The Blue Tigers played 776 passes among themselves with 705 accurate passes, as India beat Cambodia 2-0, both goals coming in from Sunil Chhetri - one in each half. There were also 24 shots on the rival goal.
A brace from captain Sunil Chhetri (14', 59') gave India the victory in their first game of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2023 as they comfortably defeated Cambodia.
Thapa who was part of the Indian team at the AFC Asian Cup 2019, suggested that the current team has improved a lot in terms of the quality of players since their previous appearance in the continental showpiece and believes they can make the cut to the competition again.
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 7 (ANI): India football head coach Igor Stimac believes his team are fully prepared and is hopeful of qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup finals as they take on Cambodia in the third round of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolka
India are chasing a fifth appearance in the Asian Cup finals tournament. The Blue Tigers aim to qualify for back-to-back Asian Cups for the first time ever. Previously, India have featured in the 1964, 1984, 2011, and 2019 editions.
Ranked higher than Cambodia, the Blue Tigers will start as the favourites in the match and history is also against the Angkor Warriors who don't have the best of records against the Igor Stimac's men.
The Goa-born forward although is not a stranger to the Salt Lake Stadium, having featured for his club side ATK Mohun Bagan in the recently-concluded AFC Cup group stage matches.
The players of the Indian men's football team came forward and urged fans to come in full numbers to support the team at AFC Asian Cup final round qualifiers.
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 4 (ANI): As the countdown for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers begins, Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri said he has always felt at home while in Kolkata.