Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 7 (ANI): Since its inception in 2018, the Intercontinental Cup has not been only a four-nation match, but additionally a convergence of assorted footballing types and cultures.
The inaugural version was staged in 2018 in Mumbai, that includes three groups from three totally different confederations alongside hosts India – Kenya (CAF), Chinese Taipei (AFC) and New Zealand (OFC). In the ultimate, India beat Kenya 2-0 because of a Sunil Chhetri brace to clinch the trophy.
While all 4 groups within the second version belonged to Asian Football Confederation, they got here from culturally distinct areas throughout Asia – Tajikistan, DPR Korea and Syria. Hosts India had been unable to defend their title as DPR Korea edged Tajikistan 1-0 to win the ultimate in Ahmedabad.
And now, the Intercontinental Cup returns after 4 years to a brand new venue – the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, that includes three new visitor groups – Mongolia, Vanuatu and Lebanon.
India kick off their marketing campaign on June 9 in opposition to Mongolia, an opponent they’ve by no means confronted earlier than. Nicknamed the Blue Wolves, the East Asians are the lowest-ranked aspect within the competitors, at present positioned 183 within the FIFA Rankings, and have become affiliated with FIFA as just lately as 1998. Ulaanbaatar is the coldest capital metropolis on the planet, making it robust to play in such harsh climate circumstances. As a end result, Mongolia hasn’t taken half in lots of pleasant video games in its historical past aside from the World Cup and Asian Cup Qualifiers and the EAFF Championship, a AIFF launch stated.
However, issues have regarded higher just lately, with Mongolia notching some notable outcomes. In the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, they beat Brunei Darussalam 3-2 on mixture to progress to the second spherical for the first-time. In the second spherical, they registered 1-0 wins over Myanmar and Kyrgyz Republic – two opponents India additionally beat to win the Tri-Nation earlier this 12 months. Mongolia additionally beat Yemen 2-0 within the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers final 12 months after struggling slender defeats to Philippines and Palestine.
In March this 12 months, beneath Japanese head coach Ichiro Otsuka, Mongolia confronted a UEFA opponent for the primary time, 77-ranked Georgia, who they held at 1-1 till half-time earlier than taking place 1-6 in a pleasant sport in Batumi.
After New Zealand and Fiji, Vanuatu would be the third-different opponent India will face from Oceania. Likewise, it would even be Vanuatu’s third time dealing with an AFC aspect after Guam and Indonesia. Part of the Melanesian subregion of Oceania, Vanuatu is an island nation with a inhabitants of simply over three lakhs. Football is the preferred sport within the nation and their finest end within the OFC Nations Cup has been fourth place on three events.
In June final 12 months, Vanuatu travelled to Qatar for his or her World Cup Qualifiers because the pandemic laws did not allow OFC to host matches in Oceania. Unfortunately for the Pacific islanders, the journey proved futile as a COVID-19 outbreak of their squad meant that they needed to withdraw earlier than their first sport.
Like India, Vanuatu additionally took half in a tri-nation pleasant match in March this 12 months, beating Fiji 2-1 earlier than shedding 0-2 to Solomon Islands to complete second. While Vanuatu have performed many extra worldwide matches than Mongolia of their historical past, the overwhelming majority have come in opposition to Pacific nations. As such, a visit to Asia in a special panorama shall be a brand-new expertise for the Melanesians.
Lebanon, the one opponent within the Intercontinental Cup who India have beforehand confronted earlier than, are set to pose the most important check for the hosts in Bhubaneswar. Nicknamed the Cedars, they’re positioned 99 within the FIFA Rankings, two spots above India. The assembly on June 15 is about to be the Blue Tigers’ eighth encounter with Lebanon. Of the earlier seven, India have gained one, drawn two and misplaced 4 video games, with the final conflict coming within the 2009 Nehru Cup opener in Delhi, the place Lebanon emerged 1-0 victors. India, nonetheless, went on to win the match, beating Syria within the remaining.
The solely time India beat Lebanon was means again in 1977 within the President Park’s Cup in Korea Republic – a 4-2 win. Indian captain Sunil Chhetri isn’t any stranger to scoring in opposition to Lebanon, having netted as soon as in every leg within the first spherical of World Cup Qualifiers in 2007, which the Cedars gained 6-3 on mixture. Now, greater than a decade later, a a lot tighter contest is on the playing cards because the Blue Tigers financial institution on residence assist to win the trophy within the Odisha capital.
Lebanon, in the meanwhile, are usually not in the most effective of type, having gained solely one among their final 12 matches stretching again to November 2021. They have additionally failed to attain of their final 5 matches, most just lately in a 0-2 defeat to Oman in a pleasant in March.
Igor Stimac has a very good relationship with Lebanon’s Serbian head coach Aleksandar Ilic, who was his membership teammate at Cadiz CF in Spain in 1994. “Ilic is a good friend of mine because he joined Cadiz on loan when I was playing there, and I helped him to settle down. We have known each other for the last 30 years, and I wish him a warm welcome to India, although we’re going to make it very difficult for them,” stated Stimac. (ANI)