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India take on Guam in Bengaluru in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup Joint Qualifier later today. India have lost all their previous games in the qualifying round, including a 2-1 loss in Guam. However, India would be looking to board their first win in the qualifiers with home advantage on their side this time around.Although, Guam who have two wins and one very creditable draw against Oman will test the Indians on home soil and the hosts will have to produce a good performance if they wish to take anything from the game. All the eyes will be on the Indian team ahead of the game as the pressure mounts on Stephan Constantine.Here are five players who could have a big impact on the game at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium when the two teams meet later today.
#1 Sunil Chhetri
Sunil Chhetri as always will carry the responsibility of firing India to a victory against Guam as he makes a return to the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. The Indian striker though has been in sublime form for Mumbai City FC in the ISL and currently is leading the race for the ISL Golden Boot with six goals. He also became the first Indian player to score a hat-trick in the ISL and will once again carry the greatest threat for India.
Sunil Chhetri netted a late consolation when the two sides met earlier in the qualifying round and Sunil Chhetri’s form will once again be a worry for the Guam defence. Chhetri has been making all the right noises ahead of this game and has sounded extremely eager to lead India to victory. India will need its record goal scorer to produce those special moments which he has produced over the years as the nation seeks a major footballing respite.
#2 Brandon McDonald
A rock in the Guam defence, Brandon McDonald will be tasked with stopping Chhetri and co. McDonald has been ever present in a Guam defence which apart from a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Iran, have been really solid. Guam held much fancied Oman to a goalless draw, and McDonald put in an impressive performance against an Oman side which recently put three past India.
McDonald is also a threat in the opposition box and India will know that more than anyone else with McDonald scoring the opening goal when the two sides met earlier in the competition. McDonald is vastly experienced and has played in the MLS for five years.
The Indian attackers who have found goals hard to come by in the competition so far will have to find a way past Brandon McDonald if they are to record their first win in this qualifying campaign.
#3 Eugensen Lyngdoh
The midfield has been the Achilles heel for India so far this campaign, as the Indians have failed to impose themselves in matches. India’s midfield has spent most of the time playing as a second line of defence and has hardly managed to get a hold of the ball and initiate attacks.
A lot was expected of Eugensen Lyngdoh who had a brilliant I-League season for Bengaluru FC last time out, but Lyngdoh has failed to produce the same kind of form while playing in the blue of India. Lyngdoh has been playing well recently in the ISL for FC Pune City and scored a brilliant goal against FC Goa recently.
Indian Football fans will be hoping Lyngdoh finally fires for the Indian National Team as his quality in the middle of the park could make a real difference for India. There could hardly be a better time for Lyngdoh to show his class as India desperately seeks a positive result against Guam.
#4 Ryan Guy
Yet another name which has become a mainstay in the Guam National Team, Ryan Guy has played every single minute of Guam’s qualifying campaign. Playing at the heart of the Guam midfield, Guy is likely to come up against Sunil Chhetri on the field and if he can stop the Indian skipper, it could virtually ensure Guam at least a point in this game.
Guy has also played in the MLS for three years and continues to play in the lower divisions in the United States with San Antonio Scorpions. Guy’s experience in the middle of the park will come handy for Guam once again against an Indian side which will be desperate for a win. Guam will want him to be on his game once again when they look to tame a wounded India on their own patch.
#5 Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
There was a lot of noise among the Indian National Team fans when Sandhu was preferred over the tried and tested Subrata Pal, without having featured for the national team in any friendlies before. After a few patchy performances, Sandhu came into his own against Oman in Muscat when some brilliant goalkeeping from Sandhu prevented Oman from running riot and kept the scoring down to just three.
With India facing yet another tough test, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will have to replicate his performance against Oman for him to truly cement his place in the side ahead of Subrata Pal. Sandhu has been in the news recently after he is likely to become India’s first ever player to feature in a top European competition after his Norwegian club Stabaek FC qualified for the Europa League.
So if Sandhu can produce a special performance in goal for India against Guam, he could go a long way in becoming a fan favorite among Indian National Team fans.
