India vs Kuwait: Champions from the previous season On Tuesday (July 4) at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, Indian Football Team will meet debutants Kuwait in the SAFF Championship 2023 final. In this year’s competition, the two countries will meet for the second time as Sunil Chhetri and co look to defend title.
While India overcame Lebanon 4-2 in a penalty shootout after regular and extra time finished in a tie in semifinal 2, Kuwait defeated Bangladesh 1-0 in extra time to secure the final place.
India and Kuwait will meet for the fourth occasion, having already met three times, including a group stage match earlier in the 2023 SAFF Championship that determined the group leaders. Kuwait scored an injury-time equaliser to tie the game at 1-1.
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Gurpreet Singh Sandhu-
Heroics from goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu helped India enter the SAFF Championships final. its is just befitting that the Bengaluru FC custodian starts at the back.
Anwar Ali-
Anwar excels in his ball distribution and passing, showcasing great skills in the current game. Ali consistently executes crucial headed clearances inside India’s penalty box, along with important blocks and interceptions.
Sandesh Jhingan-
Jhingan continues to shine as India’s standout defender. The 29-year-old showcases his defensive prowess by making two crucial blocks that prevent potential goals, while also demonstrating excellent game-reading skills.
Akash Mishra-
Mishra remains an energetic presence on the left flank, establishing strong connections with Ashique and Naorem Mahesh Singh. He displays solidity in his defensive duties, consistently winning numerous duels.
Nikhil Poojary-
Poojary continues to play with the purpose of pushing forward and providing width for the team. He plays a crucial role in creating India’s attacks. However, despite consistently making overlapping runs, his crosses lack accuracy and fail to reach their intended targets.
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Anirudh Thapa-
Thapa continues to set the right tone for India to attack every time he possesses the ball. He consistently delivers quality passes into the box and supports his overlapping teammates effectively. Thapa displays excellent combination play in the midfield, acting as a vital link between the defense and attack. Furthermore, he makes crucial interceptions in his own half, showcasing his versatility and presence across the pitch. In short, Thapa is omnipresent, making a significant impact in all areas of the game.
Sahal Abdul Samad-
Sahal may not execute all his plans flawlessly, but he continues to trouble opponents with his exceptional skills. He successfully executes a few crucial passes and remains India’s creative catalyst in the midfield. Sahal establishes effective combinations with the forwards, generating a couple of scoring opportunities, although he falls short in providing the finishing touch.
Jeakson Singh-
India’s midfield powerhouse, Jeakson, stands tall amidst all the pressure. He wins the ball in crucial areas and comes back to form a back-three every time the full-backs go forward. He has the opportunity to open the scoring if he takes a shot when he is clear on goal. He delivers a crucial key pass in extra time, but India’s forwards fail to capitalize on it.
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Lallianzuala Chhangte-
Chhangte continues to display brilliance with his agility and skillful ball control. However, he occasionally squanders a couple of excellent opportunities by shooting off target. In order to achieve better results in the future, Chhangte should aim to be more decisive with his movements on the pitch. Despite this, he persists in creating chances and maintaining pressure until the final minute.
Ashique Kuruniyan-
Ashqiue remains highly active on the left flank, consistently creating dangerous and goal-scoring opportunities through his pace and skillful play. He actively contributes to the defensive aspect as well, tracking back to assist his teammates and making crucial interceptions. The winger continues to excel on the left flank, putting in a commendable effort for the Indian team.
Sunil Chhetri-
Chhetri, the captain, leader, and legend, delivers an impressive performance, showcasing his versatility by effectively dropping deep and serving as a valuable link for the forwards. With 5 goals to his name, Chhetri stands as the leading scorer in the competition and will continue to seek opportunities to add to his tally.
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