AFC Asian Cup 2024, Indian Football Team SWOT Analysis: What Fans May Expect From Blue Tigers In Qatar

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In 9 days' time, India will be playing their toughest match in the last four years as they take on World No. 25 Australia in their opening Group B match at the AFC Asian Cup 2024 in Qatar. There's no denying the fact that India are massive underdogs at the tournament irrespective of whomever they face.

However, there's enthusiasm among fans that former champions won't be having it easy against Igor Stimac and his men if the national team's recent performances are to go by. This includes big wins over Kuwait home and away last year while enjoying a 14-match unbeaten streak at home, which was ended by Qatar during the World Cup Qualifiers last November in a 3-0 defeat in Bhubaneswar.

Despite that disheartening scoreline, the Indian football team's spirited show against the reigning Asian champions made many fans proud while raising hopes of an improved show as the Blue Tigers look to reach the knockout stages for the first time since finishing runners-up in 1964. MyKhel brings to you the SWOT analysis of the team while India prepare for the continental showdown.

Strengths: Playing as a unit, Wing attack, line-up clarity

Being at the helm of the team for over four years, Igor Stimac has shown his competence in building an Indian team that carries its own identity now and looks like a side that plays with purpose. The Croatian has handpicked a roster of 30-odd players since his arrival with the likes of Sunil Chhetri, Lallinzuala Chhangte, Sahal Abdul Samad, Sandesh Jhingan, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu becoming the key elements of the team.

The way India approached their latest game against Qatar with a high-defensive line, Igor Stimac kept his promise of approaching rivals with the same mentality of taking the game to their rivals irrespective of their stature in the FIFA Rankings.

There's no denying the fact that Indian players are going to lack the physicality or pace on the wings in comparison to their far-superior opponents, something that was again evident during the Qatar game. However, playing some high-tempo short-passing game to hit their rivals on the counter and using attack-minded fullbacks such as Nikhil Poojary and Akash Mishra has helped them double up on the flanks.

In fact, through balls to the wide spaces are something that fans should expect in the upcoming games as it has been the USP of Indian attacks over a couple of seasons with Sunil Chhetri remaining the evergreen goal supplier with a record 93 goals to his name in 145 appearances.

Sahal Abdul Samad making it to the squad fit -- after getting injured earlier in December while representing his club Mohun Bagan Super Giants -- further bolsters the midfield as the technically-gifted footballer is among those rare talents in the country capable of unlocking defense from tight spaces in the middle.

Apart from him, there's an array of talented midfielders available in the squad with the likes of Apuia, Anirudh Thapa and Brandon Fernandes expected to play a musical chair for a spot in the playing 11 as coach Stimac prefers a horses-for-courses approach while using the squad depth.

Weaknesses: Injury concerns, Lack of preparation time, over-dependence on Sunil Chhetri for goals

Being the underdogs in the group, there's no point in mentioning that India have weaknesses aplenty. However, a dispute between Igor Stimac and the country's top-tier clubs over the latter not releasing their players a month ahead of the AFC Asian Cup meant that preparations for the tournament aren't idle.

Igor Stimac made it clear right after the Qatar game that expecting the national team to do wonders in Qatar is pointless as he didn't get the one-month training camp he requested. In contrast, their rivals Uzbekistan are undergoing a training camp for over a month while somebody like Syria have postponed their league matches for preparations and are coming into the Asia Cup playing two friendly games.

No wonder that Stimac went on to make the bold claim that the continental showdown will now serve as a mere preparatory tournament for the World Cup and Asia Cup combined qualifiers through 2024 as India look to progress to the third round for the first time.

The coach still stressed that his boys will leave their best on the field despite the lack of preparation time for the AFC Asia Cup 2023. However, non-availability of some of the crucial players -- such as centre-back Anwar Ali, midfielders Jeakson Singh, Rohit Kumar and forward Ashique Kuruniyan due to injuries -- have affected the squad's strength.

Apart from them, the perennial issue of lack of goal-scoring options remains as Sunil Chhetri will be once again carrying the brunt of finding the net. Likes of Manvir Singh, Lallinzuala Chhangte, and Noarem Mahesh Singh are potent attacking threats and are capable of finding the target but their conversion rate is nowhere near that of their 38-year-old captain.

Saying that, Chhetri didn't have the best of time at his club Bengaluru FC in recent months as they struggled to pick wins. However, the captain did find the net thrice in 11 games and has that additional hunger to score whenever he dons the national colour.

Opportunities: Playing 11 slots up for grabs; reach knockout stages for first time since 1964

With Anwar Ali injured, Sandesh Jhingan will hope for a stable centre-back partner and it will be an intra-battle between the likes of Rahul Bheke, Mehtab Singh and Lalchunnunga for the opening. Anwar Ali's long-range passing ability are hard to match but someone like Rahul Bheke did step up during the last international break to fill in that playmaking role from behind, leaving a positive impression on the Stimac despite concerns of many that Bheke is not a natural centre-back.

Jeakson Singh is another notable absence as the defensive midfielder looked vital in his role of guarding the defense during the SAFF Championships. The onus is now on the likes of Suresh Singh Wangjam and Deepak Tangri to fill up the gap and the former is likely to be the first choice given his familiarity with Stimac's system while Tangri earned a maiden international call-up.

And despite all the hiccups, fans may still fancy their chances of reaching the knockout stages for the first time in 60 years. With the national team playing their best football in decades, India may still squeeze into the round of 16 with possible three qualification spots up for grabs despite being clubbed in a tough group.

Threats: Indian players out of their depth against high-quality Asian opponents

However, the thought still worries that playing a high-defensive line against the World No. 25 nation may feel suicidal given the attacking quality and sheer pace Aussie wingers possess. The likes of Craig Goodwin, Marco Tilio, and Martin Boyle would be too fast for our fullbacks to catch while the physicality of a towering Harry Souttar would be too much for our forwards to deal with. Despite all the positive effort, we may still have to be content with the mere consolation of good losers against the mighty Socceroos.

Avoiding a defeat by a bigger margin, however, may help us in the remaining two games against Uzbekistan and Syria, who are not tougher than the Aussies. What may go against India is the lack of game time in big competitions while the likes of Uzbekistan and Syria are regular features at the AFC Asian Cup.