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BS in Ag. Sciences ๐ŸŒพ | BHU'24 @bhupro ๐ŸŽ“ | Talks about Genetics ๐Ÿงฌ, Mol. Biology ๐Ÿงช, Plant Breeding ๐ŸŒฑ, Sustainability โ™ป๏ธ, Research๐Ÿฅผ & #IndianFootball ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ

Jun 8, 2023, 12 tweets

India ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ 's chance at FIFA World Cup 2026 and the decisive JUNE international window in the light of #HeroIntercontinentalCup & #SaffChampionship

- A comprehensive thread

#IndianFootball #BlueTigers #BackTheBlue @BluePilgrims

The 3rd edition of #HeroIntercontinentalCup (9-18 th Jun) will converge 4 uniquely diverse nations:

Lebanon ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ง (99) [Asia - WAFF]
India ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ (101) [Asia - SAFF]
Vanuatu ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡บ (164) [Oceania]
Mongolia ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ณ (183) [Asia - EAFF]

Except ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ง, India has no previous encounter with other two.

This will be followed by another exciting tournament #SaffChampionship . The challenge and competition is doubled this year as strong Lebanon ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ง & Kuwait ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ will join as invitee with other six SAFF nations.

India ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ is drawn in Gr-A with Kuwait ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ผ, Nepal ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ต and Pakistan ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ.

The mandate of these 2 tournaments is bigger and wider than it seems.

Good results from these will give India a much needed head start ๐Ÿš€ for the most important @FIFAWorldCup Qualifiers!* And with the reconstructed format, this time it is not just day-dreaming!

*Explained later

Among numerous changes, the biggest is that - 8โ…“ teams from Asia (4โ…“ previously) will go to FIFA WC!!

Thus the format of Asian Qualifiers is also changed.

36 teams (#1โ€“25 + 11 R-1 winners) are divided into 9 groups of 4 teams in Round-2. Top 2 from each Gr will advance in R-3

As per ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ's current ASIAN RANK-19 we will be in Pot-2 of R-2 Draw. Means in the allocated grp we have to face 2 better ranked opponents and 1 lesser one. It is still better than previous scenario but WHAT IF we have only 1 better opponent and 2 lesser? R-3 seems possible, isn't?

If ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ can improve just 1 Asian Rank, we will be in POT-2 ๐Ÿคฉ. With beatable pot 3 & 4 teams in group we can advance to the historical 3rd round, for the very first time ๐Ÿฅน.

TO ACHIEVE IT,
๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ have to replace ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ง before July FIFA Ranking.

And AIFF has quite a Plan ๐Ÿ˜‰ !!

In June, there is one assured (15th June) and 3 possible (Intercontinental FINAL, SAFF Knockout) encounter between ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ and ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ง.

Some good results against the strong Lebanon side will keep our WORLD CUP DREAM Intact โœจ.

๐ŸšจCAUTION
Winning against other teams from #InterContinentalCup and #Saff is equally important! Losing points against lower ranked team can be real costly!

Before the familiar SAFF opponents and Lebanon, we should consider unknown, mysterious Vanuatu ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡บ & Mongolia ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ณ as threat!

The very first opponent is the Blue Wolves of Mongolia ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ณ. Despite their low FIFA rank, the threat is their ambiguity. Due to the geographical barrierโ„๏ธ๐Ÿ”๏ธ, ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ณ plays very less intl football, especially outside their Circle. Their recent exposure in ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต & Georgia ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช can be a threat!

The next challenge is the Pacific island nation Vanuatu ๐Ÿ‡ป๐Ÿ‡บ capatained by recent A-League fame Brian Kaltak! Like any unconventional opponent, the unusual playing style of Vanuatu and their motivated captain can create some trouble for ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ. #Vanuatu

That's it

With 9 possible matches with heterogeneous, unique opponents; an exciting & decisive JUNE is awaiting for #IndianFootball !

A spirited performance from team and support from fans is expected

There is so much at stake, rather than just two trophies!

#BlueTigers ๐Ÿ’™

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