The Asian Cup ouster, after coming so close to qualifying for knockouts, was a bitter pill to swallow, but India's top goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has moved on and is hoping to win the Indian Super League with Bengaluru FC.

The 27-year-old remains the first ever Indian to play a competitive match for the first team of a top-division European club.

"The Asian Cup was an incredible experience, winning our first game in 55 years and making it a close fight in the next two. It was disappointing to bow out but we gave our best. I have moved on from that and looking forward for the next challenge," Gurpreet told PTI, ahead of the ISL final against FC Goa.

In January, India crashed out of the AFC Asian Cup with a heartbreaking 0-1 defeat against Bahrain, who scored in the injury time, after starting the tournament with a 4-1 drubbing of Thailand in Group A.

The national team's heartbreak came months after his club lost to Chennaiyin FC in the final of last edition's ISL.

"Last year's final is history now, we have learnt from that and have become a better team. Reaching the final again is an achievement in itself but we will give our best to win it.

"We would just like to play the way we have played throughout the year and do not make a lot of mistakes, if we do so rest will take care of itself," the custodian, who turned out for Norwegian top division club Stabaek and is also the first Indian to play in UEFA Europa League, said.

At a time when stakeholders of Indian football are seriously contemplating a merger between the ISL and I-League, Gurpreet felt having more teams in a single league is the way to go.

"A league with a healthy amount of teams, say 15/16, is a good idea. If that happens via a merger or not, is something that the authorities will decide."

The India goalkeeper, a Red Bull athlete, felt the popularity of football is gradually increasing.

"It's great to see that the game is gaining popularity and not only us but the whole sporting culture is being motivated. It is nice to see, we are on the right track."

About Red Bull's initiatives, he said, "Red Bull Neymar Jr's Five is helping in the growth of five a side football in the country and globally and it has done amazing and it will continue to do so."&nbsp;

The Asian Cup ouster, after coming so close to qualifying for knockouts, was a bitter pill to swallow, but India's top goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has moved on and is hoping to win the Indian Super League with Bengaluru FC.

The Asian Cup ouster, after coming so close to qualifying for knockouts, was a bitter pill to swallow, but India's top goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has moved on and is hoping to win the Indian Super League with Bengaluru FC. The 27-year-old remains the first ever Indian to play a competitive match for the first team of a top-division European club. "The Asian Cup was an incredible experience, winning our first game in 55 years and making it a close fight in the next two. It was disappointing to bow out but we gave our best. I have moved on from that and looking forward for the next challenge," Gurpreet told PTI, ahead of the ISL final against FC Goa. In January, India crashed out of the AFC Asian Cup with a heartbreaking 0-1 defeat against Bahrain, who scored in the injury time, after starting the tournament with a 4-1 drubbing of Thailand in Group A. The national team's heartbreak came months after his club lost to Chennaiyin FC in the final of last edition's ISL. "Last year's final is history now, we have learnt from that and have become a better team. Reaching the final again is an achievement in itself but we will give our best to win it. "We would just like to play the way we have played throughout the year and do not make a lot of mistakes, if we do so rest will take care of itself," the custodian, who turned out for Norwegian top division club Stabaek and is also the first Indian to play in UEFA Europa League, said. At a time when stakeholders of Indian football are seriously contemplating a merger between the ISL and I-League, Gurpreet felt having more teams in a single league is the way to go. "A league with a healthy amount of teams, say 15/16, is a good idea. If that happens via a merger or not, is something that the authorities will decide." The India goalkeeper, a Red Bull athlete, felt the popularity of football is gradually increasing. "It's great to see that the game is gaining popularity and not only us but the whole sporting culture is being motivated. It is nice to see, we are on the right track." About Red Bull's initiatives, he said, "Red Bull Neymar Jr's Five is helping in the growth of five a side football in the country and globally and it has done amazing and it will continue to do so."

Moved on from Asian Cup disappointment, says India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

Qatar&nbsp;coach Felix Sanchez shrugged off comparisons to Pep Guardiola on Friday after masterminding a breathtaking <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-host-qatar-stun-japan-in-asian-cup-final-194478">Asian Cup victory</a> just three years before the 2022 World Cup on home turf.

Almoez Ali scored a tournament-record nine goals and the Maroons conceded only once as they swept to the first continental title in their history, beating Japan 3-1 in the final.

Ali said he saw shades of Manchester City's Guardiola in Sanchez, who coached Barcelona's youth players before joining&nbsp;Qatar's national academy in 2006 and working his way through the ranks.

"I've been working with him for nine years, he's highly intelligent," said the 21-year-old striker. "I compare him to Guardiola because he has the same ideas."

But Sanchez told AFP that Ali only made the comment "because I'm there (listening) and he wants to keep playing".

"I've worked with Almoez for a very long time and we have good relationship," the Spaniard said.

"He's very easy to coach because he's a hard worker and he deserves everything that has happened to him in this tournament."

Qatar&nbsp;upset former champions Saudi Arabia, Iraq and South Korea on their march to the final, but those weren't the only challenges they faced.

The Qataris were pelted with shoes and plastic bottles by a hostile home crowd as they beat the United Arab Emirates 4-0 in the semi-finals.

The UAE then lodged a protest over the eligibility of Ali and defender Bassam Al-Rawi which was dismissed just hours before the final.

Sanchez insisted he had "no concerns" about the eligibility row and also dismissed speculation that notoriously trigger-happy&nbsp;Qatar&nbsp;might replace him with a big-name coach before the World Cup.

"I'm very proud to be the&nbsp;Qatar&nbsp;national team coach. Today we made history. I'm only thinking about today. It's a great day for me and the players and the country," Sanchez said.

"There's always news about this person and that person but we're focused on our work and we have the full support of the QFA.

"So no concerns about the World Cup, it's in 2022 and you don't even know what's going to happen in two weeks."

Qatar coach Felix Sanchez shrugged off comparisons to Pep Guardiola on Friday after masterminding a breathtaking Asian Cup victory just three years before the 2022 World Cup on home turf.

