Gritty India Set To Take On Lebanon In Intercontinental Cup Final

Fierce competitive spirit will override camaraderie between rival coaches when India take on Lebanon in the final of the Intercontinental Cup football tournament in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. India chief coach Igor Stimac and his opposite number Aleksandar Ilic have been long-time friends ever since they were teammates at Spanish club Cádiz CF back in 1994 and there is plenty of mutual respect between the two. But Stimac's stance on the eve of the summit clash indicated not an inch would be given after two clear goal-scoring opportunities went abegging for India in their previous outing against Lebanon on Thursday.

Anirudh Thapa missed a sitter in the fourth minute and striker Sunil Chhetri, after receiving a perfect delivery from the central midfielder, failed to find the back of the net.

Going by the Croatian coach's strategy to make wholesome chances in all three games so far — against Mongolia, Vanuatu and Lebanon — he could spring a surprise in the title clash as well.

But with the stakes too high, it's unlikely he would veer too far away from his time-tested combination, with India on the cusp of regaining the Intercontinental Cup after lifting it in the inaugural edition in 2018, when they beat Kenya 2-0 in Mumbai.

After the opening game against Mongolia, which India won 2-0, Stimac made nine changes to the line-up which defeated Vanuatu riding on Chhetri's goal.

He made 10 more changes against Lebanon, which included benching star goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Chhetri in a goalless draw.

Defender Sandesh Jhingan, who wore the captain's armband in Chhetri's absence against Lebanon, has been the only constant in all three games, indicating the kind of faith Stimac has in the tall player and the India backline.

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