Igor Stimac, the head coach of the Indian national football team, has unveiled a 35-member preliminary squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers matches against Afghanistan.
The first match is scheduled to be played in Saudi Arabia on March 22. The return leg will take place in Guwahati on March 26. India will almost certainly need to win both to make it to the third round of Asian qualification.
After a promising start, defeating Kuwait amid a challenging atmosphere away from home, India faced a setback against Qatar with a 3-0 defeat in Bhubaneswar. Stimac and his team are determined to secure victories in both clashes against Afghanistan to bolster their chances of progressing to the third round of the qualifiers, a feat yet to be achieved by India.
Stimac has introduced some fresh faces to the squad, while others have made a comeback after missing out on the AFC Asian Cup squad in January. Notable returnees include Jeakson Singh and Anwar Ali, who were sidelined due to injuries.
Among the newcomers are Amey Ranawade (Odisha FC), Jay Gupta (FC Goa), Lalthathanga Khawlhring (Odisha FC), Imran Khan (Jamshedpur FC), and Isak Vanlaruatfela (Odisha FC), who have been making waves in the Indian Super League (ISL).
Gupta, a left-back, has already impressed with two stunning goals in the league, while Imran Khan, a midfielder, boasts two goals and two assists in the ongoing season. Lalthathanga, popularly known as Puitea, has been a midfield stalwart for Odisha FC, contributing one assist. Ranawade, Isak, and Puitea have been standout performers for Odisha FC to earn their spots in the national squad.
Currently attending the Revsportz Trailblazers Conclave 2.0 in Kolkata, Stimac will be scouting ISL games, including the highly anticipated Kolkata Derby on March 10, before heading to Saudi Arabia to prepare for the upcoming challenges.
“This is wide list of 35 which will be pruned finally on March 14 as a list of 25, and I wish all candidates to have good performances in their respective clubs to stake their place in the final list,” said Stimac on the sidelines of the Trailblazers 2.0 Conclave.
The final squad will be announced on March 14, following the Odisha vs Central Coast Mariners and Goa vs Bengaluru FC clashes. This presents a golden opportunity for the new entrants to showcase their talents before the head coach.