India U23 vs Iraq U23 Preview, team news, lineups & prediction | International Friendlies

India U23 will face Iraq U23 behind closed doors.

The India U23 National Team are set to lock horns against the formidable Iraq U23 national team in a two-match friendly series in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the 25th and 28th of August, ahead of their crucial set of fixtures in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, which starts from September 3.

With some key players missing out in the squad, the focus will be on evaluating the limited squad’s readiness against a strong opponent. Since the Qualifiers start just a week later, these friendlies will help Naushad Moosa and the coaching staff to finalise their lineup and build the team chemistry.

Also Read: Three trialists make it to 24-member India U23 Squad for Iraq friendlies in Malaysia

Stakes

India U23

Both the Indian and the Iraqi U23 sides haven’t been featured in many matches in the recent past. The Blue Colts have had a mixed bag of results recently, with a hard-fought 3-2 loss against Tajikistan U23 and a 0-0 draw against Kyrgyz Republic U23. The Indian U23 team’s last competitive win was way back in September 2023 and since then they haven’t been able to fetch a win.

On the other side of the coin, the Iraqi side has shown a strong form, most recently managing to grab a win and a draw against Bahrain U23, whom the Blue Colts will face later in the AFC Qualifiers. The Lions have also had a strong presence in tournaments like the Olympic Games, where they created trouble for teams like Morocco U23 and Argentina U23, and even had a dominating victory over Ukraine U23, meaning that the Indian team would be really put to the test by their opponents.

Team News

India U23

Naushad Moosa has got a major blow ahead of the crucial tournament as he will be missing some of the key faces from Mohun Bagan. The manager, for this reason has opted for three new faces Sahil Harijan, Soham Varshneya, and Harsh Palande in the squad.

In the absence of the regulars, this match would be a chance for the coaching staff to experiment with different players and create an ideal starting XI for their matches against Bahrain, Qatar and Brunei U23, respectively.

Iraq U23

The Iraq U23 team have reportedly been preparing for the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers since the first week of July under the head coach Emad Mohammed, where they will face Pakistan, Oman and Cambodia.

Having played two solid games against Bahrain, Emad Mohammed would be in the final stages of his preparation and would consider the matches against India as a path to build the best eleven. Till now, there is no official news about any key players from the Iraq U23 national team currently missing from the squad.

Probable Lineups

India U23

Mohd Arbaz (GK), Bikash Yumnam, Haobam Ricky Meetei, Muhammed Saheef AP, Yanglem Sanatomba Singh, Vibin Mohanan, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Mohammed Aimen, Mohammed Sanan, Parthib Gogoi, Sreekuttan

Iraq U23

Hussein Hassan (GK), Sajjad Mohammed, Kadhim Raad, Josef Al-Imam, Hassan Khalid, Abdulrazzaq Qasim, Ali Sadiq, Ali Jassim, Mustafa Qabeel, Dhulfiqar Younis, Ali Akbar Taher

Players to Watch

Parthib Gogoi

Parthib Gogoi will be the key player for the Blue Colts in their match against Iraq. With his solid form in recent times, including a glittery Durand Cup campaign for NorthEast United FC, where he even managed to register his name in the scoresheet in the 6-1 victory against Diamond Harbour in the Final.

With his knack for delivering pinpoint finishes and creating trouble for the defence with his moves, Parthib would be a dangerous asset for India in the attacking third if he continues the same momentum and would be a key player to watch out for.

Ali Jassim

Iraq’s greatest threat in an attack will be Ali Jassim. Jassim will have the Indian defenders on their toes with his presence in the final third. His smart running, ability to create scoring chances from restricted spaces, and his ability to score goals from distance make him a potent threat throughout.

The battle between Jassim’s innovative play and India’s defensive structure will be a pivotal aspect of the match and possibly be the difference maker between India and Iraq.

When and where to watch the India U23 vs Iraq U23 match?

India U23 will face Iraq U23 on August 24. The match will be played behind closed doors. There will be no telecast and match coverage. Fans can expect only a limited official updates on the match.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.