Up against a formidable Australian side in the opening game of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 opener, the Indian football team have to put their best foot forward in order to get something out of their opening fixture in Qatar.
Former Indian footballer Bhaichung Bhutia has also had his say about the Blue Tigers and believes that the team can spring up an upset in the opening itself.
“You never know. I will not be surprised if India get a good result tomorrow, I mean we have the team to surprise them. You know, Australia is not the Australia of a decade ago. We also have made progress as a team,” Bhutia told said.
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“Yes, it will be a tough match, but it is not an impossible task (to get a good result) for this side against them,” he added.
When asked about India’s chances to qualify for the knockout stage, Bhutia said “First thing first, we need to tackle Australia. If we can get a good result against them, who knows.”
Bhutia, who represented the country in over 100 matches from 1995 to 2011, mentioned that the absence of key players such as Ashique Kuruniyan, Jeakson Singh, and Anwar Ali might slightly hinder the Indian side.
Anwar Ali, a defender, Jeakson, a midfielder, and Kuruniyan, a winger, are in the process of recovering from their individual injuries and have not accompanied the team on their journey.
“Yes, it may be a bit of a concern because these are experienced players. I think the absence of Kuruniyan will especially hurt India. He is a strong and versatile player, who has the speed and skill.
“He is a constant threat to the opposition. But that said we have other good players who can make an impact,” Bhutia added.
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