Senior players of the Indian football team, Sandesh Jhingan and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, view the upcoming international friendlies against Bahrain and Belarus as a “perfect opportunity to test our skills” in preparation for the Asian Cup qualifiers. The friendlies are scheduled for March 23 and March 26 in Manama, Bahrain.
As India gears up for the Asian Cup qualifiers in June, with the main tournament set to take place in China next year, Jhingan, the current AIFF Player of the Year, expressed enthusiasm about the challenges ahead. He highlighted the significance of facing formidable opponents like Bahrain and Belarus, recognizing the quality of these teams.
Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu emphasized the tough challenge these matches pose, especially against Belarus, a team from a UEFA member association. He sees it as a significant achievement for the Indian team to play against a side that regularly competes with the best in the world. Sandhu sees these friendlies as a vital step in the team’s preparation for the final round of the Asian Cup qualifiers in June 2022.
Jhingan believes that the current squad possesses “quality and potential” and sees these matches as an opportunity for the team to improve and be fully prepared for the upcoming challenges. Star midfielder Anirudh Thapa also echoed the sentiment, stating that playing against Bahrain and Belarus will be an exhilarating experience.
Thapa emphasized the importance of these matches in promoting the development of Indian football on the global stage. He sees them not only as a showcase of the team’s progress but also as a foundation for the upcoming generation to learn from both successes and setbacks.
Overall, the players are optimistic about the upcoming friendlies, recognizing them as crucial tests that will contribute to the team’s growth and readiness for the Asian Cup qualifiers.
