2018 World Cup qualifiers: India placed in tough group
India have been drawn in Group D for the 2018 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) World Cup qualifiers, according to an All India Football Federation (AIFF) release on Tuesday.
India have been clubbed with Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan and Guam in the group after the draw took place here on Tuesday.
Iran, currently ranked 40th is the highest-ranked Asian team in the world, while Oman is in the 97th position. Guam are currently laced at the 175th position while Turkmenistan occupy the 159th spot.
India are currently ranked 147th, jumping 26 places after defeating Nepal 2-0 on aggregate in the preliminary qualification round one in March.
India play their first match at home against Oman on June 11 this year while their second match is slated for June 16, away against Guam.
India coach Stephen Constantine said all the team faces a difficult challenge after the draw.
"One doesn't need to explain the strength of Iran and Oman. Iran are the highest-ranked Asian country while Oman are a very strong side," he added.
"Regardless of the FIFA Rankings, I am aware of the difficulties of playing against Turkmenistan and Guam. It's a tough draw, but it's always better to be in the draw than out of it and we will do all what is possible to get a result."
Group A: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Timor-Leste, Malaysia
Group B: Australia, Jordan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh
Group C: China, Qatar, Maldives, Bhutan, Hong Kong.
Group D: Iran, Oman, India, Turkmenistan, Guam
Group E: Japan, Syria, Afghanistan, Singapore, Cambodia.
Group F: Iraq, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei.
Group G: South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Myanmar, Laos.
Group H: Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Philippines, North Korea, Yemen.
India's matches:
June 11: India vs Oman
June 16: Guam vs India
September 8: India vs Iran
October 8: Turkmenistan vs India
October 13: Oman vs India
November 12: India vs Guam
March 24: Iran vs India
March 29, 2016: India vs Turkmenistan
India have been clubbed with Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan and Guam in the group after the draw took place here on Tuesday.
Iran, currently ranked 40th is the highest-ranked Asian team in the world, while Oman is in the 97th position. Guam are currently laced at the 175th position while Turkmenistan occupy the 159th spot.
India are currently ranked 147th, jumping 26 places after defeating Nepal 2-0 on aggregate in the preliminary qualification round one in March.
India play their first match at home against Oman on June 11 this year while their second match is slated for June 16, away against Guam.
India coach Stephen Constantine said all the team faces a difficult challenge after the draw.
"One doesn't need to explain the strength of Iran and Oman. Iran are the highest-ranked Asian country while Oman are a very strong side," he added.
"Regardless of the FIFA Rankings, I am aware of the difficulties of playing against Turkmenistan and Guam. It's a tough draw, but it's always better to be in the draw than out of it and we will do all what is possible to get a result."
Group A: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Timor-Leste, Malaysia
Group B: Australia, Jordan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh
Group C: China, Qatar, Maldives, Bhutan, Hong Kong.
Group D: Iran, Oman, India, Turkmenistan, Guam
Group E: Japan, Syria, Afghanistan, Singapore, Cambodia.
Group F: Iraq, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Chinese Taipei.
Group G: South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Myanmar, Laos.
Group H: Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Philippines, North Korea, Yemen.
India's matches:
June 11: India vs Oman
June 16: Guam vs India
September 8: India vs Iran
October 8: Turkmenistan vs India
October 13: Oman vs India
November 12: India vs Guam
March 24: Iran vs India
March 29, 2016: India vs Turkmenistan
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