The Indian football team faces a challenging scenario in the AFC Asian Cup 2023, having suffered two consecutive defeats in Group B, placing them at the bottom with zero points. Australia, ranked 25th globally, leads the group with six points, followed by Uzbekistan with four points, who secured a 3-0 victory against India and a goalless draw against Syria.
India’s next and final group match is against Syria on January 23, while Australia will face Uzbekistan on the same day. With Australia and Uzbekistan holding six and four points respectively, India has no chance to secure a top-two finish and must now aim for third place in the group.
To qualify for the Round of 16, India must beat Syria in their final group game. A draw or a defeat will eliminate them, as Syria already has one point and a draw would propel them to two points. However, even finishing third does not guarantee progress, as qualification depends on the performance of other third-placed teams, with only the top four moving on to the last 16. The final outcome will however, become clear after all group matches are concluded.
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