After a challenging 0-2 loss to Australia in their AFC Asian Cup opener, Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri has called on his teammates to focus on the upcoming match against Uzbekistan. Despite putting up a strong defense in the first half, Australia, pre-quarterfinalists in the World Cup 2022, showcased their superiority with goals from Craig Irwine (50’) and substitute Jordan Bos (73’).
Chhetri, acknowledging the difficulty of playing against top teams like Australia, stated, "It’s not easy to play the best team in Asia. We are not used to playing sides like these, as we don’t play against them very often, so you never know what to expect." While Chhetri, who failed to add to his goal tally of 93, sees both positives and negatives in the game, he emphasized the need to learn from the experience and prepare for the match against Uzbekistan on January 18.
“It’s a mixed bag of feelings right now. Once we watch the videos, perhaps we will gain more confidence and work on the things that we could have done better," he said, highlighting the upcoming challenge against Uzbekistan.
Despite the loss, India still has a chance to qualify for the last-16, with two more group-stage matches against Uzbekistan and Syria. Head coach Igor Stimac praised the team's effort, emphasizing their honesty, hard work, and commitment. He acknowledged the frustration of facing teams like Australia but expressed overall satisfaction with the result, particularly the performance in the first half.
Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu had a game of two halves, with a strong first-half performance and a less favorable second half. Defender Sandesh Jhingan, despite sustaining injuries, led India's backline with determination.
(With Agency Inputs)
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