Abu Dhabi: Not willing to reveal their tactics, India and Oman will play behind closed doors their final international friendly before the AFC Asian Cup, here Thursday.
A day prior to the match at the Baniyas Stadium, India’s head coach Stephen Constantine stressed that they haven’t come here expecting to play easy games.
The match is part of Blue Tigers’ preparation for the forthcoming Asian Cup. Both the head coaches have decided on playing behind closed doors, the result of which there won’t be any telecast of the match and the crowd and media will be missing from the stands. India begin their campaign in the Asian Cup against Thailand January 6.
Commenting on the match against Oman, Constantine stated: “It’s going to be extremely hard. We have come here to play the big boys of Asia. We played against the likes of Jordan, China. We need to play these sort of games to prepare in the best possible fashion.”
Oman are currently ranked 82 in the FIFA rankings, while India are at 97. India last played Oman in the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifiers twice, with Oman winning on both occasions.
“We were very unlucky to lose the first leg in Bangalore,” Constantine reflected. “That was our first group stage game in the qualifiers. But we are a much improved side now, and much younger.”
India have been the first team to land in Abu Dhabi for the Asian Cup. “The facilities have been superb and it has been going on according to the plan so far. We have done our homework as well,” skipper Sunil Chhetri insisted.
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