The Indian senior men’s team, under the guidance of head coach Igor Stimac, unveiled its formidable 26-member squad for the highly awaited AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023. Touching down in Doha later today, the Blue Tigers are set to make their mark in the tournament for the fifth time.
The action kicks off with a thrilling Group B opener against Australia on January 13, 2024, at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, scheduled for 17:00 IST. The excitement continues as India faces Uzbekistan on January 18 (20:00 IST) at the same venue. Stirring things up further, Stimac’s men will showcase their prowess at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, clashing against Syria on January 23 (17:00 IST).
Igor Stimac’s Vision: Unity, Character, and Tactical Focus for India
Stressing the importance of character over talent, Coach Stimac emphasized the unity of his team, considering them not just players but a closely-knit family. Despite the shared football prowess among the boys, he underscored that without character, achieving success would be elusive.
“All these boys are very similar in terms of football quality. We are a team, a family. But no matter the talent, if there is no character, nothing can be achieved,” Stimac said.
Looking ahead to the tournament, Stimac highlighted specific areas for improvement. Defensive compactness, offensive transitions, and set pieces are in focus, with a critical need to refine man-marking inside the box. Concerns over recent leaks in goals within the box prompted this targeted approach to bolster the team’s defensive prowess.
Stimac said, “The things we are looking to work on are defensive compactness, offensive transitions, and the set pieces, mostly. It will be very important to work on man-marking inside the box because I was not happy with that part of our game. In the last few games, we started leaking some unnecessary goals inside the box.”
In analyzing their opponents, Stimac acknowledged the technical strength, physical prowess, and speed of all three teams. Regardless of the formidable challenges, he asserted a consistent approach to the games. The team’s fitness levels will be closely monitored, with a dedicated effort to enhance performance in the crucial two weeks leading up to the tournament.
“All three of our opponents are very good technically, physically stronger with great speed. So, we are not going to have much difference in approach to all these three games, I can tell you that. We need to check the fitness level of our players at present and see how much we can develop in the next two weeks,” he added.
Off the field, the support of fervent Indian fans promises to be a driving force. Having experienced the passion of the fans during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Qatar, Stimac anticipates their unwavering support. Recalling past feats in Qatar, he looks forward to repaying the fans’ loyalty with celebratory results, acknowledging the pivotal role they played in previous successes against formidable opponents.
“I’m looking forward to seeing our Indian fans in Doha. They came in massive numbers to support the Indian team during the qualifiers, and that was one of the reasons why we had two great performances against Qatar here. So, I’m well aware that there will be massive support for our boys. Hopefully, we can pay them back and celebrate some good results,” said Stimac.
The Blue Tigers have experience competing in Qatar, having played four of their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers matches there, including two against the hosts. Additionally, Sunil Chhetri and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu were members of the Indian squad at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, which took place in Qatar. During that tournament, Chhetri scored goals against Bahrain and South Korea.
India’s 26-member Squad for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Akash Mishra, Lalchungnunga, Mehtab Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhasish Bose.
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Udanta Singh.
Forwards: Ishan Pandita, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Sunil Chhetri, Vikram Partap Singh.
Your #BlueTigers 🐯 squad for the #AsianCup2023 🇮🇳🏆
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) December 30, 2023
More details 👉 https://t.co/dZnAhok4su#IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/fMrghLG2gk
India’s Group B fixtures at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023
January 13, 2024: Australia vs India (17:00 IST, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan)
January 18, 2024: India vs Uzbekistan (20:00 IST, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan)
January 23, 2024: Syria vs India (17:00 IST, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor)