Qatar coach Felix Sanchez shrugged off comparisons to Pep Guardiola on Friday after masterminding a breathtaking Asian Cup victory just three years before the 2022 World Cup on home turf. Almoez Ali scored a tournament-record nine goals and the Maroons conceded only once as they swept to the first continental title in their history, beating Japan 3-1 in the final. Ali said he saw shades of Manchester City's Guardiola in Sanchez, who coached Barcelona's youth players before joining Qatar's national academy in 2006 and working his way through the ranks. "I've been working with him for nine years, he's highly intelligent," said the 21-year-old striker. "I compare him to Guardiola because he has the same ideas." But Sanchez told AFP that Ali only made the comment "because I'm there (listening) and he wants to keep playing". "I've worked with Almoez for a very long time and we have good relationship," the Spaniard said. "He's very easy to coach because he's a hard worker and he deserves everything that has happened to him in this tournament." Qatar upset former champions Saudi Arabia, Iraq and South Korea on their march to the final, but those weren't the only challenges they faced. The Qataris were pelted with shoes and plastic bottles by a hostile home crowd as they beat the United Arab Emirates 4-0 in the semi-finals. The UAE then lodged a protest over the eligibility of Ali and defender Bassam Al-Rawi which was dismissed just hours before the final. Sanchez insisted he had "no concerns" about the eligibility row and also dismissed speculation that notoriously trigger-happy Qatar might replace him with a big-name coach before the World Cup. "I'm very proud to be the Qatar national team coach. Today we made history. I'm only thinking about today. It's a great day for me and the players and the country," Sanchez said. "There's always news about this person and that person but we're focused on our work and we have the full support of the QFA. "So no concerns about the World Cup, it's in 2022 and you don't even know what's going to happen in two weeks."

He's our Guardiola: Qatar coach Felix Sanchez hailed after stunning Asian win

Qatar defied sandal-throwing local fans to storm into the Asian Cup final for the first time with a 4-0 win over hosts United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, setting up a decider against Japan in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Boualem Khoukhi's early strike and an eighth goal of the tournament from striker Almoez Ali gave Qatar a 2-0 halftime lead with Hassan Al-Haydos and Hamid Ismail completing the rout in the last 10 minutes.

The UAE had been hoping to reach the Asian Cup final for the second time, but instead look likely to face sanctions after Ali was pelted with footwear as he celebrated his goal and the last two goalscorers were also the target of missiles.

"I think the players were aware that it was going to be tough with the crowd but I think they controlled their emotions very well," said Qatar coach Felix Sanchez.

"It was difficult for the players, it's normal in a semi-final to celebrate, and I think it was only a few people who behaved in a not proper way, most were fair.

"It was a great game for us ... I'm very proud and very happy."

The cloud of the diplomatic and trade boycott of Qatar that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt launched in 2017 hung heavy over the stadium with the visitors' national anthem booed by the majority of the crowd of 38,646.

The crowd were stunned into silence in the 22nd minute, though, when Khoukhi cantered into the UAE half on the break and launched a speculative shot towards goal from the corner of the area that slipped under the hands of goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.

While Eisa should have stopped the first goal, there was little he could have done about the second 15 minutes later.

Ali powered his way through a trio of static defenders on the left edge of the box and curled his shot into the net off the far post to extend his lead as the tournament's top scorer, eliciting a shower of sandals thrown by irate home fans.

The hosts poured forward after the break and striker Ali Mabkhout revived their hopes with a long-range drive in the 52nd minute that Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb tipped over the bar.

UAE captain Ismail Matar came on as a substitute and had a shot blocked in the 69th minute, while Saad was again a match for a looping Ahmed Khalil header.

The breakthrough would not come, though, and captain Haydos scored the third on the break for the visitors with a neat chip over Eisa to attract a shower of drinks bottles.

Insult was added to indignity in stoppage time when UAE defender Ismail Ahmed was sent off after a VAR review for an elbow to the face of Salem Al-Hajri before Hamid Ismail beat Eisa for the fourth time to trigger another barrage of bottles.

"I apologise to the fans for the result. We tried our best," said UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni, whose contract came to an end with the defeat.

"We kept trying but we have to admit the Qatar team were the better team tonight."

Qatar defied sandal-throwing local fans to storm into the Asian Cup final for the first time with a 4-0 win over hosts United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, setting up a decider against Japan in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Qatar defied sandal-throwing local fans to storm into the Asian Cup final for the first time with a 4-0 win over hosts United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, setting up a decider against Japan in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Boualem Khoukhi's early strike and an eighth goal of the tournament from striker Almoez Ali gave Qatar a 2-0 halftime lead with Hassan Al-Haydos and Hamid Ismail completing the rout in the last 10 minutes. The UAE had been hoping to reach the Asian Cup final for the second time, but instead look likely to face sanctions after Ali was pelted with footwear as he celebrated his goal and the last two goalscorers were also the target of missiles. "I think the players were aware that it was going to be tough with the crowd but I think they controlled their emotions very well," said Qatar coach Felix Sanchez. "It was difficult for the players, it's normal in a semi-final to celebrate, and I think it was only a few people who behaved in a not proper way, most were fair. "It was a great game for us ... I'm very proud and very happy." The cloud of the diplomatic and trade boycott of Qatar that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt launched in 2017 hung heavy over the stadium with the visitors' national anthem booed by the majority of the crowd of 38,646. The crowd were stunned into silence in the 22nd minute, though, when Khoukhi cantered into the UAE half on the break and launched a speculative shot towards goal from the corner of the area that slipped under the hands of goalkeeper Khalid Eisa. While Eisa should have stopped the first goal, there was little he could have done about the second 15 minutes later. Ali powered his way through a trio of static defenders on the left edge of the box and curled his shot into the net off the far post to extend his lead as the tournament's top scorer, eliciting a shower of sandals thrown by irate home fans. The hosts poured forward after the break and striker Ali Mabkhout revived their hopes with a long-range drive in the 52nd minute that Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb tipped over the bar. UAE captain Ismail Matar came on as a substitute and had a shot blocked in the 69th minute, while Saad was again a match for a looping Ahmed Khalil header. The breakthrough would not come, though, and captain Haydos scored the third on the break for the visitors with a neat chip over Eisa to attract a shower of drinks bottles. Insult was added to indignity in stoppage time when UAE defender Ismail Ahmed was sent off after a VAR review for an elbow to the face of Salem Al-Hajri before Hamid Ismail beat Eisa for the fourth time to trigger another barrage of bottles. "I apologise to the fans for the result. We tried our best," said UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni, whose contract came to an end with the defeat. "We kept trying but we have to admit the Qatar team were the better team tonight."

