The Indian football team led by new coach Igor Stimac has left for Thailand to participate in the King's Cup. Stimac has earned praise from the players due to his "professional attitude and different approach", but it remains to be seen whether the Croatian can lead the team to the title.
On May 21, he started a national camp in New Delhi with 37 players so as to prepare for his first assignment. He has since chosen a squad of 23 players, excluding Nishu Kumar who had played at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
The squad also includes six players who are yet to play an international match.
India have previously played in the King's Cup in 1977, finishing third. Going by the rankings of the teams involved in the tournament this time, India's chances look good. Out of the three other teams taking part, only Vietnam have a higher FIFA ranking than India.
This year, defending champions Slovakia are not taking part in the King's Cup. The teams apart from India and Vietnam would be hosts Thailand and Curacao from the Carribean islands.
Hence, India would have high hopes when they play their first match. Against Thailand, which will face Vietnam on the same day, India had recorded a big 4-1 victory when the two sides met at the Asian Cup. Captain Sunil Chhetri had put in a stellar shift in that match, scoring a brace.
Before the team left for Thailand, Chhetri had praised Stimac's approach to the game.
Apart from Chhetri, Stimac has chosen Balwant Singh, Farookh Chaudhary and Manveer Singh in the forward line. The likes of Udanta Singh, Jackichand Singh, Pronay Halder, Vinit Rai and Lallianzuala Chhangte are in the midfield and the experience they have of playing in India colours will come in handy.
Halder admitted that he has "improved significantly as a player under Stimac."
Among the midfielders is also 22-year-old Sahal Abdul Samad for whom Chhetri reserved special praise. "Samad is one person I'd like to see do well. If he understands the kind of potential he has and keeps his head on his shoulders, he can do really well," he said.
Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and experienced centre back Sandesh Jhingan are also happy with Stimac.
Jhingan, arguably the most important name in the Indian defensive setup, noted that Stimac's history as one of the best centre backs Croatia has produced is helpful for him.
The Indian team will reach Bangkok on Sunday from where they will set off for Buriram, which is three-and-a-half hours from the Thailand capital.
It will be interesting to see how effective Stimac's new ideas, new system and new approach will be. But what is for sure is that the new Indian team will be up against a proper test in Thailand.
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Kamaljit Singh
Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan, Adil Khan, Subhasish Bose
Midfielders: Udanta Singh, Jackichand Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Anirudh Thapa, Raynier Fernandes, Pronay Halder, Vinit Rai, Sahal Abdul Samad, Amarjit Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Michael Soosairaj
Forwards: Balwant Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Farukh Choudhary, Manvir Singh
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