India Vs UAE : World Cup Qualifier
Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain, UAE
DATE : 23rd July , 9:25 PM IST
( Live on Ten Action + , Text Commentary will be available on this page )
Fresh from a 2-1 win over Qatar in a Friendly match, Armando Colaco’s Boys take on UAE in an all important World Cup Qualifiers match on Saturday, July 23 at the Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain, UAE.
UAE are certainly a better side on the paper but considering the current form of the Indian Team, Armando Colaco is very much sure that his boy’s will put their best foot forward and will play to their potential.
‘’UAE surely have the advantage but my boys are up for the challenge. They are really playing good football at the moment.’’In a build up to the World Cup qualifiers, India played two friendlies against Maldives and Qatar. While they were held to 1-1 draw by Maldives, a historic victory was marked when India defeated Qatar 2-1.
‘’Every game we played was a great learning experience. This is a new team and it’s a good build up for the future. The Boys are eager to play and give out their best. ‘’ He added.
‘’The boys are really putting up a lot of effort in this progress. I am sure they will rise to the occasion,’’ he further said.The win against Qatar came at the best time and the Goan coach hinted that it will help the team in tomorrow’s match.
‘’Qatar team is as good as UAE. The idea was to get acclimatize to the condition. ‘’UAE coach, Sre?ko Katanec feels though they are a superior side, yet he feels it won’t be an easy outing.
‘’Indian team plays an aggressive football. I don’t expect an easy match, their result against Qatar was a good one for them and it speaks itself.’’ He added.
HEAD-TO-HEADUAE: FIFA Ranking 110INDIA: FIFA Ranking 147Total Matches: 9UAE Won: 7India Won: 2Goals scored:UAE: 19India: 5
HEAD –TO-HEAD IN PRE-WORLD CUP:
April 8, 2001:India 1 (Jules Alberto)beatUAE 0April 26, 2001:UAE 1 (Zubaith Khatir)beatIndia 0
FIRST MEETING:September 5, 1981 – Merdeka Tournament:India 2 (Harjinder Singh, Xavier Pius)beatUAE 0
LAST MEETING: INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLYNovember 18, 2011:UAE 5beatIndia 0.
INDIA IN PRE-WORLD CUP SO FAR:Played: 31Won: 8Drawn: 9Lost: 14Goals scored: 34Goals conceded: 64Leading goal-scorers:IM Vijayan: 4 goalsJo Paul Ancheri: 4 goalsBhupinder Thakur: 3 goals.Stats: Courtsey Gautam Roy
