Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023: The Indian national football team, known as the Blue Tigers, is set to return to the field during the FIFA International window following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, which featured the Super Cup and the AFC playoffs.
The upcoming Intercontinental Cup 2023, scheduled to take place in Bhubaneswar next month, has prompted the head coach of the Indian national team, Igor Stimac, to unveil a preliminary squad consisting of 41 players.
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🏆 Hero Intercontinental Cup
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🏟️ Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar
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Notably, the season ended with the Super Cup, in which Odisha emerged victorious, securing their first-ever silverware by defeating Bengaluru FC.
Under the guidance of head coach Igor Stimac, the team is currently focused on their preparations for the AFC Asian Cup, scheduled for next year. Additionally, they have two important tournaments lined up in their schedule.
The first one is the Intercontinental Cup, slated to take place in June. Subsequently, they will participate in the SAFF Cup, which is scheduled to be held from June 21 to July 3, 2023.
Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023: Rankings of the teams
The Indian national team, currently ranked 101st in the FIFA Rankings, is set to compete in the Intercontinental Cup against Lebanon (ranked 99th), Vanuatu (ranked 164th), and Mongolia (ranked 183rd).
The squad members will assemble in Bhubaneswar for a training camp starting from May 15.
The final selection of players for the tournament will be made in the same city, and the official squad for the Intercontinental Cup will be announced thereafter.
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“Bhubaneswar was one of the venues of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and with that, we have seen some excellent infrastructure being developed by the Government of Odisha,” said All India Football Federation (AIFF) Secretary General Shaji Prabhakaran
“It is a legacy that the U-17 Women’s World Cup has left behind and has paved the path for the Senior Men’s National Team to now play in the city for the first time in its history.
India has previously never played against Mongolia and Vanuatu. Against Lebanon, it has played six matches.
Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023: Full Indian Squad
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