Qatar reach Asian Cup final despite sandal-throwing UAE fans

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz on Monday decided to step down from his responsibility after nearly eight years following his team's 3-0 loss to Japan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup.&nbsp;

"I think the simplest thing to do is to copy the old song: 'and now, the end is here'," the 65-year-old Portuguese said.

"I'm happy and proud to say I did it my way," he concluded.

The former Real Madrid coach had been hoping to deliver Iran's first continental title since 1976 in the United Arab Emirates but Japan scored three second-half goals to send them crashing out of the tournament.&nbsp;

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz on Monday decided to step down from his responsibility after nearly eight years following his team's 3-0 loss to Japan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz on Monday decided to step down from his responsibility after nearly eight years following his team's 3-0 loss to Japan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup. "I think the simplest thing to do is to copy the old song: 'and now, the end is here'," the 65-year-old Portuguese said. "I'm happy and proud to say I did it my way," he concluded. The former Real Madrid coach had been hoping to deliver Iran's first continental title since 1976 in the United Arab Emirates but Japan scored three second-half goals to send them crashing out of the tournament.

Asian Cup: Carlos Queiroz steps down as Iran coach after semi-final defeat

India left their scoring boots and luck behind while hosts United Arab Emirates found both after a subdued opener to record a 2-0 win in the AFC Asian Cup here Thursday.&nbsp;

Khalfan Mubarak (41') Ali Ahmed Mabkhout (88') scored for the home team, entering the game in some desperation after a 1-1 stalemate with Bahrain in the tournament opener.&nbsp;

UAE moved top of the table in Group A with four points from two matches while second-placed India still remained in the hunt for a knockout berth with three points from two outings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

India had drubbed Thailand 4-1 in their opening encounter Sunday but the Thais got their campaign back on a track with a 1-0 win over Bahrain in the evening fixture.&nbsp;

India made a positive start in both the halves and created many chances, but paid dearly for lacking the finishing touch.&nbsp;

The Blue Tigers missed three big chances in the first half and while they created opportunities after the break too, India were denied on two occasions by the framework.&nbsp;

On expected lines, the United Arab Emirates enjoyed possession initially but, to the surprise of many, India had more shots at goal and dominated proceedings by keeping the opposition defence busy.&nbsp;

Sandesh Jhingan's free header off a corner by Anirudh Thapa, which was won by Pritam Kotal, went off target. India could have been 1-0 up as early as the seventh minute at the Zayed Sports City Stadium.&nbsp;

Then, unmarked at the far post, Sunil Chhetri's header after Thapa squared it for the second highest active goal-scorer in international football, was brilliantly saved by UAE custodian Khalid Eisa.&nbsp;

If those misses in the eighth and 23rd minute gave India the belief that they will be able to fight their fancied opponents, in coach Stephen Constantine's words, toe-to-toe, they also may have made the Blue Tigers a bit restless.&nbsp;

And UAE, positioned 18 places above the 97th ranked India in the FIFA chart, used that to their advantage when Mubarak charged forward and latched on to a ball by Ali Ahmed Mabkhout, who ran in from the right.&nbsp;

It was not that the Indian defence was in disarray but they would have done well to clear the ball at first instance. Thapa, the team's youngest member at 20, could not get there in time while Anas Edathodika and Jhingan also could not come in the way of Mubarak, who scored his first international goal.&nbsp;

Entering the game after a 1-1 stalemate with Bahrain, UAE required full points full points, and the relief was palpable in their camp when Mubarak broke the deadlock.&nbsp;

The joy would have been short-lived for the home team had the talismanic Chhetri's attempt not missed the target by a whisker in the 43rd minute, this after the Indian captain had the UAE defenders in splits and managed to cut one through one of the gaps with Eisa noweher in the picture.&nbsp;

Down by a goal at the break, India were not to be disheartened and made their intentions clear in the second half.&nbsp;

Constantine brought in Jeje Lalpekhlua in place of Halicharan Narzary and the Mizo forward, who scored two minutes after coming off the bench in the 4-1 mauling of Thailand, nearly did an encore in the 53rd minute. Jeje's volley went inches off the post.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Three minutes later, India again experienced the so-near-yet-so-far moment when Udanta Singh's shot ricochets off the bar.&nbsp;

UAE got their act together and troubled the Indians occasionally and they also had one of their attempts blocked by the bar.

India left their scoring boots and luck behind while hosts United Arab Emirates found both after a subdued opener to record a 2-0 win in the AFC Asian Cup here Thursday.

