SAFF Championship 2023: Lebanon vs India Live Updates

7:00 PM: Hello everyone and welcome to Khel Now’s LIVE COVERAGE of the Lebanon vs India semi-final match in the SAFF Championship 2023. The kick-off is just thirty minutes away! I am your host Aishwarya Chakraborty 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.

SAFF Championship 2023: Lebanon vs India - Build-up

India wrapped up their 2023 SAFF Championship group stage fixtures with an unlucky draw against Kuwait where they conceded an own goal in injury time. With that, India’s eight-game streak of clean sheets has come to an end as it was the first goal conceded by the Blue Tigers in 2023.

Well none the less, the Blue Tigers are now through to the semi-finals after finishing second in Group A behind leaders Kuwait. Now India’s focus shifts to the all important semi-final clash against a highly-ranked Lebanon.

The Stakes

Lebanon

The feeling of revenge is still very fresh in the minds of the Lebanese players as it hasn’t been long since the Blue Tigers handed them a 2-0 defeat in the Hero Intercontinental Cup final. The Cedars finished the group stages as the group toppers of Group B after winning all three games in style.

They come into the game after a hard fought 1-0 victory against Maldives which secured them a first place finish ahead of Bangladesh. Lebanon have faced India twice this month and have failed to score even once despite housing an explosive frontline. The Cedars will be keen to bounce back stronger against India this time.

India

The Blue Tigers have been in really good form and head coach Igor Stimac’s philosophy of football is finally showing some results. The national team has an undefeated record at home and will want to keep up with the same. 

The Blue Tigers came into the tournament as Hero Intercontinental Cup champions where they defeated Lebanon in a classic fixture. Igor Stimac and his men have been one of the best sides at the SAFF Championship so far and head into the semis after an unlucky 1-1 draw against Kuwait. A lot is at stake for India as they prepare to take on Lebanon.

Injury & Team News

India will miss the services of head coach Igor Stimac who was shown a red card in the last match and star defender Sandesh Jhingan who is out due to the accumulation of two yellow cards. 

Lebanon are expected to have a fully fit squad available at their disposal for the game against India.

Head-to-head

The Blue Tigers have defeated Lebanon only twice in eight meetings.

Lebanon vs India: Head-to-head record

Predicted Line-ups

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

India (4-2-3-1)

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