India vs Singapore: How India can lineup for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier?

The Blue Tigers have not registered a win in the qualifiers yet.

On Thursday, Indian football team will play arguably one of the most consequential matches in recent times. The AFC Asian Cup qualifying fixture against Singapore will have a huge impact on Indian Football’s future.

The Blue Tigers have made a horrible start to their qualifying campaign with only a point in the first two matches. Indian Football Team have no option but to win in the upcoming fixtures.

The newly appointed head coach, Khalid Jamil, has included some new faces in the team. His coaching tenure began on a victorious note as India clinched the bronze medal in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025. However, the stakes are much higher now, and the margin of error is negligible. In this article, we will look at how India can lineup against Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier.

Formation – 4-2-3-1

Goalkeeper: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

The Indian skipper was the star performer in the recently concluded CAFA Nations Cup. Apart from the brilliant saves in the group stage matches, his performance in the Bronze Medal match against Oman announced his explosive return to international football.

Gurpreet will keep his place as the custodian, and the fans will be expecting him to stand tall in a match that can make or break India’s qualifying campaign.

Defenders: Valpuia, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Muhammad Uvais

The timely return of Sandesh Jhingan from injury is a huge boost for the Blue Tigers. His centre-back pairing with Anwar Ali will be crucial against Singapore. Anwar had a great time in the CAFA Nations Cup, and he assumed the leadership role in the defense when Jhingan was unavailable.

Valpuia was impressive in the CAFA Nations Cup as a right-back. He received limited game time in the tournament but made his presence felt. Muhammad Uvais, who made his debut for the national team in the CAFA Nations Cup, is expected to start as the left-back. He has started for the Blue Tigers in all the matches since his debut.

Also Read: Singapore vs India lineups, team news, prediction & preview | AFC Asian Cup qualifiers

Midfielders: Nikhil Prabhu, Deepak Tangri, Sahal Abdul Samad

Nikhil Prabhu was the revelation for Khalid Jamil’s team in the CAFA Nations Cup. The Punjab FC skipper was an authoritative figure in the midfield. He will form a defensive pivot with Deepak Tangri. The Mariner grabbed the attention with his performance in the AFC Champions League 2 fixture against Ahal FK.

In the advanced midfield role, we can see Sahal Abdul Samad. The Kerala lad has not had an extraordinary form recently, but his creativity can be an asset for the Blue Tigers. Sahal’s instinctive through passes can rattle the Singapore defense.

Forwards: Lallianzuala Chhangte, Sunil Chhetri, Liston Colaco

This will be the aspect of the game that will be under the most scrutiny. India’s wide forwards are going through a lean patch with not many goals to boast of. Chhangte could not do much in the CAFA Nations Cup, whereas Colaco struggled to make an impact in the ACL 2 game against Ahal FK. These wingers will have to justify the opportunities that they are being given on the international stage.

The biggest silver lining is the return of India’s talisman Sunil Chhetri. He was brought out of retirement to secure India’s qualification to the AFC Asian Cup, and the time has come when he delivers. Sunil has rescued the Blue Tigers countless times in the past. The Indian football fans are staring at him expectantly, with the hope of another talismanic performance that will keep Indian Football afloat amid all the turbulence.

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