India Gears Up For Crucial Clash Against Iran in AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers

After a 4-1 victory against Mongolia, India aims to refine their strategy before facing Iran in their AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 qualifiers. With both teams showing strong performances, the match promises to be a critical encounter. Key figures from both sides emphasize preparation and sportsmanship.

India will be looking to iron out the rough edges before facing Iran in their next Group G game of the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 qualifiers this Friday.

India put up a strong performance with a 4-1 victory against Mongolia in their first Group G match, but there is still a lot of work left to be done. ''The last match was a big motivation for our team. I've always maintained that winning the first match of a tournament is crucial, and the boys stuck their heads in and played extremely well against Mongolia,'' said Ranjan Chaudhuri in a release.

''However, we cannot rejoice in the victory just yet. We must immediately begin preparations for the next game. We missed a lot of chances against Mongolia, and that is something we cannot afford against Iran. They are an extremely good side, but we have made our plans according to their game as well. Anything can happen on the day, and with a little luck, our boys can get a good result. The most important thing for us is to play our game well and come out of the match with our heads held high, with a smile,'' he said.

While India registered a 4-1 win against Mongolia, Iran defeated hosts Laos 8-0, a result that puts them firmly on top of Group G. However, Iran head coach Hossein Abdi recognized India's potential threat. ''India has quality players, many of whom I've seen at the U-17 level in Thailand last year. They play a fast game and have shown a good understanding of football. I think the game has progressed very fast in India recently, and we will see further advances in the future,'' he said. ''We will give it our best against them, but the most important thing at this level is that the players are safe. It's all about building good human relations and doing well for the country," added Abdi.

(With inputs from agencies.)