India left their scoring boots and luck behind while hosts United Arab Emirates found both after a subdued opener to record a 2-0 win in the AFC Asian Cup here Thursday. Khalfan Mubarak (41') Ali Ahmed Mabkhout (88') scored for the home team, entering the game in some desperation after a 1-1 stalemate with Bahrain in the tournament opener. UAE moved top of the table in Group A with four points from two matches while second-placed India still remained in the hunt for a knockout berth with three points from two outings. India had drubbed Thailand 4-1 in their opening encounter Sunday but the Thais got their campaign back on a track with a 1-0 win over Bahrain in the evening fixture. India made a positive start in both the halves and created many chances, but paid dearly for lacking the finishing touch. The Blue Tigers missed three big chances in the first half and while they created opportunities after the break too, India were denied on two occasions by the framework. On expected lines, the United Arab Emirates enjoyed possession initially but, to the surprise of many, India had more shots at goal and dominated proceedings by keeping the opposition defence busy. Sandesh Jhingan's free header off a corner by Anirudh Thapa, which was won by Pritam Kotal, went off target. India could have been 1-0 up as early as the seventh minute at the Zayed Sports City Stadium. Then, unmarked at the far post, Sunil Chhetri's header after Thapa squared it for the second highest active goal-scorer in international football, was brilliantly saved by UAE custodian Khalid Eisa. If those misses in the eighth and 23rd minute gave India the belief that they will be able to fight their fancied opponents, in coach Stephen Constantine's words, toe-to-toe, they also may have made the Blue Tigers a bit restless. And UAE, positioned 18 places above the 97th ranked India in the FIFA chart, used that to their advantage when Mubarak charged forward and latched on to a ball by Ali Ahmed Mabkhout, who ran in from the right. It was not that the Indian defence was in disarray but they would have done well to clear the ball at first instance. Thapa, the team's youngest member at 20, could not get there in time while Anas Edathodika and Jhingan also could not come in the way of Mubarak, who scored his first international goal. Entering the game after a 1-1 stalemate with Bahrain, UAE required full points full points, and the relief was palpable in their camp when Mubarak broke the deadlock. The joy would have been short-lived for the home team had the talismanic Chhetri's attempt not missed the target by a whisker in the 43rd minute, this after the Indian captain had the UAE defenders in splits and managed to cut one through one of the gaps with Eisa noweher in the picture. Down by a goal at the break, India were not to be disheartened and made their intentions clear in the second half. Constantine brought in Jeje Lalpekhlua in place of Halicharan Narzary and the Mizo forward, who scored two minutes after coming off the bench in the 4-1 mauling of Thailand, nearly did an encore in the 53rd minute. Jeje's volley went inches off the post. Three minutes later, India again experienced the so-near-yet-so-far moment when Udanta Singh's shot ricochets off the bar. UAE got their act together and troubled the Indians occasionally and they also had one of their attempts blocked by the bar.

Asian Cup 2019: UAE defeat India 2-0

By Krishnan Iyer

India's football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh&nbsp;Sandhu will lead the team in the next Pool A clash against the United Arab Emirates, to be held on January 10 (Thursday) in the ongoing Asian Cup 2019.&nbsp;

In an exclusive conversation with WION, Gurpreet talked about India's participation in the tournament and preparations for the games ahead. &nbsp;

In the campaign opener, India stunned Thailand 4-1 with veteran striker Sunil Chhetri scoring a brace. Chhetri drew the first blood after he smashed home from the penalty spot after 27 minutes.&nbsp;

Speaking about Chhetri's presence in the&nbsp;team, Gurpreet said his game against Thailand "rubbed off on everyone else", especially the forwards. Chhetri plays the "role of a guide and mentor to the younger strikers".&nbsp;

"Scoring two goals in an Asian Cup match is the stuff of dreams for any player anywhere in Asia. I credit Sunil for leading us out there and giving us the crucial three points," Gurpreet stressed.&nbsp;

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The interview further went on as:&nbsp;

WION: Has getting three points and doing so this emphatically created more belief that you can progress from this group.&nbsp;

Gurpreet Singh: It was a very important game for us. We have come to the Asian Cup to win and not just participate. We are taking it one game at a time. The Thailand challenge was huge, they are a very good side and credit goes to the boys who got stuck in and gave everything. Three points in the bag and looking ahead now to a bigger challenge when we face the UAE on Thursday.&nbsp;

WION: We know that this is a very young Indian squad that is in the UAE, the third youngest in the tournament in terms of age. What impact have the youngsters made on the team dynamic?&nbsp;

Gurpreet Singh: The young players hold a very important aspect of the game and the plan in the team. The quality they have shown, not just with the national team but also in the league is good. They are hungry and will give us a huge service in the coming years hopefully. We need to ensure we enjoy every single time we step on to the pitch as a team.&nbsp;

WION: let's look ahead to your next match now - big challenge against the highest ranked team in your group - the UAE - India has not beaten them in the last five meetings. Is there confidence now that you could spring another surprise? How has the team prepared for this match?

Gurpreet Singh: It is a huge challenge for us but we need to make sure that we are a difficult team to play against. It has been our principle always and we know that the UAE are a quality team. We have to play to our strengths. Yes, we got a good result in our first game but we need to forget it and start afresh. The aim is simple, go into the UAE games, give our best and aim to get a result there.&nbsp;

WION: You face Bahrain in your final group game - so I'd like to get a quick word on them as well - India are ranked higher than them, but they are dangerous opposition especially in a tournament in the middle east, what lessons have you learned from their draw against the UAE?&nbsp;

Gurpreet Singh: Bahrain are a very strong team and they like to defend in numbers and play on the counterattacks. They are not a team we will take lightly. Right now rankings do not matter once the tournament is underway. All teams are equal now and a good example was Jordan beating Australia in a Pool B match. We have to see every team as equal opponents from now on and make sure we perform the way we perform every single game.&nbsp;

(Krishnan Iyer is a Sports Correspondent with WION)&nbsp;

By Krishnan Iyer India's football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will lead the team in the next Pool A clash against the United Arab Emirates, to be held on January 10 (Thursday) in the ongoing Asian Cup 2019.

