Even if we finish 3rd or 4th or 5th in the Group, we will still be in contention for Asian Cup Qualifying Third round. Last 5th ranked team also plays a Playoff and then qualifies for Third Round of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. Confirmed Asia Cup spot is possible only if we progress to Third Round of World Cup Qualifier as either Group topper (impossible now) or top 4 Runner Up out of 8 groups (still mathematically possible). Oman seems to be doing that with 12 points so far. We are at measly 3. Only thing to see is that whether we can avoid Playoff Round and directly qualify for 3rd Round of Asian Cup qualification !!!
31st March is a FIFA International Day. Technically India can play an official Friendly on that day with a team which is not playing World Cup Qualifier. Can try out various Bench players, will be useful for June matches. But AIFF is not interested at all.
Last time India hosted any Team for International Friendly on FIFA match date, it was in June 2017 when we played against Nepal. Almost 3 years have passed since then. We have played some away games and Intercontinental cup but we have generally wasted FIFA dates. If you do not host good teams, other teams will also not call you. Sadly 31st March is another opportunity wasted.
23 member squad has been announced. Shubham Sarangi, Nanda, Jerry and Vinit from Odisha FC have been called. Camp likely to start from 9th March in Bhubaneswar.
The coach of the Indian national team, Igor Stimac, has called for an initial camp for 23 players on March 9th while another 20 players are set to join on March 16th, 2020.
Squad for camp starting March 9:
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, Md. Rafique Ali Sardar;
Defenders: Pratik Prabhakar Chowdhary, Shubham Sarangi, Subhasish Bose, Narender, Adil Khan, Sandesh Jhingan;
Comments
Confirmed Asia Cup spot is possible only if we progress to Third Round of World Cup Qualifier as either Group topper (impossible now) or top 4 Runner Up out of 8 groups (still mathematically possible). Oman seems to be doing that with 12 points so far. We are at measly 3.
Only thing to see is that whether we can avoid Playoff Round and directly qualify for 3rd Round of Asian Cup qualification !!!
But AIFF is not interested at all.
Almost 3 years have passed since then.
We have played some away games and Intercontinental cup but we have generally wasted FIFA dates.
If you do not host good teams, other teams will also not call you.
Sadly 31st March is another opportunity wasted.
Squad for camp starting March 9:
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Subhasish Roy Chowdhury, Md. Rafique Ali Sardar;
Defenders: Pratik Prabhakar Chowdhary, Shubham Sarangi, Subhasish Bose, Narender, Adil Khan, Sandesh Jhingan;
Midfielders: Rowllin Borges, Amarjit Singh, Jeakson Singh, Nandhakumar Sekar, Lalengmawia, Vinit Rai, Raynier Fernandes, Nikhil Poojary, Mawihmingthanga, Halicharan Narzary, Sahal Abdul Samad;
Forwards: Farukh Choudhary, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Liston Colaco.
Squad for camp starting March 16:
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith, Prabhsukhan Gill;
Defenders: Prabir Das, Rahul Bheke, Pritam Kotal, Nishu Kumar, Sumit Rathi, Seriton Fernandes, Mandar Rao Dessai;
Midfielders: Edwin Sydney Vanspaul, Brandon Fernandes, Anirudh Thapa, Udanta Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Jackichand Singh;
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Manvir Singh, Soosai Raj Micheal.