India search to play fearlessly towards Oman in first worldwide after lockdown
Talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri won’t be there to encourage however a younger Indian workforce will search to play fearless soccer towards a extra fancied Oman in its first worldwide match in additional than a yr right here on Thursday.
Chhetri shouldn’t be with the workforce for the 2 worldwide friendlies right here — the second towards the UAE on Monday — as he’s recovering from COVID-19.
But the aspect with a median age of simply over 24 is raring to go in its first worldwide match after November 2019 and plenty of of them have performed nicely within the latest Indian Super League for his or her respective franchises.
The #BlueTigers going robust in coaching as we inch nearer and nearer to the conflict towards Oman tomorrow! 👊⏳#IndianFootball ⚽ #AgainTheBlue 💙 pic.twitter.com/DVoTmI6NFA
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 24, 2021
Head coach Igor Stimac mentioned he has informed the gamers to play free and fearless soccer as he was not anticipating a lot from these two matches.
“We wanted to give them the experience of playing stronger teams, that will give them more confidence and fearlessness in future. I have told them there should not be any pressure on them,” Stimac mentioned forward of the match.
“We are not obsessed with results.”
Talking about Oman, Stimac mentioned, “I have seen their match against Jordan. They are a really physical side, well organised and really patient. We also have worked hard and we expect a good game tomorrow.”
Oman are coming into Thursday’s match after enjoying out a goal-less draw with Jordan on Saturday. Before that, their final match was in December 2019 within the Gulf Cup the place they misplaced to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
The absence of Chhetri, the second highest worldwide goal-getter amongst energetic gamers, can be felt significantly however India did pull off a goal-less draw towards Asian champions Qatar in Doha with out the star striker in a 2022 World Cup qualifying spherical match in 2019.
“It’s a big miss, not having Chhetri bhai in the squad. But I’m sure the boys will take this as an opportunity and we have to play together as a team,” mentioned primary goalkeeper and senior participant Gurpreet Singh Sandhu who has led the aspect on many events.
🗣️ @SandeshJhingan: “The young lads in the national team are really talented & for the likes of Gurpreet, Amrinder and me, there is a degree of extra responsibility.” 👍
Watch the complete interview right here 👉 https://t.co/NThbP19qLR#BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ #AgainTheBlue 💙 pic.twitter.com/dtw83JFS9c
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 24, 2021
Fortunately for Stimac, the 27-member squad is a combination of gamers who’ve been with the workforce earlier and new faces like Akash Mishra, Liston Colaco, Ishan Pandita, Bipin Singh and Lalengmawia. The rookies can be particularly wanting to showcase their expertise after making an influence within the ISL.
The likes of Amrinder Singh, Chinglensana Singh, Rowllin Borges and Lallianzuala Chhangte have been the highest Indian performers for his or her ISL groups and they are going to be propped up by skilled campaigners like Gurpreet, Sandesh Jhingan and Anirudh Thapa.
More than half of the 27 gamers are both new faces or haven’t performed for India although they have been within the earlier squads.
The All Indian Football Federation’s transfer to play worldwide friendlies towards robust groups like Oman and the UAE forward of the joint 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifying spherical matches in June have been hailed by Stimac and Chhetri.
It is predicted to be a troublesome match towards Oman who’ve overwhelmed India in each the legs of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in 2019.
🗣️ @AnirudhThapa: “Everybody dreams of playing for India and now with so many young players coming in, we are all excited. There is great healthy competition in the team!” 💪
Watch the complete chat right here 👉 https://t.co/iL6xXdWZUO#BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ #AgainTheBlue 💙 pic.twitter.com/5kSu4GkH13
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 24, 2021
Oman are ranked 81st within the FIFA chart whereas India are at 104th however Stimac’s males ought to take confidence from the truth that they have been on equal phrases with the Gulf aspect within the house leg match of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Guwahati.
In reality, India have been operating away with the match after Chhetri gave them the lead. Oman, nevertheless, struck two late objectives to win the match. The 2017 Gulf Cup winners additionally gained the second leg in Muscat 1-0.
History additionally favours Oman as they’ve gained 5 occasions within the six matches performed towards India within the final decade. One match resulted in a draw.
India are out of reckoning for a 2022 World Cup berth however are nonetheless in rivalry for qualification within the 2023 Asian Cup.
INDIA SQUAD: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, Dheeraj Singh, Ashutosh Mehta, Akash Mishra, Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Chinglensana Singh, Adil Khan, Mandar Rao Dessai, Mashoor Shereef, Rowllin Borges, Lalengmawia, Jeakson Singh, Raynier Fernandes, Anirudh Thapa, Bipin Singh, Yasir Mohammad, Suresh Singh, Halicharan Narzary, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Ashique Kuruniyan, Manvir Singh, Ishan Pandita, Hitesh Sharma, Liston Colaco.
The match begins at 7.15 pm IST; to be telecast reside on Eurosport.
