Two nations that have built up a healthy rivalry in cricket will square off on the football pitch in Al Rayyan this weekend, as Australia open their Asian Cup campaign against India on Saturday at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.

It will be the fifth successive appearance for the Socceroos at this tournament after topping their second-round Asian qualification group with a 100% record, while India qualified for a second consecutive time, winning all three of their third-round fixtures.

Match preview

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After stunning many observers at the previous World Cup and making it into the last 16, the Socceroos enter this tournament with bigger expectations than they initially had after punching their ticket into the 2023 Asian Cup years ago.

Graham Arnold has been able to get the best out of this squad, with the Aussies winning their last five competitive fixtures versus teams from Asia, including a 2-0 triumph over Bahrain last weekend.

They have not lost to an Asian opponent since March 2022 (1-0 defeat versus Saudi Arabia), outscoring their last three opponents from that region by a combined margin of 10-0.

The Socceroos have always made it beyond the group stage of this tournament since their first appearance in 2007, winning all three of their group fixtures four years ago.

Currently the fourth-highest ranked side in Asia according to FIFA (25th), the expectation will be for the Australians to contend for the title, something they did on home soil in 2015 while finishing as runners-up the previous time this event took place in Qatar (2011).

Their 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup was the first time the Socceroos lost a major tournament fixture in Al Rayyan.

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For the first time in their footballing history, India have qualified for successive Asian Cups, conceding just one goal in the third round of qualifying.

Their manager, Igor Stimac, though, appears to be downplaying the importance of this tournament, seemingly more focused on ensuring his side progress into the third stage of 2026 World Cup qualifying.

At the moment, the Blue Tigers find themselves equal to Kuwait for a top-two position in Group A of World Cup qualifying but behind on goal difference, scoring just once in their two matches so far.

Last year was hugely successful for India, capturing the South Asian Federation Football Championship, the InterContinental Cup and the Tri-Nation Series.

The Blue Tigers have not had much success at this tournament though, making it beyond the Asian Cup group stage once, way back in 1964 when they were runners-up.

They were minutes away from making the last 16 four years ago, losing on a 91st-minute penalty converted by Bahrain in their final group encounter.

It has been a very long time since the Blue Tigers last defeated the Socceroos on the international stage, pummelling them 7-1 in a December 1956 friendly.

Team News

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Gethin Jones collected his first cap for the Socceroos, starting at right-back, before being replaced by Nathaniel Atkinson late in the second half versus Bahrain, while John Iredale and Patrick Yazbek were unused subs and continue to seek their first appearances for the senior side.

Joe Gauci made just his second appearance between the sticks last weekend, posting his first clean sheet for the national team, Mathew Ryan remains one cap behind Alex Tobin for fifth all-time with 87, while Samuel Silvera of Middlesbrough made his first career start for Australia.

A Craig Goodwin cross forced an own-goal from Bahraini defender Amine Benadi before the Al-Wehda striker set up Mitchell Duke for his 12th international goal.

Stimac made numerous changes to the India starting 11 from their first World Cup qualification fixture to the second, with Nikhil Poojary, Sandesh Jhingan, Rahul Bheke, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Lalengmawia Ralte and captain Sunil Chhetri the only ones to keep their place in the lineup for both encounters.

Vikram Partap Singh and Deepak Tangri will be seeking their first international caps, Lalchungnunga made his first senior appearance in their previous encounter versus Qatar (3-0 defeat), while Udanta Singh Kumam is two caps away from reaching 50.

Manvir Singh notched his seventh international goal in their victory over Kuwait last November, while Gurpreet Singh Sandhu collected the clean sheet.

Australia possible starting lineup:
Gauci; Atkinson, Souttar, Burgess, Bos; McGree, O'Neill, Irvine, Goodwin; Duke, Boyle

India possible starting lineup:
Sandhu; Poojary, Jhingan, Bheke, Bose; Wangjam, Ralte; N. Singh, Samad, Chhangte; Chhteri

We say: Australia 2-0 India

Stimac seems unconcerned about how India will fare at this tournament, reportedly consulting an astrologer on team selections.

The Aussies, meanwhile, have been laser-focused lately, and their overall balance across the pitch should propel them to a comfortable opening victory.

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