Muscat: India will aim to pull-off a shock when they face Oman, one of the two heavyweights of Asian Qualifiers Group E, when they take on the hosts in Muscat today.
While India inflicted a late blow on Afghanistan last time out, it was they who suffered a similar fate when they met Oman on Matchday One, with Erwin Koeman’s side snatching a 2-1 win having trailed with eight minutes remaining in Guwahati.
That win proved to be the start of a strong campaign for Oman, who have since breezed to two big wins in Muscat and pushed Qatar all the way in a 2-1 defeat in Doha. Koeman’s brother Ronald has had a successful international career by leading their native Netherlands to UEFA Euro 2020 qualification, and the elder sibling of the family could be on the way to going one better by leading Oman to a maiden FIFA World Cup.
Oman’s form on home soil has certainly been impressive, racking up seven goals in two wins, including four in the second half against Bangladesh on Thursday, while India have now gone more than two years since emerging victorious as the away team. As ever, they will rely on the goals of the talismanic Sunil Chhetri, who has called on his teammates to remain disciplined in a match he has designated as a ‘must not lose’.
It was that discipline which helped India restrict Qatar to a 0-0 draw on Matchday Two, and it is likely a similar performance will be required to challenge the in-form Omanis.
