Indian Football Team head coach Igor Stimac was ecstatic as the Asian Games 2023 draw and AFC World Cup 2026 Qualifers draw were revealed for the Blue Tigers. Sunil Chhetri & co were drawn alongside Qatar, Kuwait in the Group A of the World Cup Qualifiers.
“It was a very busy and exciting day of football for us in India. Now that we know all the opponents, we can clearly say that we were successful against all these teams in the recent past.” Stimac asserted following the draw.
India set to face Qatar, Kuwait in Group A of AFC World Cup…
India has just defeated Kuwait in the final of the SAFF Championship. In the last World Cup qualifying campaign, the Blue Tigers also drew with 2019 AFC Asian Cup champions Qatar.
“I felt we were not lucky there and all these teams (in Group A), we’ve faced in recent times. We faced Qatar a long time ago, and have shown that even then we were successful against them,” he said. “I beg everyone in India, all the stakeholders, let’s start our meetings and planning. “
“Let’s do everything to make sure that the Indian Football Team get enough time to prepare so we can match these teams, outplay them on the pitch, and go through as the winners in the group.” he concluded.
Following approval from the sports ministry, both India’s men’s and women’s football teams will compete in the 2018 Asian Games. On the same day, the Asian games draw was also completed.
The Indian women’s team has been placed in Group B at the Asian Games, with Chinese Taipei and Thailand. In Group A, the men will face China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
Blue Tigers paired with China, Bangladesh in Asian Games 2023, Tigresses face Thailand
Igor Stimac, who is set to coach the Men’s team for the games, looked quite enthusiastic following it.
“Now that we know all the opponents in the 19th edition of the Asian Games and the World Cup Qualifiers Group A. We can say clearly that we were successful against all these teams in the recent past. So let’s start planning cautiously. Let’s do everything for our National Team to do well, ” he asserted.
“We will face China, the host nation in the Asian Games and we have great youngsters who will do everything possible to go through this group with great success.” he concluded.
India has been on a roll in 2023, going undefeated in 11 games in the run winning the SAFF Championship. India has previously won the Asian Games gold medal in 1951 and 1962. In 1970, they earned a bronze medal. India last competed in the Asian Games in 2014. The India Women’s squad, which is ranked 60 in the most recent FIFA rankings, will compete at the Asian Games for the first time since 2014.
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