India meet Singapore in the third round of their AFC Asian Cup Qualification tournament on Thursday, October 9, at the National Stadium in Singapore. The home team are currently ranked 158th by FIFA, whereas India are situated quite a ways below their opponents, at the 134th position. However, this will hardly make a difference since the two teams will go all-out against each other right from the beginning.
India, managed by former player Khalid Jamil, have considerable potential in their ranks. Their preparation was affected by several players not being released by their clubs in time, including Sunil Chhetri, widely regarded as one of India’s top attackers. Jamil now has his full squad, and the team’s focus will be on maintaining possession for extended periods. Under this coach, India have frequently utilized throw-ins and other set-piece routines.
Singapore tend to play an aggressive brand of football. To implement this against India, they may need to start early. This approach requires considerable passing accuracy, and the midfield may need to meet significant expectations. In attack, the home team often sends long balls into the box, and their success depends on how effectively attackers receive and convert these opportunities.
Predicted Teams
SG (4-4-2): I Mahbud; J Emaviwe, A Azmi, H Harun, H Syahin; R Stewart, S Baharuddin, H Stewart; U Y Song, I Fandi, F Ilhan.
IND (4-4-2): Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Bikash Ralte, Sandesh Jhingan, Mehtab Singh, Rahul Beke; Mahesh Singh, Jeakson Singh, Jithin MS, Suresh Singh; Sunil Chhetri, Lz Chhangte.
Key Players
Ikhsan Fandi (SG): Ikhsan Fandi stands out for his goal sense. Renowned for sharpness in the box, he shakes off defenders easily. His off-the-ball movement is strong, and he finds positions in or outside the box to shoot accurately.
Rahul Bheke (IND): Indian defender Rahul Bheke is noted for his backline versatility. He plays right-back and centre-back, and is expected to pair with Sandesh Jhingan and Mehtab Singh in the Indian lineup for this match.
Match Prediction
India have a slight edge over their hosts due to recent form. They beat Oman on penalties in the CAFA Nations Cup, helping establish coach Jamil’s style. His use of flanks from a 4-4-2 has drawn notice, and attacking moves from the wingers are expected.
