THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

India would qualify for the AFC U22 Championship, if…

Lalrindika Ralte in action against Turkmenistan

The Indian U22 national team is currently playing the AFC U22 Championship Qualifiers in Muscat. Arthur Papas’ men have impressed the football fraternity with good results in a tough Group A. But many fans keep on asking one question ahead of the final qualifier: Will India qualify for the finals?

I would like to explain you the qualifying round and the scenarios, which would help India to qualify for the AFC U22 Championship 2013.

The Asian Football Confederation has drawn the member associations into seven groups consisting of a total of 41 teams. The top two teams from each group and one best third placing of all groups will qualify to the finals of the competition.

So India would need to top Group A or at least finish 2nd to earn a direct qualification for the AFC U22 Championship 2013.

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Let’s have a look at the Group A standings ahead of the final match day:

Teams
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
+/-
PTS
IRAQ 4 3 1 0 12 3 9 10
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 4 3 1 0 8 4 4 10
INDIA 4 2 1 1 11 6 5 7
OMAN 4 2 1 1 7 6 1 7
LEBANON 4 0 0 4 8 17 -9 0
TURKMENISTAN 4 0 0 4 2 12 -10 0

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India is placed third with seven points out of four matches and a better goal difference than hosts Oman, who have the same number of points. India would need to win their final game to keep the chances alive to earn a spot in the finals next year.

Following matches have been scheduled for the final match day on Tuesday:
Oman v India (Kick-Off: 17.00 local time at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex)
Turkmenistan v Lebanon (Kick-Off: 19.45 local time at the Royal Oman Police Stadium)
United Arab Emirates v Iraq  (Kick-Off: 20.00 local time at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex)

I have to say that one has to question the the kick-off times of the matches.  Final group stage matches are normally played at the same time to avoid any collusive behaviour…

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India would directly qualify for the AFC U22 Championship 2013, if they WIN against Oman and one of following two scenarios take place…

Scenario 1 – Iraq defeat the UAE
India would finish 2nd based on the better goal difference.

Scenario 2 – UAE defeat Iraq 1-0
India would finish 2nd, if they beat Oman by a margin of 4 goals.
India would need to win by a margin of 3 goals, if the UAE defeat Iraq 2-0.
(2 goals, if UAE 3-0 Iraq, etc, etc, etc)

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India would still have a chance to qualify for the AFC U22 Championship 2013, if none of the two scenarios would come into effect. India would need to win against Oman to have a chance to qualify for the finals as the best third placed team out of ALL qualifying groups.

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Let’s have a look at the current situation of the third placed teams in all the groups:

Group A
India – 7 points – one game to play

Group B
Kyrgyzstan – 4 points – one game to play

Group C
Kuwait – 6 points – two games to play

Group D
Yemen – 7 points

Group E
This qualifying group will kick-off on July 5.

Group F
Laos – 6 points – one game to play

Group G
Malaysia – 9 points – one game to play

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So a direct qualification should be our target, while going through as the best third placed team would be gambling.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed for Arthur Papas and his boys for the final game against Oman. We should be proud of the performances so far – no matter what the result will be after the final game!

This team has just started its journey and we shouldn’t put too much pressure and expectations on them. Arthur Papas will need to time to implement his ideas to the team and it is a development process, which has just started…