 2024. So, it’s fairly doubtless that there are modifications within the squad or on the managerial degree. A clearer concept in regards to the conflict may be anticipated nearer to the conflict.