By Krishnan Iyer India's football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will lead the team in the next Pool A clash against the United Arab Emirates, to be held on January 10 (Thursday) in the ongoing Asian Cup 2019. In an exclusive conversation with WION, Gurpreet talked about India's participation in the tournament and preparations for the games ahead. In the campaign opener, India stunned Thailand 4-1 with veteran striker Sunil Chhetri scoring a brace. Chhetri drew the first blood after he smashed home from the penalty spot after 27 minutes. Speaking about Chhetri's presence in the team, Gurpreet said his game against Thailand "rubbed off on everyone else", especially the forwards. Chhetri plays the "role of a guide and mentor to the younger strikers". "Scoring two goals in an Asian Cup match is the stuff of dreams for any player anywhere in Asia. I credit Sunil for leading us out there and giving us the crucial three points," Gurpreet stressed. × The interview further went on as: WION: Has getting three points and doing so this emphatically created more belief that you can progress from this group. Gurpreet Singh: It was a very important game for us. We have come to the Asian Cup to win and not just participate. We are taking it one game at a time. The Thailand challenge was huge, they are a very good side and credit goes to the boys who got stuck in and gave everything. Three points in the bag and looking ahead now to a bigger challenge when we face the UAE on Thursday. WION: We know that this is a very young Indian squad that is in the UAE, the third youngest in the tournament in terms of age. What impact have the youngsters made on the team dynamic? Gurpreet Singh: The young players hold a very important aspect of the game and the plan in the team. The quality they have shown, not just with the national team but also in the league is good. They are hungry and will give us a huge service in the coming years hopefully. We need to ensure we enjoy every single time we step on to the pitch as a team. WION: let's look ahead to your next match now - big challenge against the highest ranked team in your group - the UAE - India has not beaten them in the last five meetings. Is there confidence now that you could spring another surprise? How has the team prepared for this match? Gurpreet Singh: It is a huge challenge for us but we need to make sure that we are a difficult team to play against. It has been our principle always and we know that the UAE are a quality team. We have to play to our strengths. Yes, we got a good result in our first game but we need to forget it and start afresh. The aim is simple, go into the UAE games, give our best and aim to get a result there. WION: You face Bahrain in your final group game - so I'd like to get a quick word on them as well - India are ranked higher than them, but they are dangerous opposition especially in a tournament in the middle east, what lessons have you learned from their draw against the UAE? Gurpreet Singh: Bahrain are a very strong team and they like to defend in numbers and play on the counterattacks. They are not a team we will take lightly. Right now rankings do not matter once the tournament is underway. All teams are equal now and a good example was Jordan beating Australia in a Pool B match. We have to see every team as equal opponents from now on and make sure we perform the way we perform every single game. (Krishnan Iyer is a Sports Correspondent with WION)

AFC Asian Cup 2019: Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu reflects on India's historic win against Thailand in campaign opener

AFC Asian Cup: India Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh reflects on India's Historic win

India registered their first victory in the Asian Cup&nbsp;since 1964 on Sunday at Al Nahyan Stadium&nbsp;in Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;

India's star player Sunil Chhetri, who was playing in his second Asian Cup, scored twice as <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-cup-2019-sunil-chhetri-strikes-twice-as-india-defeat-thailand-4-1-188580">India defeated Thailand 4-1</a>.

Midfielder Anirudha Thapa and second-half substitute Jeje Lalpekhlua were the other scorers.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/all-you-need-to-know-about-asian-cup-2019-188242">All you need to know about </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/all-you-need-to-know-about-asian-cup-2019-188242">Asian</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/all-you-need-to-know-about-asian-cup-2019-188242"> Cup 2019</a>

Besides winning the match, Chhetri went past Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who has so far scored 65 goals from 128 matches.

Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest scorer with 85 from 154 matches.&nbsp;

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🆕 Biggest ever Asian Cup win for the Indians! 
 
What an achievement to KO the Blue Tigers’ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsianCup2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsianCup2019</a> campaign! 🐯 <a href="https://t.co/fsXo4QB586">pic.twitter.com/fsXo4QB586</a>
— #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) <a href="https://twitter.com/afcasiancup/status/1081940705453506561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The 34-year-old Chhetri, who was playing his 105th match, also become the highest Indian scorer in the Asian Cup, surpassing former player Inder Singh.&nbsp;

Inder Singh scored twice in the 1964 edition when the country had finished runners-up. &nbsp;

This is India's fourth participation in the Asian Cup and the win against Thailand was Blue Tigers' third win in 11 matches.&nbsp;

The country won two matches and lost one in the 1964 edition in Israel, competed by just four countries, then lost three and drawn one in 1984 and were beaten in all their three group matches in 2011.&nbsp;

A draw in either of the two coming matches against UAE and Bahrain could see India through to the knockout round.&nbsp;

The match was watched by the 12 Thai schoolboys rescued from a flooded jungle cave last year after being trapped for more than two weeks.&nbsp;

India registered their first victory in the Asian Cup since 1964 on Sunday at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. India's star player Sunil Chhetri, who was playing in his second Asian Cup, scored twice as India defeated Thailand 4-1.

India registered their first victory in the Asian Cup since 1964 on Sunday at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. India's star player Sunil Chhetri, who was playing in his second Asian Cup, scored twice as India defeated Thailand 4-1. Midfielder Anirudha Thapa and second-half substitute Jeje Lalpekhlua were the other scorers. Also Read: All you need to know about Asian Cup 2019 Besides winning the match, Chhetri went past Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, who has so far scored 65 goals from 128 matches. Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest scorer with 85 from 154 matches. 🆕 Biggest ever Asian Cup win for the Indians! What an achievement to KO the Blue Tigers’ #AsianCup2019 campaign! 🐯 pic.twitter.com/fsXo4QB586 — #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) January 6, 2019 × The 34-year-old Chhetri, who was playing his 105th match, also become the highest Indian scorer in the Asian Cup, surpassing former player Inder Singh. Inder Singh scored twice in the 1964 edition when the country had finished runners-up. This is India's fourth participation in the Asian Cup and the win against Thailand was Blue Tigers' third win in 11 matches. The country won two matches and lost one in the 1964 edition in Israel, competed by just four countries, then lost three and drawn one in 1984 and were beaten in all their three group matches in 2011. A draw in either of the two coming matches against UAE and Bahrain could see India through to the knockout round. The match was watched by the 12 Thai schoolboys rescued from a flooded jungle cave last year after being trapped for more than two weeks.

Asian Cup 2019: India's win over Thailand is their first victory in 55 years

India cruised past Thailand 4-1 in Group A at the AFC Asian Cup to register their first victory in the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-cup-2019-india-register-first-win-in-55-years-188584">Asian Cup since 1964</a>.&nbsp;

Sunil Chhetri and co. celebrated the win with the fans at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The video went viral, in which team India spotted celebrating with the fans and doing the famous Viking clap.

The video was posted via Twitter with a caption, "Nothing beats postmatch celebrations with the fans."

