In a crucial final group game at the AFC Asian Cup, India will be facing Syria on Tuesday at the Al Bayt Stadium. The outcome of this match will determine India's fate in the competition, as any result other than a win will result in their elimination.
So far, India has struggled to find the back of the net, failing to score in any of their previous matches. On the other hand, Syria's defense has been solid, conceding only one goal in the tournament. This poses a significant challenge for Igor Stimac's side, and the magnitude of the task at hand cannot be understated.
Even if India manages to secure a victory against Syria, it does not guarantee their qualification for the next round. With Australia and Uzbekistan leading Group B with six and four points respectively, India cannot finish in the top two. Their only chance lies in securing one of the four spots reserved for the best third-placed teams across the six groups.
To achieve this, India not only needs to win against Syria but potentially win by a sufficient margin to improve their poor goal difference of -5 from the first two games. It's quite an uphill battle for them.
Let's take a look at the other groups and analyze the scenarios that need to unfold to give India a chance at progressing:
Group A sees hosts Qatar sitting comfortably at the top, while the other three teams are yet to score a goal. Ideally, a draw between Tajikistan and Lebanon would benefit India. However, if Qatar defeats China, the latter would remain in third place with two points, allowing India to overtake them with a win.
In Group C, Palestine and Hong Kong will face off in their last game. Palestine, having earned a point against UAE, could potentially even secure second place depending on the result between UAE and Iran. Should Palestine win, it is guaranteed that Group C's third-placed team will be ranked above India.
Group D features Indonesia facing a formidable Japanese side who are looking to bounce back after a loss to Iraq. If India secures a one-goal win and Indonesia suffers a heavy defeat, it would boost India's chances. However, Vietnam could also qualify if they manage to beat Iraq. To favor India, Japan should secure a big win, and Iraq should avoid defeat against Vietnam.
Moving on to Group E, Bahrain currently occupies the third spot, above Malaysia, who requires nothing short of a miracle to qualify. Bahrain will face a strong Jordanian side, and a point for them will be enough to progress. India would benefit from a Jordanian win, coupled with Korea avoiding defeat against Malaysia.
Group F presents a clash between Oman and Kyrgyzstan, who are currently third and fourth respectively. An Omani victory would ensure that the third-placed team from this group (whether it's Oman or Thailand) cannot be surpassed by India. However, if Kyrgyzstan wins and India secures a victory against Syria, it will come down to the goal difference between the two teams. The ideal outcome for India would be a draw between Oman and Kyrgyzstan, preventing either team from reaching three points.
It is undoubtedly a challenging path for India to secure a spot in the next round of the AFC Asian Cup. It not only requires a victory against Syria but also relies on specific results from other groups. The fate of the team hangs in the balance, and fans will anxiously await the outcome of Tuesday's crucial match.
