A FIFA World Cup play-offs spot within their grasp, hosts India would seek a winning start against an under-prepared and lower-ranked Iran in their women’s AFC Asian Cup campaign opener here on Thursday.
Hosting the continental showpiece for the second time after 1979, India would look to script history by qualifying for the quarterfinals of the 12-team tournament, which will see some of Asia’s and world’s best players in action.
India had finished runners-up twice — in 1979 and 1983 — and third in 1981.
A win against Iran at the DY Patil Stadium will assure India of at least a third-place finish in Group A. Besides the two top teams, two third-placed sides across the three groups will also qualify for quarterfinals.
Iran are the lowest ranked team in the group which also has China and Chinese Taipei. They are ranked at 70th in the world as against India’s 55th. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian team had the luxury of a good number of exposure tours and international matches last year, including against former World Cup runners-up side Brazil.
These international match experience is expected to keep Thomas Dennerby’s team in good stead even though the hosts are playing without star striker Bala Devi who is recovering from a surgery.
On the other hand, debutants Iran, who began their journey in international football only in 2005, have not played any international match in the last six months.
Dennerby understands the importance of Thursday’s match in the home side’s bid for a knock-out berth.
“Our first target is to get to quarterfinals, we have a realisticchance to do that. Anything can happen from there on,” the experienced Swede said. “They (Iran) have strong defence and it’s going to be a challenge for us to score. It’s not going to be an easy game. We are hoping that with some creative and good passing game, we can break down their defence,” he added.