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Tag: Asian Cup

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AFC Asian Cup: India finish pointless, goalless but coach Igor Stimac says ‘we can compete at this level’

Three games, over 270 minutes of football, six goals conceded, none scored and no points earned – India’s campaign at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup came to an underwhelming end on Tuesday with the team succumbing to a 1-0 loss to Syria at the Al Bayt Stadium in Doha. The final 10 minutes of the game were a sight to behold – eerily similar to how the curtain came crashing down for the men’s football team at the Asian Games. It was a group of 11 chasing, harrying and finally winning the ball, only to have every good idea come to naught with no final ball and an end product. The lack of options when presented with the ball and helplessness at the continental level has been a resounding theme around the two teams Igor Stimac has taken to the two big assignments at the end of 2023 and the beginnin...
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Uzbekistan hand leaky India second Asian Cup defeat | Football News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: India fell to a second straight defeat at the Asian Cup on Thursday in Doha, losing 3-0 to Uzbekistan, all the goals coming in a torrid first half for Igor Stimac's men.The result put Uzbekistan in pole position to qualify along with Australia from Group B with one round of matches to go.Against the central Asian nation at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, India's performance was a far cry from their display against Australia, where the team went down 0-2 in the opener. Uzbekistan scored through Abbosbek Fayzullaev (4th minute), Igor Sergeev (18th) and Nasrullaev (45+3) to register their first win in the competition after being held to a stalemate by Syria in their tournament opener.Hoping to start on a positive note barely days after their promising show against Australia, India, inste...
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India’s football coach Igor Stimac says ‘don’t ask about results in Asian Cup’ | Football News – Times of India

The head coach of the Indian men's football team, Igor Stimac, has expressed his view that the upcoming Asian Cup in Doha shouldn't be deemed as a significant tournament for the national team. Stimac cited the absence of a proper national camp as a crucial factor, a sentiment that might stir some discontent within the All India Football Federation (AIFF).Stimac had advocated for a minimum of four weeks of preparation in a national camp leading up to the premier continental competition starting on January 12.However, the scheduling conflict with the first phase of the Indian Super League (ISL), extending until December 29, poses a challenge as clubs are unlikely to release their players for an extended training camp.With a formidable match against Australia scheduled for January 13, Stim...
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‘You can tell me we’re not going to change anything, please coach go home, and I will go home happily’: India football coach Igor Stimac on club vs country debate

Warning that the ‘most difficult period is in front of us’, India coach Igor Stimac has once again appealed to the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to release the players in time to prepare for the Asian Games, the World Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup.“I didn’t, pardon my language now, come to India to lick a**es. I came to India to help. If you want my help, I need to tell you the truth. You can face it, you can help me to overcome the problems or you can tell me we’re not going to change anything, please coach go home, and I will go home happily and we’re going to stay friends.” “We have the best brains in the world in India, you’re telling me we cannot manage to adjust the calendar to make sure that the national team has enough time to work? Or are there some other interests? I don...
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Chhetri, Sandhu & Jhingan’s names not in list sent for Asian Games; AIFF prez says organisers have been requested to give them accreditation | Football News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Indian football's talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri, goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and centre-back Sandesh Jhingan's names are missing from the country's official list of athletes for the upcoming Asian Games in China's Hangzhou, TOI has reliably learnt.In the men's football competition at the Games, a country has to field its U-23 team, but three players in the squad can be 23 years and above. For women, there is no age restriction.All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey, who is also the Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) joint secretary and acting CEO, had, in recent interviews to media publications, said that Chhetri, goalkeeper Sandhu and Jhingan will be the three over 23-year-old players in the squad. He also said that Chhetri would be the captain...
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All eyes on Sunil Chhetri as India look to regain Intercontinental Cup | Football News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri, who is in the final phase of his illustrious career, will undoubtedly be the center of attention as the Blue Tigers aim to reclaim the Intercontinental Cup. The tournament is set to commence in Bhubaneswar on Friday.While Lebanon and Vanuatu will face off in the opening match of the tournament, the host nation India will take on Mongolia in the second match of the day. Starting their campaign against the lowest-ranked team in the tournament (Mongolia at No. 183), the Blue Tigers will be eager to secure a positive result.Ranked 101 in the FIFA rankings, India enters the tournament as the second-highest-ranked team, with Lebanon (ranked 99) holding a slight edge of two places. This places India in a favorable position to make a strong chall...
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Sunil Chhetri may be playing his last season and Asian Cup: Igor Stimac | Football News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: India's star striker Sunil Chhetri may be playing the last season of his outstanding football career, says team's head coach Igor Stimac, who is hoping that he would be saving his best for his last Asian Cup.The AFC Asian Cup, which is slated to be held in Qatar from January 12 to February 10, 2023, would be India's next big assignment and the 38-year-old Chhetri is set to play in his third continental showpiece, the most by an Indian, after playing a crucial role in the qualification tournament last year.Chhetri, the third most prolific international goal scorer among active players with 84 strikes behind Cristiano Ronaldo (118) and Lionel Messi (98), was part of the Indian teams that featured in the 2011 and 2019 Asian Cup."At his age, this will probably be his farewell fro...
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Asian Cup final draw on May 11 in Qatar: AFC | Football News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The final draw for the next AFC Asia Cup will be held on May 11, 2023 at the Katara Opera House in Doha, Qatar, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Friday. The AFC informed that Qatar will host the upcoming edition of the prestigious tournament and also invited the president of each Participating Member Associations (PMA), head coaches and team managers to attend the final draw. For the said purpose, AFC has sent letters to all the PMA."The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 will be held in the nation that hosted the FIFA World Cup last year, with the proposed tournament dates set between January 12 to February 10, 2024. The final dates of the competition will be formalised after confirmation with FIFA," the AFC statement further said.'Time we started planning ahead'"No...