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After months of excitement and anticipation that has reached fever pitch, the day finally arrives when India make their debut in a FIFA World Cup. A historic moment for a country which has long been regarded as a sleeping giant in the world of football, the young Indian side will be hoping to go all guns blazing, with hearts filled with pride and passion as they face a superior USA side.
India's strength lies with the pace of their strikers Aniket Jadhav and Abhijit Sarkar in counter in a fast flowing counter attacking play while set pieces from dead ball specialists in Komal Thatal and Stalin Sanjeev could also turn out to be a catalyst in their surge for success.
LIVE: India vs USA, live score and updates
In midfield Luis Norton De Matos will be relying heavily on the abilities of his captain Amarjit Singh Kiyam and Jeakson Singh in breaking down a potent US attack. Although the host nation would have been hoping to field all their first choices, they were handed a blow as right back Boris Singh Thangjam is set to miss out due to suspension after picking up a red card in the side's last AFC Championship group game against Saudi Arabia. But India have an able replacement in Hendry Antonay, who will be supporting the likes of Anwar Ali and Namit Deshpande.
The American outfit, on the other hand, are heavily dependent on their potent attack, led by Josh Sargent.The 17-year-old is touted as the next big thing to have come out of the country as far as soccer is concerned. Ayo Akinola and PSG's Timothy Weah are the other two threats spearheading the forward line for Americans as coach John Hackworth will be hoping that his boys could score a fair number of goals in his 4-3-3 formative attacking plan which could overshadow their relative weakness in defence.
Both the sides met each other last year during AIFF's Youth Cup held in Goa, where the India Colts where thumped 4-0 by the USA but that result would hardly matter given the occasion this time around. These bunch of Indian players who will make the history books as the first to represent the nation at a major FIFA tournament will be hoping that the crowd and the occasion as a whole will act as an additional boost as they look to get a decent result in their first match.
India Squad
Goalkeepers: Dheeraj Singh, Prabhsukhan Gill, Sunny Dhaliwal.
Defenders: Boris Singh, Jitendra Singh, Anwar Ali, Sanjeev Stalin, Hendry Antonay, Namit Deshpande.
Midfielders: Suresh Singh, Ninthoinganba Meetei, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Abhijit Sarkar, Komal Thatal, Lalengmawia, Jeakson Singh, Nongdamba Naorem, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Md. Shahjahan.
Forwards: Rahim Ali, Aniket Jadhav.
USA Squad
Goalkeepers: Alex Budnik, Carlos Joaquim Dos Santos, Justin Garces.
Defenders: Sergino Dest, Christopher Gloster, Jaylin Lindsey, James Sands, Tyler Shaver, Akil Watts.
Midfielders: George Acosta, Taylor Booth, Christopher Durkin, Blaine Ferri, Chris Goslin, Indiana Vassilev.
Forwards: Ayo Akinola, Andrew Carleton, Jacobo Reyes, Bryan Reynolds, Joshua Sargent, Tim Weah.
Time and venue: 8 PM; Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi
Where to Watch: Sony Network and DD Sports
Live Streaming: Sony LIV
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