Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023 Final: India vs Lebanon Live Updates

6:30 PM: Hello everyone and welcome to Khel Now’s LIVE COVERAGE of the India vs Lebanon Final match in the Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023. The kick-off is just one hour away! I’m your host Yash Pratap Singh, and I’ll be keeping you company through what promises a fascinating evening of football. Please wait for 30 Seconds for the Live blog to load.

Also Read:

• Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023: India face mighty Lebanon in grand finale
• Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023 Final: India vs Lebanon: Where and how to watch in India?
• Indian football stakeholders need to understand national team is priority, warns coach Igor Stimac
• Our federation needs to respect and support us: Aleksandar Ilic explosive ahead of Hero Intercontinental Cup final
• Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023: India’s head-to-head record against Lebanon
• Why Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023 matches against Lebanon are Do-or-Die for India?

Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023 Final: India vs Lebanon - Build-up

India run it back against Lebanon in the final of the 2023 Hero Intercontinental Cup at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar on Sunday, 18 June. The Blue Tigers are still undefeated in the competition but failed to break down the visitors in their previous-most group game.

Igor Stimac will hope that his side learn from their shortcomings in the previous game and are more clinical in the final. India will have to produce their best performance of the tournament to oust the higher-ranked side and clinch their first Hero Intercontinental Cup title since 2018.

The Stakes

India

For India, a win against Lebanon could be more than just clinching a title on home turf. They produced an encouraging display in the previous game, outperforming the visitors for the majority of the game and not allowing them any control of the match.

Stimac will, however, need his players to be more ruthless in finishing off their chances because they can’t afford to be that wasteful in a final. A win for India can help them clinch silverware as well as boost their chances of breaking into the top-100 in the upcoming FIFA Rankings update. A loss meanwhile, would be a really bitter end to an impressive tournament – something the players or staff wouldn’t want.

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Lebanon

Lebanon would probably be disappointed with their performance against India in the previous match and be aiming for much better. The Cedars were restricted to a relatively brittle display and couldn’t really use their physicality to their advantage either.

They will aim to be more compact and unpredictable going forward, especially by bringing more variations with their attacking moves. Lebanon were among the favourites heading into the Hero Intercontinental Cup and will aim to keep that reputation in tact. With a loss potentially seeing them drop out of the top-100 FIFA-ranked teams, it’s pivotal for them to win and show the might of their power on Sunday.

Injury & Team News

Ishan Pandita remains a doubt for the game after missing the last few games in the Hero Intercontinental Cup due to injury trouble. Apart from that, India should have a fully fit squad available.

Lebanon didn’t suffer any injury issues in the last game and should have a fully fit unit available for themselves in the final as well.

Head-to-Head

India failed to improve their head-to-head record against Lebanon in competitive football with the draw on Thursday. The Blue Tigers have only defeated them once in seven meetings, which was way back in 1977.

Predicted Line-ups

India (4-2-3-1)

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Nikhil Poojary, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Jeakson Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Sunil Chhetri, Naorem Mahesh Singh

Lebanon (4-2-3-1)

Ali Sabeh (GK), Hussein Zein, Mohammad El Hayek, Jihad Ayoub, Hassan Saad, Walid Chouar, Ali Tneich, Zein Abidine Farran, Hassan Maatouk, Nader Matar, Karim Darwich

Did You Know?

• India will face Lebanon in a final of a tournament for the first time in their history on Sunday.
• Lebanon captain Hassan Maatouk holds the feat for being his national side’s most capped player (104 appearances) and joint-highest goal-scorer (21 goals).
• India have kept a clean sheet in their last five competitive matches, having last conceded a goal in a loss to Vietnam in September 2022.