India captain Chhetri, who was playing in his second Asian Cup, made no mistake from the penalty spot after Theerathon Bunmathan's handball in the 26th minute.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/all-you-need-to-know-about-asian-cup-2019-188242">All you need to know about&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/all-you-need-to-know-about-asian-cup-2019-188242">Asian</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/all-you-need-to-know-about-asian-cup-2019-188242">&nbsp;Cup 2019</a>

Chhetri found the net again in the 46th minute, Anirudh Thapa added a third on 68 minutes and substitute Jeje Lalpekhlua rounded off a perfect start to the tournament for India 10 minutes from time.

The video went viral, in which team India spotted celebrating with the fans.

Watch the video here:&nbsp;

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Nothing beats postmatch celebrations with the fans 👏🇮🇳! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsianCup2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsianCup2019</a> <a href="https://t.co/JFbAxuHKTS">pic.twitter.com/JFbAxuHKTS</a>
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Chhetri went past the Argentine superstar in the list of goals scored by an active footballer on the international arena, leading, as he has so many times done, his country to its first win in the AFC Asian Cup since 1964.&nbsp;

He was modesty personified after going past (in terms of goals scored at least) one of the modern day's greatest footballers.&nbsp;

"Records don't matter, it doesn't matter who scores the goals. Whoever scores the jubilation was the same. I'm glad we got all three points," Chhetri said after the sensational 4-1 result against Thailand, the team that featured three J-League players in its ranks.

India cruised past Thailand 4-1 in Group A at the AFC Asian Cup to register their first victory in the Asian Cup since 1964. Sunil Chhetri and co. celebrated the win with the fans at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

India cruised past Thailand 4-1 in Group A at the AFC Asian Cup to register their first victory in the Asian Cup since 1964. Sunil Chhetri and co. celebrated the win with the fans at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The video went viral, in which team India spotted celebrating with the fans and doing the famous Viking clap. The video was posted via Twitter with a caption, "Nothing beats postmatch celebrations with the fans." India captain Chhetri, who was playing in his second Asian Cup, made no mistake from the penalty spot after Theerathon Bunmathan's handball in the 26th minute. Also Read: All you need to know about Asian Cup 2019 Chhetri found the net again in the 46th minute, Anirudh Thapa added a third on 68 minutes and substitute Jeje Lalpekhlua rounded off a perfect start to the tournament for India 10 minutes from time. The video went viral, in which team India spotted celebrating with the fans. Watch the video here: Nothing beats postmatch celebrations with the fans 👏🇮🇳! #AsianCup2019 pic.twitter.com/JFbAxuHKTS — #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) January 6, 2019 × Chhetri went past the Argentine superstar in the list of goals scored by an active footballer on the international arena, leading, as he has so many times done, his country to its first win in the AFC Asian Cup since 1964. He was modesty personified after going past (in terms of goals scored at least) one of the modern day's greatest footballers. "Records don't matter, it doesn't matter who scores the goals. Whoever scores the jubilation was the same. I'm glad we got all three points," Chhetri said after the sensational 4-1 result against Thailand, the team that featured three J-League players in its ranks.

Watch: Sunil Chhetri-led team celebrates with fan after historic Asian Cup win

To say Sunil Chhetri and Lionel Messi in the same breath is more than a little odd is what the talismanic Indian striker himself felt once or twice.&nbsp;

On Sunday, he went past the Argentine superstar in the list of goals scored by an active footballer on the international arena, leading, as he has so many times done, his country to its first win in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-cup-2019-india-register-first-win-in-55-years-188584">the AFC Asian Cup since 1964</a>.&nbsp;

He was modesty personified after going past (in terms of goals scored at least) one of the modern day's greatest footballers.&nbsp;

"Records don't matter, it doesn't matter who scores the goals. Whoever scores the jubilation was the same. I'm glad we got all three points," Chhetri said after the sensational 4-1 result against Thailand, the team that featured three J-League players in its ranks.&nbsp;

The 34-year-old Chhetri scored a world-class goal -- his second of the game -- but he preferred to talk everything else but his strike, which became a talking point for Indian football fans.&nbsp;

"I can think about my goals some ten years later," he maintained post-match.&nbsp;

"At the moment, we need to focus. The goals need to come and it just doesn't matter who scores," he stated.&nbsp;

"You can see the jubilation and happiness whenever someone scores. I am so happy for the boys. Every one of them ran and defended for their lives."&nbsp;

Playing in his second Asian Cup and 105th match, Chhetri scored in the 27th (penalty) and 46th minutes for his 66th and 67th goals to become the second highest international scorer.&nbsp;

With 85 strikes from 154 games, only Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo remains ahead of the Indian at the moment.&nbsp;

But Chhetri would rather talk about the difficult upcoming engagements.&nbsp;

"It's a tough pool when we started thinking, we felt that all the others were more experienced and better than us. But the manner the boys fought, it shows a lot of character. I have said this before, we are a very difficult team to play against," he maintained.&nbsp;

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The NEW second highest (active) International goalscorer <a href="https://twitter.com/chetrisunil11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chetrisunil11</a> 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 <a href="https://t.co/8lLG1XrIAv">pic.twitter.com/8lLG1XrIAv</a>
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"We may not be the most technical team but we will fight till the end, and that's what the boys showed.&nbsp;

Looking at the statistics and the goal-scoring comparisons between him and them (Messi and Ronaldo), Chhetri had said last year, "It's not even fair. The two players who are above me are completely world stars. I am a big fan of Messi and Ronaldo. There is a massive difference between them and us.&nbsp;

here is no comparison at all." 
On Sunday, after his team's convincing victory, Chhetri was all praise for the passing abilities of Thailand.&nbsp;

"They were very good with the ball. We saw that in the first half. We knew that if we allowed them space they would just be passing around the whole park and we may not even touch the ball. So we stayed close.&nbsp;

"The goals came in the right times and it helped a lot."&nbsp;

On the many fans that turned up to back the Indian team, he said, "The onus was on them... We expect so much from them, they have made us so used to all the support. I hope in the coming matches also we can give them things to cheer."

