India vs Syria: How India Can Still Qualify For AFC Asian Cup Round Of 16

Here's how India can still qualify for Round of 16 in the Asian Cup 2024. Read below.

Sunil Chettri will have a big task at his disposal to deliver on the grand stage against Syria

Source : Getty Images

Asian Cup 2024: India takes on Syria in the Matchday 3 of the Asian Cup 2024 as both sides walk into this must-win fixture to keep their qualification hopes alive. With Australia already through to the round of 16 after registering 2 victories in 2 matches, there's only one slot to fight for Syria and Uzbekistan to grab the automatic qualification.

However, since India lost both of their matches and Uzbekistan has 4 points, India are mathematically out of the race for the automatic qualification spot.

Final touches before the big game 💪🇮🇳

📺 @Sports18 & @JioCinema
💻 https://t.co/wGw31Lh6ik#SYRvIND ⚔️ #AsianCup2023 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/yZTOWHHxiH

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) January 23, 2024

 

Here's How India Can Still Qualify For The Round Of 16 In Asian Cup 2024

Indian football fans have their hopes shattered as the automatic qualification possibility was put to an end with a 3-0 defeat against Uzbekistan. 

But in the Asian Cup 2024, there are six groups and each group has two automatic qualification slots, which implies that for the round of 16 of the Asian Cup 2024, there are 12 slots to be filled automatically, and the rest four will be decided by the best third-place finishes in all of the groups.

This further implies that in-order for The Blue Tigers to progress ahead, this fixture is a must win fixture as even a draw will lead them to a fourth place finish, given Syria has a point to their name when they drew Uzbekistan on Matchday 1.

If India wins the match by a margin of two goals or more, this will handsomely affect their goal difference as the teams that will end up with the same number of points will have goal difference as the deciding factor for progression ahead. 

Now that China have finished third with 2 points, a victory for India will definitely put them in a contention for the spot and hope that Palestine and Oman either draw their match or take a loss, because that will ensure India's progression to the Round of 16.