Three Key Battles to look out for when India face UAE

These encounters could swing the game in eiter direction when the two sides meet.

The Indian football team will face the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their second international friendly on Monday. India played a well-fought 1-1 draw with Oman a few days ago, after coming back into action following a period of 16 months and will look for a victory against the hosts.

Igor Stimac gave 10 players their debuts in the last game against Oman. The new-look Indian team looked promising, with youngsters geared up to make a mark. However, the next game against the UAE, who are 30 places above the Blue Tigers in the FIFA rankings, will be equally tough, if not more.

The game could well be won or lost depending on the individual battles on the pitch. Looking at both the rosters, here are the three key battles to watch out for:

3. Ali Mabkhout Vs Sandesh Jhingan

The main attacking threat from UAE will come from their striker Ali Mabkhout. The 30-year-old plays the role of a target man efficiently. The attacking gameplay relies on the wingers finding room in the channels and whipping in crosses for Mabkhout to latch onto.

India’s skipper Sandesh Jhingan will need to closely mark the striker. He would need to watch his off the ball movement inside the box and be in close proximity during set-piece situations. Ali is a sensational striker, in good form at the moment and has scored 59 goals in 85 games for the national team.

2. Mahmoud Al Hammadi Vs Bipin Singh

Bipin Singh was a livewire for the whole duration he was on the pitch against Oman. He pressed their defenders relentlessly and took them on with a lot of adventure. Bipin also delivered a scrumptious cross for Manvir Singh that led to the equalizer. The winger showed immense maturity, despite playing in his debut for the national team.

If Igor Stimac employs him on the right flank again, then he will come up against veteran defender Mahmoud Al Hammadi. The 33-year-old is an experienced operator, playing for Al Nasr at the moment. He is quick to sniff out danger and will be tough to exploit. Bipin must rely on his speed and stretch the defender out of position to gain an upper hand.

1. Walid Abbas Vs Manvir Singh

Manvir Singh showed maturity beyond his years in the match against Oman. He was the highest rated player from the Blue Tigers, delivering a complete performance. Most importantly, the ATK Mohun Bagan player scored a vital headed equalizer in the second-half of the game. 

Manvir Singh’s movement, composure on the ball and hard-work off it impressed everyone on the evening. However, he will be up against Walid Abbas when India and the UAE face-off on Monday. The skipper is another experienced figure in the backline, who has featured in over 80 games for the national team.

He is known to use his physicality to dominate attackers and is a force in the air as well. Manvir needs to find an extra gear to outperform Abbas. Their clash will be one to watch.

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