To say Sunil Chhetri and Lionel Messi in the same breath is more than a little odd is what the talismanic Indian striker himself felt once or twice. On Sunday, he went past the Argentine superstar in the list of goals scored by an active footballer on the international arena, leading, as he has so many times done, his country to its first win in the AFC Asian Cup since 1964.

To say Sunil Chhetri and Lionel Messi in the same breath is more than a little odd is what the talismanic Indian striker himself felt once or twice. On Sunday, he went past the Argentine superstar in the list of goals scored by an active footballer on the international arena, leading, as he has so many times done, his country to its first win in the AFC Asian Cup since 1964. He was modesty personified after going past (in terms of goals scored at least) one of the modern day's greatest footballers. "Records don't matter, it doesn't matter who scores the goals. Whoever scores the jubilation was the same. I'm glad we got all three points," Chhetri said after the sensational 4-1 result against Thailand, the team that featured three J-League players in its ranks. The 34-year-old Chhetri scored a world-class goal -- his second of the game -- but he preferred to talk everything else but his strike, which became a talking point for Indian football fans. "I can think about my goals some ten years later," he maintained post-match. "At the moment, we need to focus. The goals need to come and it just doesn't matter who scores," he stated. "You can see the jubilation and happiness whenever someone scores. I am so happy for the boys. Every one of them ran and defended for their lives." Playing in his second Asian Cup and 105th match, Chhetri scored in the 27th (penalty) and 46th minutes for his 66th and 67th goals to become the second highest international scorer. With 85 strikes from 154 games, only Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo remains ahead of the Indian at the moment. But Chhetri would rather talk about the difficult upcoming engagements. "It's a tough pool when we started thinking, we felt that all the others were more experienced and better than us. But the manner the boys fought, it shows a lot of character. I have said this before, we are a very difficult team to play against," he maintained. The NEW second highest (active) International goalscorer @chetrisunil11 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/8lLG1XrIAv — #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) January 6, 2019 × "We may not be the most technical team but we will fight till the end, and that's what the boys showed. Looking at the statistics and the goal-scoring comparisons between him and them (Messi and Ronaldo), Chhetri had said last year, "It's not even fair. The two players who are above me are completely world stars. I am a big fan of Messi and Ronaldo. There is a massive difference between them and us. here is no comparison at all." On Sunday, after his team's convincing victory, Chhetri was all praise for the passing abilities of Thailand. "They were very good with the ball. We saw that in the first half. We knew that if we allowed them space they would just be passing around the whole park and we may not even touch the ball. So we stayed close. "The goals came in the right times and it helped a lot." On the many fans that turned up to back the Indian team, he said, "The onus was on them... We expect so much from them, they have made us so used to all the support. I hope in the coming matches also we can give them things to cheer."

Asian Cup 2019: Whoever scores jubilation remains same, says Sunil Chhetri

Cricket-mad India stunned Thailand 4-1 at the Asian Cup football tournament on Sunday, veteran striker Sunil Chhetri scoring twice in their Group A opener.

Watched by the 12 Thai schoolboys rescued from a flooded jungle cave last year after being trapped for more than two weeks, the War Elephants had little answer to India's brimming energy in Abu Dhabi.

Chhetri opened the scoring when he smashed home from the penalty spot after 27 minutes.

The Blue Tigers were in front for just seven minutes, Thai captain Teerasil Dangda restoring parity by bravely heading home a Theerathon Bunmathan free kick.

But Chhetri drilled his second of the game moments into the second half following a lung-bursting run down the right from Udanta Singh.

Things got worse for Thailand when Anirudh Thapa chipped in a third in the 68th minute before substitute Lalpekhlua Jeje completed the rout to leave India as unlikely group leaders.

Hosts United Arab Emirates were held 1-1 by Bahrain in Saturday's curtain-raiser.

Cricket-mad India stunned Thailand 4-1 at the Asian Cup football tournament on Sunday, veteran striker Sunil Chhetri scoring twice in their Group A opener. Watched by the 12 Thai schoolboys rescued from a flooded jungle cave last year after being trapped for more than two weeks, the War Elephants had little answer to India's brimming energy in Abu Dhabi.

Cricket-mad India stunned Thailand 4-1 at the Asian Cup football tournament on Sunday, veteran striker Sunil Chhetri scoring twice in their Group A opener. Watched by the 12 Thai schoolboys rescued from a flooded jungle cave last year after being trapped for more than two weeks, the War Elephants had little answer to India's brimming energy in Abu Dhabi. Chhetri opened the scoring when he smashed home from the penalty spot after 27 minutes. The Blue Tigers were in front for just seven minutes, Thai captain Teerasil Dangda restoring parity by bravely heading home a Theerathon Bunmathan free kick. But Chhetri drilled his second of the game moments into the second half following a lung-bursting run down the right from Udanta Singh. Things got worse for Thailand when Anirudh Thapa chipped in a third in the 68th minute before substitute Lalpekhlua Jeje completed the rout to leave India as unlikely group leaders. Hosts United Arab Emirates were held 1-1 by Bahrain in Saturday's curtain-raiser.

Asian Cup 2019: Sunil Chhetri strikes twice as India beat Thailand 4-1

The 2019 AFC Asian Cup, the 17th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, will be held in the United Arab Emirates from January 5 to February 1, 2019. The 16-team format, which was used from 2004 to 2015, has been expanded and now, for the first time, the Asian Cup tournament will be contested by 24 teams.

AFC Asian Cup 2019: Schedule, Time and Venue

The Palestinian football team are taking part in their second-ever&nbsp;AsianCup&nbsp;in the coming days, and team members born in various parts of the world are hoping to spring a few surprises.

The team qualified four years ago for the first time but crashed out in ignominious fashion, losing all three games to an aggregate score of 11-1.

This year, with the help of several players from the Palestinian diaspora, they hope to do better.

Around five million Palestinians live in the blockaded Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank, but&nbsp;around another six million are estimated to live elsewhere.

Chilean defender Alexis Norambuena said the players speak in a mix of languages to understand each other.

