India eye win in opposition to Bangladesh to maintain AFC Asian Cup hope alive

A winless India desperately want a constructive consequence in opposition to neighbours Bangladesh of their joint World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers match right here on Monday, in the event that they wish to keep away from the ignominy of taking part in within the qualifying play-off spherical of the continental showpiece.
India are already out of competition for a World Cup berth however nonetheless within the reckoning for a spot within the 2023 Asian Cup.
But with simply three factors from six matches, India are on the fourth spot in Group E and should not but assured an computerized berth within the third spherical of the Asian Cup qualifiers.
Only one of the best 4 fourth-place finishers in every of the eight teams instantly qualify for the third spherical of the Asian Cup qualifiers.
The different 4 fourth-place finishers and all the underside place finishers of the eight teams will play in a play-off spherical from which eight will re-enter the qualifying course of once more.
Among the fourth-place finishers, six groups have extra factors than India at present. That would imply that Igor Stimac’s males should beat Bangladesh to have any likelihood of an computerized berth within the third qualifying spherical of the Asian Cup.
A win on Monday may also be India’s first in six years within the World Cup qualifiers. The final win for India had are available in November 2015 in a 1-0 consequence in opposition to Guam in a 2018 World Cup qualifying spherical match in Bangalore.
Stimac’s males wouldn’t have been too disillusioned with the 0-1 defeat to Asian champions Qatar on Thursday as they performed with 10 males from the 18th minute onwards.
The present in opposition to Qatar will need to have regained a few of the misplaced confidence after their 0-6 drubbing in opposition to UAE in a world pleasant in March.
Historically additionally, A hundred and fifth-ranked India have the sting over Bangladesh (184th). India had overwhelmed Bangladesh twice within the World Cup qualifying spherical, although the wins had been registered approach again in 1985 (2-1 end in each double-legged matches).
“We still haven’t opened our account in Doha. We need to focus (against Bangladesh) and then the next one (against Afghanistan),” stated senior defender Sandesh Jhingan, who took the captain’s armband within the second half of the Qatar match from Sunil Chhetri, who performed solely the primary 45 minutes.
But India can’t be complacent as Bangladesh could be robust opponents as they’d proven within the first leg of this qualifiers in 2019 in Kolkata the place they’d taken an early lead. An 88th minute header from defender Adil Khan helped India to attract that match in entrance of an enormous crowd on the Salt Lake Stadium.
At the underside of the group with two factors, Bangladesh are coming into Monday’s match after a 1-1 draw in opposition to Afghanistan and they’d even be desperately in search of a win.
Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan, who had performed for Mohammedan Sporting within the I-League, stated the tie could be an intense affair.
“Last time in Kolkata, we were disappointed not to get three points as India scored very late in the game. We have that hunger in us, and we know we can do some damage,” he stated.
Monday’s match in opposition to Bangladesh would even be essential for Stimac as he would additionally wish to open his account on this World Cup qualifiers.
The former Croatian World Cupper has this match in opposition to Bangladesh and the one in opposition to Afghanistan on June 15 to make a mark in an in any other case disappointing marketing campaign up to now.
INDIA SQUAD
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Dheeraj Singh, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Narender Gehlot, Chinglensana Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Adil Khan, Akash Mishra, Subhashish Bose, Udanta Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco, Rowllin Borges, Glan Martins, Pronoy Halder, Suresh Singh, Lalengmawia Ralte, Abdul Sahal, Yasir Mohammad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Bipin Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, Ishan Pandita, Sunil Chhetri, Manvir Singh.