India vs Afghanistan: All you need to know about this FIFA World Cup Qualifying match

by Arjun Bangde June 15, 2021

An important match on the clock for India against Afghanistan as their World Cup Qualifying campaign ends today. If India scripts a win or a draw, they finish 3rd in Group-E. It will be an improvement from the fifth-placed finish during the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers and the ticket to grab a spot in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup 2023.  

The day also marks a momentous occasion for Sunil Chhetri, as he has the opportunity to be a part of the all-time top 10 scorers’ list.

Sunil, who scored a brace and cruised India to a comfortable win against Bangladesh in the previous encounter, currently ranks second in the list of active goalscorers’ in international football. The 36-year-old will try adding to his tally of 74 goals in Doha and become a part of the all-time top 10 goalscorers’ list today.

DATE: 15/06/2021

TIME: 7:30 PM (IST)

VENUE: Jassam Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha

TV BROADCAST: Star Sports Channels, Hotstar, Jio TV

PROBABLE XI:

India – Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Chinglesana Singh, Akash Mishra, Ashique Kuruniyan, Sahal Abdul Samad, Glan Martins, Brandon Fernandes, Manvir Singh, Sunil Chettri.

Afghanistan – Ovays Azizi, Masih Saighani, David Najem, Haroon Fakhrudin, Noor Husin, Faysal Shayesteh, Milad Intezar, Omran Haydary, Omid Popalzay, Amredin Sharifi.

HEAD TO HEAD: 

9 games – India won 6 times – 2 draws – Afghanistan won 1 time

Latest game- 2022 World Cup Qualifiers- India 1-1 Afghanistan [14th November 2019]

KEY ASPECTS TO LOOK OUT FOR: 

• Arguably the most crucial match in the qualifiers for both teams, as qualification for the Asian Cup is on the line.
• India is coming into the match from a comfortable 2-0 win over Bangladesh, whereas Afghanistan lost their last match 1-2 against Oman. 
• Igor Stimac will look for a similar strategy which he used against Bangladesh. India will not sit back and should focus more on attacking. 
• Afghanistan can impose threats for India from their deadly counter-attacks. Hence, Indian defence needs to stay robust and make matters fall in place.  

AUTHOR’S TAKE: 

Going by previous records and the current form, India is well-versed to oust Afghanistan, currently ranked 149th in the FIFA Rankings. The focus shall remain on Captain Chhetri, accompanied by his young and determined counterparts in scripting a victory, which seems likely.

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