Indian Football team have left for Qatar yesterday with a massive 28 men squad for the remaining World Cup qualifiers as India hope to qualify for AFC Asian Cup 2023.
India has 3 upcoming matches in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and in the AFC Cup China 2023 qualifiers, about to be played from June 3. As per the health parameters. Every staff and player of the team must carry their negative COVID test results. The tests should be conducted in the last 48 hours. All the players, as well as the staff, were in isolation at the team hotel from May 15.
India are also scheduled to play Asian giants Qatar on June 3, Bangladesh on June 7 and, Afghanistan on June 15. All of these three matches will be played at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha. Out of all the 28 players, Glan Martins remains the only player to play for the national team for the first time.
Mixed reactions from the Indian Team
Stimac feels that this isn’t the right time for the qualifiers because of the ongoing pandemic. But whatever the situation be the Blues will go under intense training before playing the qualifiers.
” It is not an Idea situation as we move ahead to the qualifiers in June. Due to a pandemic, our national camp which was said to begin in Kolkata got canceled. the pandemic also robbed us of a friendly in Dubai”. The head coach further said ” However, we understand the magnitude of the situation. It will be intense to raise the tempo n Doha and try to get ready for the matches. Which starts with the one against the Asian Champions Qatar in Doha”. said, Stimac.
On the other hand, Sunil Chhetri expressed his relief after joining the National team camp. ” it’s such a relief to join the national team squad, after all, home is where the heart is. Personally, I am eagerly looking forward to being in Doha. The last time I was in Doha, I couldn’t be a part of the match against Qatar owning to illness”. Indian team captain Sunil said.
The 28 men Indian Team squad
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh, Amrinder Singh, Dheeraj Singh.
Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Narender Gehlot, Chinglesana Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Adil Khan, Akash Mishra, Subhasish Bose.
Midfielders: Udanta Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco, Rowlin Borges, Glan Martins, Anirudh Thapa, Pronoy Halder, Suresh Singh, Lalengmawia Ralte, Abdul Sahad, Yasir Mohammed, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Bipin Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan.
Forwards: Ishan Pandita, Sunil Chhetri, Manvir Singh.
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