India’s journey in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qatar begins with a huge challenge by facing heavyweights Australia at the Al-Rayyan Stadium.
AUS vs IND Match Details
Date: Saturday, 13 January 2024
Time: 14:30 (AST) / 17:00 (IST)
Venue: Al-Rayyan Stadium, Al-Rayyan
AUS vs IND Match Preview
Australia are back in Qatar for the AFC Asian Cup just over a year after making a sensational run to the last 16 stage of the FIFA World Cup 2022. While their run was ended by eventual winners Argentina, the Socceroos have received enough motivation from their performance to try it out at the Asian level this time. Australia won the Asian Cup back in 2015 on home soil after becoming runners-up in the previous edition which was also hosted by Qatar. Graham Arnold’s men will now eye a second prize to showcase the progress of the current crop of players having managed only a quarterfinal finish in the last edition. They will certainly fancy winning their group with India, Syria and Uzbekistan to face, all ranked below them. Starting against the Blue Tigers whom they also face in the opener of the 2011 edition, Australia are willing to get off to a winning start in the Asian Cup.
After a year of rigorous preparation with five tournaments played and three won, India are now set to begin their seemingly most crucial Asian Cup campaign to date to check on their progress from the last edition. The Blue Tigers came within a whisker of qualifying for the last-16 stage in 2019 but a heart-breaking defeat to Bahrain in the final group game made the 1956 runners-up postpone their dream for four years more. Igor Stimac’s side are now desperate to put an end to the streak of group-stage elimination in past three editions but has to face a humungous challenge in their opener of the present one. India also played Australia in their first group game last time Qatar hosted the competition and lost 4-0 despite stupendous work between the sticks by now-retired Subroto Paul. The Blue Tigers will not want a similar thing to play out as they rely on their defensive solidity which kept 10 clean sheets last year to take something positive from Saturday's clash.
AUS vs IND Recent Form
AUS: WWWWL
IND: LWLLL
AUS vs IND Team News
Goalkeeper Matt Ryan and midfielder Riley McGree are back in full training after recovering from their respective injuries which makes the entire squad of Australia fit and ready for the opener. Meanwhile, India are without Sahal Abdul Samad for the first game who is still recovering from an injury picked in December last year. Ashique Kuruniyan, Anwar Ali and Jeakson Singh have been ruled out of the tournament with injuries. Sunil Chhetri and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, on the bench, are the only remaining members to witness the only other encounter between the sides at this level.
AUS vs IND Predicted Lineups
AUS: Matt Ryan; Gethin Jones, Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles, Aziz Behich; Martin Boyle, Keanu Baccus, Jackson Irvine, Craig Goodwin; Conor Metcalfe; Mitchell Duke
Check out here Full Australia squad for AFC Asian Cup 2024
IND: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose; Manvir Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Suresh Wangjam, Apuia, Lallianzuala Chhangte; Sunil Chettri
AUS vs IND Head to Head (ISL)
Played - 8
AUS won - 5
Drawn - 1
IND won - 2
AUS vs IND Dream11 Team Prediction
Australia looks to be the favorites to secure a win in their AFC Asian Cup opener against India despite the resistance.
AUS vs IND Dream11 Top picks
Captain Picks: Sunil Chhetri, Mitchell Duke
Vice-captain Picks: Jackson Irvine, Craig Goodwin
Others: Manvir Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
Our top pick for the AUS vs IND is Sunil Chhetri who is the top-scorer for India in the Asian Cup as well with four goals and has scored 12 goals in the last 16 international matches. The other pick is Mitchell Duke who has 5 goal contributions (3 goals, 2 assists) in his last 7 games for Australia.
AUS vs IND Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Gurpreet (8)
DEF: Kotal (8), Jhingan (8.5), Souttar (9),
MID: Chhangte (9), Thapa (8.5), Irvine (8.5), Goodwin (8)
FW: Manvir (8.5), Chhetri (9), Duke (9),
Captain: Sunil Chhetri
Vice-captain: Mitchell Duke
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming matches.
