India vs Cambodia, 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers: All you need to know, where to watch, squads

India takes on Cambodia in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers starting Wednesday. Here's everything you need to know about the contest.

Published : Jun 08, 2022 09:48 IST

Chhetri last played for India during their 3-0 win over Nepal in the SAFF Championships final in October but since then was sidelined due to injuries. (File Photo)

India will play Cambodia as it begins its qualifying campaign in the third round for the AFC Asian Cup, with all the matches set to be played at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, India.

Igor Stimac’s side faced heartbreak in the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers by finishing third with just one win, four losses and three draws.

India (ranked 106th) will look to turn its fortunes in the third-round qualifiers, playing against lower ranked sides Cambodia (171), Afghanistan (150) and Hong Kong (147).

The team will be bolstered by the return of skipper Sunil Chhetri in attack, despite the 37-year-old's struggles in front of goal n the Indian Super League last season.

RELATED |

Head-to-Head:  India and Cambodia have met four times before with the latest meeting coming just over five years ago in an international friendly, when India came out victorious with a 3-2 win.

The biggest win, however, remains the Nehru Cup clash where Chhetri scored a brace as India beat Cambodia 6-0, eventually going on to win the tournament that year.

  • September 2, 1964 — Cambodia 0-4 India (Merdeka Tournament)
  • July 29, 1967 — India 1-3 Cambodia (AFC Asian Cup)
  • August 17, 2007 — India 6-0 Cambodia (Nehru Cup)
  • March 22, 2017 — Cambodia 2-3 aIndian (International Friendly)

Form Guide:  India comes into the match after three consecutive losses -- all of them coming in friendlies, with its last competitive match ending in favour of India, with the team lifting the SAFF Championship in October last year.

Cambodia, on the other hand, has played 18 matches in its last three years, winning 11, losing two and drawing the remaining five matches. Its heaviest defeat came against Asian heavyweight Iran, with a score line of 14-0.

It comes into the match with two wins in its previous five matches.

India’s last five matches:

  • Loss: India 0-2 Jordan
  • Loss: India 0-3 Belarus
  • Loss: Bahrain 2-1 India
  • Win: India 3-0 Nepal
  • Win: India 3-1 Maldives

Cambodia’s last five matches:

  • Win: Cambodia 2-1 Timor-Leste
  • Loss: Vietnam 4-0 Cambodia
  • Win: Cambodia 3-0 Laos
  • Loss: Indonesia 4-2 Cambodia
  • Loss: Cambodia 1-3 Malaysia

Team News

India:  Stimac’s side will be expected to be on the offensive with Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh and Sunil Chhetri available for selection.

Though Colaco had picked up a slight injury, he is expected to make it to the starting eleven, while Anirudh Thapa is expected to be the lynchpin in the midfield. Midfielder Lalengmawia Ralte and is out of the qualifiers with an injury, while defender Rahul Bheke is ruked out as well.

RELATED |

Cambodia:  The Angkor Warriors have scored just 16 goals in its last 18 matches, but have conceded more than thrice of that (59) — something it will be cautious of against India.

Min Ratanak, Soeuth Nava, Prak Mony Udom and an injured Lim Pisoth failed to make the squad after being included in the preliminary list.

Sos Suhana, its most experienced player and the architect of midfield attacks will be the man for India to mark as Cambodia looks for a win against higher-ranked India.

Squads:

India:

  • Goalkeeper:  Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Laxmikanth Kattimani, Amrinder Singh
  • Defenders:  Chinglesana Singh, Akash Mishra, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Roshan Singh, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhashish Bose, Pritam Kotal
  • Midfielders:  Jeakson Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Glan Martins, Brandon Fernandes, Deepak Tangri, Udanta Singh, Yasir Mohammad, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Wangjam, Ashique Kuruniyan, Liston Colaco
  • Forwards:  Ishan Pandita, Sunil Chhetri, Manvir Singh.

Cambodia:

  • Goalkeepers : Hul Kimhuy, Keo Soksela, Vireak Dara
  • Defenders:  Soeuy Visal, Boris Kok, Ken Chansopheak, Taing Bunchhai, Tes Sambath, Cheng Meng, Sin Sovannmakara
  • Midfielders:  Thierry Chantha Bin, Chou Sinti, Ean Pisey Orn Chanpolin, Sos Suhana, In Sodavid, Long PheaRath, Brak Thiva, Choun Chanchav
  • Forwards:  Sieng Chanthea, Mat Noron, Keo Sokpheng, Sa Ty

Predicted Lineups

India’s Predicted XI:  Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, Subhasish Bose; Naorem Roshan Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad; Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco; Sunil Chhetri (C).

Cambodia Predicted XI:  Keo Soksela; Boris Kok, Soeuy Visal (C), Tes Sambath, Ken Chansopheak; Orn Chanpolin, Sos Suhana, Thierry Bin; Keo Sokpheng, Mat Noron; Sieng Chanthea.

When and where to watch?

The India vs Cambodia match will kick off at 8:30 pm at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, India. The match will be live telecast on the Star Network on TV and can be watched online on OTT platforms Disney +Hotstar and JioTV.