King's Cup 2023: India take on formidable Iraq in semis clash

The Indian football team has never won against Iraq

Iraq and India will clash in the 2023 King’s Cup semi-final on 7 September 2023. It will be a hotly contested fixture between two ambitious footballing nations from Asia in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Both sides are pegged to be favourites to win the King’s Cup, which makes the upcoming fixture even more thrilling.

The winner of the contest will face either Thailand or Lebanon in the final for the trophy. As far as the loser is concerned they will meet the loser of the other semi-final for a third-place match. Considering the ambition and standards of both teams, it is safe to assume they will go with all guns blazing to secure a place in the final.

Here is what to expect from Iraq vs India at the 2023 King’s Cup in Thailand:

The Stakes

Iraq is the highest-ranked team (70) at the 2023 King’s Cup. This puts a lot of pressure on the team to lift the trophy. They are the favorites to win against India but the nature of the competition might result in an upset. Therefore, winning the 49th edition of the tournament will require the Lions of Mesopotamia to be in their best form. Their recent wins over Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Yemen suggest that the side can beat any team on their day.

India is the second-highest ranked team (99) at the tournament and heads into it on the back of winning the 2023 Tri-Nation Series and the 2023 SAFF Championships. Igor Stimac has the Blue Tigers playing attractive attacking football and their recent form can drive them to defeat Iraq and lift the trophy at the end. 

Team News

Iraq has a nearly full-strength squad available and Zidane Iqbal can feature as well after taking part in the training session in the run-up to the King’s Cup.

India will miss the services of the teams' highest goal-scorer Sunil Chhetri and left-backs Akash Mishra and Subhasish Bose. Chettri was permitted parental leave while Mishra is out with injury.

https://youtu.be/NHUWKbEyv4o

Head to Head

Total Games Played: 6

India won: 0

Draw: 1 

Iraq won: 5

Probable Lineups

Iraq (4-3-3):

Hassan (GK), Sulaka, Yahia, Putros, Ali,  Al-Ammari, Iqbal, Al-Hammadi, Bayesh, Hussein, Abdulla.

India (4-2-3-1):

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu(GK), Asish Rai, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Ashique Kuruniyan, Jeakson Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Bipin Singh, Manvir Singh

Player to Watch

Zidane Iqbal (Iraq)

Football fans will easily recognize Zidane Iqbal as he used to play for Manchester United. He graduated from the English giants’ youth academy and possesses a skill set that can change the complexion of any game. If he starts or plays a cameo against India, it will be a joy to watch him in action, actively playing a key role in Iraq’s midfield. There are slight concerns about his fitness, but he is with the team and took part in a recent training session, too.

Sahal Abdul Samad (India)

Sahal Abdul Samad recently won the 2023 Durand Cup with Mohun Bagan SG and his form going into the King’s Cup will be crucial to India’s chances of winning the game against Iraq. The midfielder will ideally play in the No.10 role. His task of creating scoring chances for the forwards is vital to the team and he is key in how Igor Stimac sets up his formation.

Did You Know?

• India has never defeated Iraq, with the latter winning five of the six contests.
• Zidane Iqbal made one senior appearance in addition to featuring for Manchester United’s U18 and U21 sides
• Ali Al-Hammadi graduated from Swansea City’s academy and plays for AFC Wimbledon in England.

Telecast

Iraq vs India will be broadcast live on Eurosport and live stream on FIFA+ in India. The kick-off is slated for 4 PM on 7 September 2023.