'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
India won 2-1 : Read the match report here
Scroll down to read the Live commentary.
Friendly MatchQatar vs IndiaAl Sadd Stadium, DohaSunday 17 July, Time 9 PM (IST)
After a mediocre performance by the Indians in their friendly against Maldives in Male barely a week ago, the Indian Football Team is all geared up for another friendly against Qatar at the Al Sadd Stadium in Doha on Sunday.
The friendly against Qatar will be India’s second preparatory game for the Asian Group World Cup qualifier against UAE on the 23rd and 28th of July while Qatar will face Vietnam in the same competition.
Prior to the friendly against Maldives, India, under interim Coach Armando Colaco had a three weeks preparatory camp in New Delhi where Armando infused new style of play, discarding the long ball technique followed under former national Coach Bob Houghton.
In the 22 days training camp, Armando tried out 44 players, omitting prominent names like Bhaichung Bhutia, Rennedy Singh and few other senior players. The team comprises mixture of youth and experience and put up a different style of play that Armando want to infuse in them, in the match against Maldives.
“A lot has to be done and achieved in three weeks of training. But I’m happy the manner we played our first match against Maldives,” Armando told the official website of AIFF. “I’d request all to go through the recording of the match and judge the manner the boys played,” he added. “However, there’s no denying there’s a lot to be done; achieved.”
Apart from the tactical changes that Armando is planning to adopt, India will also be led by Goalkeeper Subrato Pal for the match against Qatar. Pal has been the best performer for India in recent times and looks good to be the skipper.
“On one side it is just another match in the life of a footballer. On the other side, it is an honour which every player dreams of — an inspiration to do better,” said Pal.“My dream is to serve my country to the best of my abilities and as long as possible,” he added.
Its yet to be seen how Armando form his teams for tomorrows friendly as this will be his last chance to decide on the final squad for the World Cup Qualifiers.
Qatar on the other hand, prepared for their World Cup qualifiers against Vietnam in Europe. They held their camp in Evian, France before moving to Switzerland to play against first div outfit FC Lausanne losing the game 3-0. In their second friendly match against German giants, FC Bayern Munich in Italy, Qatar came up with an impressive performance though loosing the match 4-2.
In their last friendly, they played another Swiss Super League side Neuchatel Xamax FC and drew 2-2. Though failing to register a win in their friendlies, Qatar would be beaming with confidence to defeat India at home before proceeding to Vietnam in their quest to make it to the World Cup.
In their four head to head so far, Qatar rank 97 had the better results winning thrice and finishing one with a draw. India is rank 54 places below Milovan Rajevac’s side at 147.
Squads: IndiaGoalkeepers: Subrata Pal, Sandip Nandy, Karanjit Singh, Laxmikant KattimaniDefenders: Gourmangi Singh, Denzel Franco, Rowilson Rodrigues, Raju Eknath Gaikwad, Valleriano Rebello, Debabrata Roy, Sameer Naik, Mahesh Gawli, Robert LalthlamuanaMidfielders: Mehtab Hossain, Syed Rahim Nabi, Harmanjot Khabra, Steven Dias, Jewel Raja Sheikh, Shilton D’Silva, Lalrindika Ralte, Peter Carvalho, Climax Lawrence, Clifford Miranda, Rakesh Masih, Lalkamal BhowmickForwards: Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpekhlua, CS Sabeeth, Sushil Kumar Singh, Baljit Sahni
Qatar:Goalkeepers: Saad Al Sheeb, Qassim Burhan, Baba Malick Defenders: Mohamed Kasoula, Ibrahim Maged, Ibrahim Al Ghanem, Bilal Mohamed, Hamed Ismael, Meshal Mubarak, Moussa Haroun, Mohamed Moussa, Moussa Al AllaqMidfielders: Wisam Rizq, Magdi Sediq, Lawrence Quaye, Fohaid Al Shmmari, Fabio Cesar, Younis Ali, Hussein ShehabForwards: Khalfan Ibrahim, Yousef Ahmed, Sebstian Soria, Mohamed Al Sayed Geddo, Mohamed Razak
Last Three Matches
Qatar India
29-Mar-2011 Qatar 1 – 1 Russia 10-Jul-2011 Maldives 1 – India 121-Jan-2011 Japan 3 – 2 Qatar 25-Mar-2011 Turkmenistan 1 – India 116-Jan-2011 Qatar 3 – 0 Kuwait 23-Mar-2011 Pakistan 1 – India 3
