India Asian Cup 2011

Asian Cup 2011 Teams: India

Road to Qatar

Despite being one of the most populous nations on earth, India remain minnows on the world football scene. Their participation in the Asian Cup comes as an unexpected surprise, with the Bhangra Boys qualifying for the tournament courtesy of winning the second tier AFC Challenge Cup on home soil in 2008.

India flattered to deceive in the Challenge Cup, squeezing past Afghanistan thanks to a last-minute winner, before drawing with Tajikistan and narrowly defeating Turkmenistan to reach the semi-finals.

Another late goal from star striker Sunil Chhetri saw off Myanmar in the final four, and it was only then India's exploits managed to capture the attention of a cricket-mad public, as the hosts thrashed Tajikistan 4-1 in a final watched by a vociferous home crowd.

Fixtures

Group C

India v Australia; 10 January 2011, Al-Sadd, Doha

India v Bahrain; 14 January 2011, Al-Sadd, Doha

India v South Korea; 18 January 2011, Al-Gharafa, Doha

Analysis

“Sink or swim” seems to be the motto of India's veteran coach Bob Houghton, but the Englishman is surely concerned about the prospect of a watery grave after the Bhangra Boys were handed a nightmare draw.

A first-up clash with Australia does India no favours, with a battle-hardened Bahrain laying in wait thereafter. India closed their group stage campaign with a match against highly-rated South Korea, so it's entirely plausible the inexperienced Indians will end up on zero points and with an avalanche of goals conceded.

A recent 9-1 friendly defeat to Kuwait was followed by a similarly humiliating 5-0 thrashing at the hands of the United Arab Emirates, and as if that wasn't demoralising enough, coach Houghton has clashed with key players and staff in the build-up to India's first finals campaign since 1984.

Key player: Baichung Bhatia

At 34-years of age, one-time Bury striker Baichung Bhatia is on his last legs for the national team - literally. The veteran goes into the Asian Cup with a serious injury casting doubts on whether he'll take part in India's opening clash with Australia.

But the talismanic striker is much more than just a goal scorer; he's also India's captain, and the talented front man leads by example in an Indian side short on star players.

One to watch: Subrata Pal

India's controversial goalkeeper has turned a corner after his accidental collision with Dempo SC striker Cristiano Junior caused the Brazilian's death in an Indian league match in 2004.

Since then, the acrobatic shot-stopper has cooled his temper and matured into a shot-stopper of undoubted quality - something India desperately need in Qatar.

Coach: Bob Houghton

Most famous for leading Swedish club Malmo to the 1979 European Cup final, where they lost to Nottingham Forest, English coach Bob Houghton has enjoyed a nomadic career in world football. Installed as India coach in 2006, Houghton has worked hard to lift playing standards on the sub-continent. He's been hindered by a limited budget and the relative indifference of a cricket-mad public, and even with so much experience under his belt, Houghton is realistic enough to know this could be his toughest challenge yet.

Record

2000; Did not qualify, 2004; Did not qualify, 2007; Did not qualify

Soccerphile says

Avoiding total humiliation is the goal for Houghton and his team, as India embark on an unlikely Asian Cup challenge. The Bhangra Boys have little experience of top-class football, and the tournament is likely to be a step too far against fully professional, highly physical opponents.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Subrata Pal (Pune FC), Subhasish Roy Chowdhury (Dempo SC), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (AIFF XI)
Defenders: Anwar Ali (Dempo SC), Deepak Kumar Mondal (Mohun Bagan), Mahesh Gawli (Dempo SC), Irungbam Surkumar Singh (Mohun Bagan), Gouramangi Singh (Churchill Brothers), Rakesh Masih (Mohun Bagan), Moirangthem Govin Singh (East Bengal), Manju (Mohun Bagan)
Midfielders : Naduparambil Pappachan Pradeep (no club), P. Renedy Singh (no club), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), Syed Rahim Nabi (East Bengal), Steven Dias (Churchill Brothers), Mehrajuddin Wadoo (East Bengal), Climax Lawrence (Dempo SC), Baldeep Singh Junior (JCT)
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri (Sporting Kansas City), Baichung Bhutia (East Bengal), Abhishek Yadav (Mumbai FC)

The winner of the Asian Cup takes part in the Confederations Cup.

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