India head coach Khalid Jamil credited the victory against the hosts to the unity amongst the entire team. \u201cThe win was all down to the unity that the players showed on the pitch. They all worked in unison. Not only the players, but the entire staff \u2013 the technical, non-technical, and medical staff all worked together, and the unity within the team is visible,\u201d Jamil told AIFF's official website on the eve of the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India (133rd in the FIFA rankings) next face Iran (ranked 20th), a match that may very well be termed as a \u2018David versus Goliath\u2019 affair. The India head coach, however, is focussed on getting the Blue Tigers up and ready for the match against the Asian giants.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe win in the last game was a huge motivation for us, but the main thing right now is for us to be ready for the Iran game. We\u2019ve had two days to recover, and now we need to ensure that everyone is fresh when we face Iran,\u201d said Jamil.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Defender Sandesh Jhingan, who scored the second goal in the 2-1 victory against Tajikistan and was named Player of the Match for his performance, stressed the importance of using the Tajikistan win to build momentum for the real objectives.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYes, we are happy that we got a win and that we have three points, but we must build on this win as a nation and as a team. We must continue to improve, because our main aim is to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup for the third consecutive time,\u201d said Jhingan. \u201cThese games are important for us to prepare for the upcoming qualifiers (against Singapore).\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Iran have the march over India in the head-to-head record; the former having won four, while the Blue Tigers scored two victories against Team Melli, on the six occasions that the two sides have crossed swords. However, India\u2019s last win against Iran came in 1959 in Ernakulam, when goals from Chuni Goswami, Yusuf Khan, and Tulsidas Balaram helped the hosts win 3-1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India last faced Team Melli back in 2016 in the World Cup qualifiers, where the latter won 4-0 in Tehran. Of the current squad, only Jhingan and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu were present in the team back in 2016.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think only the two of us (Jhingan and Sandhu) have played against them in this squad, so we know what kind of a challenge they will pose. And of course, they have only gotten better over the years, playing in the World Cup on a regular basis,\u201d said Sandhu.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India last faced Team Melli back in 2016 in the World Cup qualifiers, where the latter won 4-0 in Tehran. Of the current squad, only Jhingan and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu were present in the team back in 2016.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut the most important thing is to believe in the team and stay united at all times,\u201d said Sandhu. \u201cWe must follow the plans laid out by the coach with all honesty. We must make sure that we make life difficult for them. We must show bravery and desire. Nothing is impossible in football \u2013 the Grimsby vs Manchester United (match) was an example of that.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n