India returned to the top echelon of Asian football after eight years, qualifying for the continent's greatest tournament. In their first match, the Blue Tigers will take on Thailand.
Despite India's higher FIFA ranking, Sunil Chhetri & Co will start the match as the underdogs. Thailand are not War Elephants for nothing. They are one of the most improved sides in Asia, and are often seen rubbing shoulders with bigger boys, unlike India.
All You Need To Know About The Match:
Match: Group A Match between India and Thailand
Date: January 6 (Sunday)
Time: 5:30 PM Local; 7:00 PM IST
Venue: Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
TV Guide: Star Sports Network In India; Channel 7 and FOX Sports Asia network in Thailand
Live Streaming: Hotstar, Jio TV
Head-to-head: In the previous 21 meetings, Thailand have won 11 times with India winning four times. Six matches have ended in draws.
Prediction: Thailand 2-1 India
Referee: Liu Kwok Man (Hong Kong)
Starting XIs:
Likely XIs:
India - Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Anas Edathodika, Subhasish Bose; Anirudh Thapa, Pronay Halder; Udanta Kumam, Halicharan Narzary; Sunil Chhetri; Jeje Lalpekhlua
Coach: Stephen Constantine (England)
FIFA ranking: 96th
Best finish: Runners-up in 1964
Key players: Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpekhlua
Thailand - Chatchai Bootprom; Adison Promrak, Chalermpong Kerdkaew, Pansa Hemviboon, Theerathon Bunmathan; Thitiphan Puangjan, Chanathip Songkrasin, Sanrawat Dechmitr; Adisak Kraisorn, Teerasil Dangda, Sirod Chatthong
Coach: Milovan Rajevac (Serbia)
FIFA ranking: 122nd
Best finish: Third place in 1972
Key players: Chanathip Songkrasin, Teerasil Dangda
Squads:
India: GK - Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (JSW Bengaluru FC), Vishal Kaith (FC Pune City), Amrinder Singh (Mumbai City FC); DF - Ranjan Salam (East Bengal), Subhasish Bose (Mumbai City FC), Sarthak Golui (FC Pune City), Sandesh Jhingan (Kerala Blasters), Pritam Kotal (Delhi Dynamos), Narayan Das (Delhi Dynamos), Anas Edathodika (Kerala Blasters); MF - Germanpreet Singh (Chennaiyin FC), Anirudh Thapa (Chennaiyin FC), Vinit Rai (Delhi Dynamos), Muhammed Ashique Kuruniyan (FC Pune City), Pronay Halder (ATK), Udanta Kumam (JSW Bengaluru FC), Rowllin Borgers (NorthEast United), Jackichand Telem (FC Goa), Halicharan Narzary (Kerala Blasters); FW - Forwards: Sumeet Passi (Jamshedpur FC), Balwant Singh (ATK), Sunil Chhetri (JSW Bengaluru FC), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Chennaiyin FC)
Thailand: GK - Chatchai Bootprom (BG Pathum United F.C.), Saranon Anuin (Singha Chiangrai United), Siwarak Tedsungnoen (Buriram United); DF - Theerathon Bunmathan (Muangthong United), Chalermpong Kerdkaew (Nakhon Ratchasima), Adison Promrak (Muangthong United), Pansa Hemviboon (Buriram United), Korrakot Wiriya-Udomsiri (Buriram United), Suphan Thongsong (Suphanburi), Mika Chunuonsee (True Bangkok United), Tristan DO (True Bangkok United); MF - Sasalak Haiprakhon (Buriram United), Sumanya Purisay (True Bangkok United), Thitiphan Puangjan (BG Pathum United F.C.), Sanrawat Dechmitr (True Bangkok United), Tanaboon Kesarat (BG Pathum United F.C.), Chanathip Songkrasin (Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo), Pokklaw A-Nan (True Bangkok United); FW - Adisak Kraisorn (Muangthong United), Teerasil Dangda (Muangthong United), Sirod Chatthong (PT Prachuap), Chananan Pombupha (Suphanburi), Supachai Chaided (Buriram United)
