Igor Stimac was, as regular, blunt when requested about India’s possibilities on the upcoming 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
“We’re rank outsiders in our group,” the pinnacle coach mentioned throughout a press convention, after the workforce landed in Qatar for the quadrennial continental match.
“We all know that we’ll not have a lot ball possession and won’t get many possibilities to return close to their purpose. However no matter we get, we should be scientific and have a transparent concept,” he added.
Since his arrival in India, Stimac has typically resorted to downplaying his workforce’s possibilities in media appearances, even when India have been the overwhelming favourites to win a match.
However on X, previously often called Twitter, is the place Stimac tends to be buoyant. He shared images from the Indian workforce’s coaching classes with tweets punctuated by blue coronary heart emojis.
Preparations for the Asian Cup are off to a terrific begin 💪🏻 Trevor Sinclair has been an especially precious addition to the #BlueTigers household. His expertise and data will assist us all out loads 💙 Additionally, I wished to thank my good friend Bora Milutinovic for spending a while.. pic.twitter.com/MWLpcVX5Pi
— Igor Štimac (@stimac_igor) January 4, 2024
In all probability for the primary time since he arrived on these shores in 2019, Stimac is being truthful when sizing up his workforce’s possibilities. The Croat will lead India to their hardest project since his arrival after they embark on their fifth AFC Asian Cup marketing campaign in Qatar.
India’s preparation for the match has dominated headlines for the previous yr. Stimac had been asking for a month-long coaching camp forward of the Asian Cup since India hosted and gained the Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship triumphs in June and July respectively.
Stimac didn’t get his want and as an alternative, goes into the match with key gamers lacking by damage and others fighting kind.
The most important losses for Stimac will likely be defender Anwar Ali, midfielder Jeakson Singh and winger Ashique Kuruniyan. The trio have been ever current in Stimac’s plans final yr and their absence will likely be keenly felt.
“It’s not simple as a result of Anwar is without doubt one of the finest younger defenders in Asia already,” Stimac mentioned. “It’s an enormous loss for us, particularly within the build-up section, together with his calmness and stability in passing.
“There’s no choice of experimenting and bringing new faces in at this cut-off date. We’ve got gamers who’ve been with us prior to now. By no means thoughts the truth that for 17 of the 26 gamers, it’s their first time being on a giant stage like this.”
India begin their marketing campaign towards one of many match favourites, in world No 25 Australia, earlier than dealing with world No 68 Uzbekistan and world No 91 Syria.
Given the hole in high quality, world No 102 India can have their backs to the wall towards Australia and Uzbekistan. Starved of possession, Stimac can be relying on his fleet-footed attackers to get one thing on the counter assault. Set items too will play a vital function for India with Stimac roping in former England winger Trevor Sinclair for a brief teaching stint.
When all is claimed and carried out, the new-found self-belief Stimac has instilled on this aspect will dictate India’s fortunes. This can be a assured Indian aspect that’s not content material with parking the bus and taking part in route one soccer.
This can be a younger and hungry workforce which needs to play an attacking model of soccer and take issues into their very own fingers.
Throughout his tenure, Stimac has typically proven a abdomen to battle for issues he believes he deserves. Like earlier coaches, the Croatian has not been snug with the established order. However in contrast to the earlier coaches, he has leveraged social media successfully to drum up fan help together with his evocative posts on X.
Whereas he could have misplaced some battles, his dogged fashion has gained him fairly a number of followers.
India would do effectively to channel their coach’s mentality in Qatar.
Indian squad
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
India’s Group B fixtures on 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)
The AFC Asian Cup will likely be broadcast dwell on Sports18 and streamed dwell on JioCinema.
