The Indian national football team will commence their AFC Asian Cup 2023 campaign on January 13, 2024, with a challenging opening bout against sporting rivals Australia. Drawn alongside the former winners, Syria, and Uzbekistan, the Blue Tigers face a battle to qualify for the knockouts. They will, however, take inspiration from their performances four years ago, when they nearly crossed that threshold, only to falter at the eleventh hour. (Match Blog | More Football News)
With an additional spot available to take teams out of the group, the odds, if they get the requisite points on board, could play in their favour too.
Starting from January 12, the AFC Asian Cup 2023 will pit 24 of the continent's best football teams against each other, first in six groups of four and, later, in successive rounds of knockout football. Sixteen of the 24 teams will move forward, with four slots reserved for the best third-placed sides in the group round.
Qatar, hosts of the tournament, are also the reigning champions. They claimed their maiden crown after beating the competition's most successful side, Japan, in the 2019 final in the United Arab Emirates.
India vs Australia, Head-to-Head
According to 11v11's data, India and Australia have met eight times in the past, with the former winning two, the latter five, and one ending in a draw. They first played each other on September 3, 1938, with Australia winning the game 5-3. A week later, the pair recorded their only draw: a 4-4 in an international friendly. A week after that, India beat Australia 4-1. Their second, achieved all the way forward in 1956 when the Blue Tigers were at the peak of their powers, was a 7-1 mauling.
Despite, those early exchanges, India and Australia went their separate ways in the footballing pyramid. Their last meeting at the time of writing was in the AFC Asian Cup 2011, where the Socceroos prevailed 4-0.
India vs Australia, AFC Asian Cup 2023, Group Stage, All You Need To Know - Live Streaming, When And Where To Watch
When will the India vs Australia, AFC Asian Cup 2023 game be played?
The two sporting rivals will meet on January 13, 2024, at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan. The match will kick-off at 5 PM IST.
Which TV channel will broadcast the India vs Australia, AFC Asian Cup 2023 game live?
The Sports18 Network will broadcast the India vs Australia Group B match live in India.
Where will the India vs Australia, AFC Asian Cup 2023 game be live streamed?
The match will be live streamed on the Jio Cinema app and website.
AFC Asian Cup 2023 Groups
Group A: Qatar, China PR, Tajikistan, Lebanon
Group B: Australia, Uzbekistan, Syria, India
Group C: IR Iran, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Palestine
Group D: Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, Vietnam
Group E: Korea Republic, Malaysia, Jordan, Bahrain
Group F: Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Kyrgyz Republic, Oman
India's 26-member squad for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Akash Mishra, Lalchungnunga, Mehtab Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhasish Bose.
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Udanta Singh.
Forwards: Ishan Pandita, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Sunil Chhetri, Vikram Partap Singh.
