India Draw Australia, Syria in Tough Group B at 2024 AFC Asian Cup

India is set to face tough competition in the Group B of the 2024 AFC Asian Cup as they have been drawn to play against Syria, Australia, and Oman. The draw for the tournament was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday, September 20.

The AFC Asian Cup is the premier football competition in Asia, held every four years. India has participated in the tournament several times before, but has yet to win the title. In the previous edition of the tournament, held in 2019, India was knocked out in the group stage after losing two matches and drawing one.

India’s coach Igor Stimac believes that the team can perform well in the tournament and that the draw will motivate the players. “It’s a tough draw, but it’s also a great opportunity for us to prove ourselves against some of the best teams in Asia,” he said. “We will begin our preparations soon and give our all in the tournament.”

Syria, the highest-ranked team in the group, is expected to be India’s toughest opponent. The team is currently ranked 75th in the FIFA World Rankings and has a strong record in the AFC Asian Cup. They finished in the quarter-finals in the last edition of the tournament.

Australia, the defending champions, are another strong team in the group. They have won the tournament once before, in 2015, and are currently ranked 40th in the FIFA World Rankings. Oman, meanwhile, is a relatively unknown team but has a strong record in regional competitions.

The tournament will be held in China from June 16 to July 16, 2024. The event was originally scheduled to be held in 2023, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 24 teams will participate in the tournament.

India will begin their campaign against Oman on June 16, followed by matches against Australia on June 20, and Syria on June 24. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage of the tournament.

In conclusion, the draw for the 2024 AFC Asian Cup has placed India in a difficult group, with the team set to face tough opponents such as Syria and Australia. However, coach Igor Stimac remains optimistic about India’s chances and believes that the team can perform well in the tournament. The tournament is set to be held in China from June 16 to July 16, 2024, and will feature 24 teams from across Asia.