Xtra Time Web Desk: Sunil Chhetri and his young and energetic Indian team are all geared up to face the mighty Asian Champions Qatar in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Thursday. It is also the preliminary qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023. The Blue Tigers are focused to make up for lost time as they press hard on the lush green. The last time India played Asian champions Qatar, it ended goalless – one of the most significant results ever achieved in recent times in Indian Football.
“The situation was different then. The situation is different now,” goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who had captained India on that day besides putting in an inspiring performance, quips. “We had headed into Doha after a longish camp. The tempo was exceptionally high despite the defeat against Oman in the previous match. In the past few days in Doha we have picked ourselves up besides getting ready for not just Qatar, but the two other matches which are to follow,” he adds.
Indian captain Sunil Chhetri is aware that Qatar will come out all guns blazing, having lost points in the last encounter between the two sides.
“Qatar is one of the top teams in Asia. They have had some decent results against top European and South American teams in the recent past. The last time we took a point against them makes us confident as a team. We understand that they will come out all guns blazing at us, and we need to stick together as a team,” said Chhetri.
For the record, since 2018 Qatar have won 21 of the 35 matches played, with six draws, and eight losses, and sit atop Group E at the moment with 15 points from six games.
Head Coach Igor Stimac is tireless. He understands the significance of these three matches, and is aware of the commitment of his boys. “I reiterate, they are all good professionals, and I don’t have much of a task in keeping them motivated,” he avers. “The boys have been working hard with full commitment on the training pitch. They know that they are representing their country, and they will do everything possible to defend the India colours.”
The team news states that midfielder Rowllin Borges has suffered a hamstring injury, and remains doubtful. The rest fight it hard to get into the final 23.
With Inputs from AIFF Media