AFC Asian Cup 2024: Defeating Syria is a challenge for the Indian football team
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After facing defeat in the first two matches of the group stage of the AFC Asian Cup football, when the Indian team takes the field against Syria on Tuesday, it will have to take this match to keep alive its faint hopes of making it to the knockout stage of the tournament. must win. The Indian team has failed to compete with the top teams of the continent, facing 0-2 and 0-3 defeats to Australia and Uzbekistan respectively.
A win against Syria could bring some prestige to the Sunil Chhetri-led team. Syria is currently ranked 91st in the FIFA rankings, 11 places above India (102nd). However, victory is not impossible for coach Igor Stimac’s side as they have won over Syria in the past (in the 2007, 2009 and 2012 Nehru Cup tournaments). Both teams last faced each other in the Intercontinental Cup in 2019. At that time also Stimac was the head coach of the team. This match played in Ahmedabad ended in a 1-1 draw.
If India beats Syria at the ‘Al Bayt Stadium’ then it will finish third in Group B. However, this will not be enough to get him a place in the last 16. There have been five goals scored against India and the team has failed to score even a single goal. In such a situation, it will be difficult for the team to make a place among the four best third-placed teams. Apart from the top two teams of each group, four third-placed teams will qualify for the next stage. The last match of the group stage will be played on Thursday (Group E and Group F). Even if the team is successful in defeating Syria, its chances of progressing will be known on the same day.
The Indian team got three chances to score against Uzbekistan but the team was not successful in capitalizing on even one. “There is no right time to concede a goal at this level,” Stimac said. If you give time and space to a team like Uzbekistan, they will not leave you.” He said, ”We have to work to improve. We will have to avoid giving too much space in the field and try to win important matches.” Syria is in a better position than India with one point from two matches. The team played a goalless draw against Uzbekistan while it had to face a 0-1 defeat against Australia.
Disclaimer: IndiaTheNews has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.
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