After a heart-wrenching penalty shootout loss against Iraq in the Kings Cup semifinals, the Indian football team is gearing up for redemption. They are set to face Lebanon in the crucial third-place decider this Sunday.
On the brink of a historic win, India saw their lead slip away 10 minutes before the whistle, with Iraq leveling the score at 2-2. A questionable penalty then shifted the momentum, leading to a 5-4 defeat for India in the shootout. Head coach Igor Stimac didn't hold back his disappointment, criticizing the referee's decision. Similarly, Captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu took issue with the 80th-minute penalty.
But there's a silver lining: India's spirited performance against the 70th-ranked Iraq side. This display of tenacity will bolster their confidence going into the match against Lebanon. With both teams closely positioned in the FIFA rankings (India at 99 and Lebanon at 100), an intense face-off awaits.
The teams have met thrice this year, with India emerging victorious twice – one win coming from a nail-biting penalty shootout in the SAFF Cup semifinal. Their earlier triumph in the Intercontinental Cup, a convincing 2-0 against Lebanon, also adds to India's momentum.
While Lebanon, having faced a recent 1-2 defeat to hosts Thailand, might seem challenging opponents, Stimac's squad will bank on their recent successes. The Indian team's commendable upfront display against Iraq, especially in the absence of the influential Sunil Chhetri, was highlighted by Mahesh Naorem's stellar goal, assisted by Sahal Abdul Samad.
Despite being on the backfoot during the initial half against Iraq, India showed resilience, holding their ground against the 2017 Asian Cup champions. Post-match, Stimac's social media remarks hinted at his optimism for the future, suggesting that no officiating decision would deter his team's progress.
Captain Sandhu, echoing this sentiment, called on his teammates to capitalize on their performance against Iraq.
"It's a hard result to digest, we could've won the game. The second penalty was questionable. But we did much better than what people would have thought," he said.
"We just need to believe in ourselves, a bit more patient and positive. We also need to make sure we don't give away opportunities to opponents even if it looks like it's something out of our control," Sandhu added.
Notably, India has secured two third-place finishes in the Kings Cup before, including a 2019 victory.
Meanwhile, football enthusiasts are also eagerly awaiting the final showdown between hosts Thailand and Iraq.
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(With PTI inputs, powered by AI)