"Football is a way to give some joy to the people and for us to represent them in this&nbsp;cup&nbsp;that is quite important for the country," he said.

"We aim to represent them and give them enough joy so the people can be entertained a bit."

The tournament begins in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.

Back home in the West Bank, football lovers are also willing their players on to new heights.

At a recent second division league game, player Sameh Sheikha told AFP that the team's participation "represents a country at a time when we are still living under occupation."

"We hope the team achieves good results this time, because the team has become stronger than before," he said.

There are perhaps cautious reasons for optimism.&nbsp;

Despite being made up of mostly amateurs, the team beat Bhutan 10-0 on aggregate to qualify for the tournament.&nbsp;

This and other good results saw them rise to a record high 75th in the FIFA world rankings, though they have since slipped back to 99th.

'Surprise them'

Palestinians say that Israeli restrictions on players' movements limit potential, whether that means checkpoints in the West Bank or the blockade on Gaza, where Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008.

Sport is also an area where Palestinians seek to advance their cause.

Their football federation has been a member of FIFA since 1998 and plays in the&nbsp;Asian&nbsp;Football Confederation.

The Palestinians were also granted the status of UN non-member observer state in 2012.

This year's&nbsp;Asian&nbsp;Cup&nbsp;side has a little more of an international feel.

They are led by an Algerian coach and among those donning the red jersey in the Emirates is Yashir Pinto, a Chilean who qualifies for the team due to his Palestinian ancestors.

Another Chilean with Palestinian roots on the team, Jonathan Zorrilla Cantillana, said "I think we are preparing in a very good way and we will try to create a surprise, to surprise them with the training we got here, and I think we will arrive well prepared at the&nbsp;cup."

The bookkeepers still see Palestine as very much outside shots.

While regional giants Japan, South Korea and Iran are again among the favourites, Palestine have odds as high as 2,000 to one.

Their group is also a little daunting, with a game against Jordan followed by matches against group favourites Australia and Syria.

Yet while few expect them to have any chance of coming home with the&nbsp;cup, in the Palestinian territories there is optimism.

"The national team is a source of pride, and it is competing at the&nbsp;Asianlevel. This confirms the progress of the level of our sport," said Mohamed Sulaiman, a football coach in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

"Our team is strong and we hope we can achieve something."

In Qatar, Norambuena said "it's very nice to have these days to get to know each other more and we hope this will help us do good in this&nbsp;cup."

The Palestinian football team are taking part in their second-ever AsianCup in the coming days, and team members born in various parts of the world are hoping to spring a few surprises.

The Palestinian football team are taking part in their second-ever AsianCup in the coming days, and team members born in various parts of the world are hoping to spring a few surprises. The team qualified four years ago for the first time but crashed out in ignominious fashion, losing all three games to an aggregate score of 11-1. This year, with the help of several players from the Palestinian diaspora, they hope to do better. Around five million Palestinians live in the blockaded Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank, but around another six million are estimated to live elsewhere. Chilean defender Alexis Norambuena said the players speak in a mix of languages to understand each other. "Football is a way to give some joy to the people and for us to represent them in this cup that is quite important for the country," he said. "We aim to represent them and give them enough joy so the people can be entertained a bit." The tournament begins in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday. Back home in the West Bank, football lovers are also willing their players on to new heights. At a recent second division league game, player Sameh Sheikha told AFP that the team's participation "represents a country at a time when we are still living under occupation." "We hope the team achieves good results this time, because the team has become stronger than before," he said. There are perhaps cautious reasons for optimism. Despite being made up of mostly amateurs, the team beat Bhutan 10-0 on aggregate to qualify for the tournament. This and other good results saw them rise to a record high 75th in the FIFA world rankings, though they have since slipped back to 99th. 'Surprise them' Palestinians say that Israeli restrictions on players' movements limit potential, whether that means checkpoints in the West Bank or the blockade on Gaza, where Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008. Sport is also an area where Palestinians seek to advance their cause. Their football federation has been a member of FIFA since 1998 and plays in the Asian Football Confederation. The Palestinians were also granted the status of UN non-member observer state in 2012. This year's Asian Cup side has a little more of an international feel. They are led by an Algerian coach and among those donning the red jersey in the Emirates is Yashir Pinto, a Chilean who qualifies for the team due to his Palestinian ancestors. Another Chilean with Palestinian roots on the team, Jonathan Zorrilla Cantillana, said "I think we are preparing in a very good way and we will try to create a surprise, to surprise them with the training we got here, and I think we will arrive well prepared at the cup." The bookkeepers still see Palestine as very much outside shots. While regional giants Japan, South Korea and Iran are again among the favourites, Palestine have odds as high as 2,000 to one. Their group is also a little daunting, with a game against Jordan followed by matches against group favourites Australia and Syria. Yet while few expect them to have any chance of coming home with the cup, in the Palestinian territories there is optimism. "The national team is a source of pride, and it is competing at the Asianlevel. This confirms the progress of the level of our sport," said Mohamed Sulaiman, a football coach in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "Our team is strong and we hope we can achieve something." In Qatar, Norambuena said "it's very nice to have these days to get to know each other more and we hope this will help us do good in this cup."

With help from diaspora, Palestinians hope for Asian Cup surprise

India captain Sunil Chhetri backs the squad's young core to play out of their skins and test their Asian Cup opponents when they kick-start their campaign on Sunday.

Coach Stephen Constantine has selected a 23-man squad whose average age is below 25 as India look to improve on their last appearance in 2011 when they were knocked out in the group stage.

"Apart from me and Gurpreet (Singh), it's a first-time experience for all else," Chhetri told the All India Football Federation website. "Everyone is ready to grab this opportunity.

"I can assure you that it won't be an easy job for other teams to face us.

"We are a team who hate to lose, and we have proven it in recent times. We are working as per the plan."

India face Thailand in their Group A opener in Abu Dhabi on Sunday before taking on hosts United Arab Emirates (Jan. 10) and Bahrain (Jan. 14).

"At the moment, our sole focus is on our opening fixture, the game against Thailand," Chhetri said. "We know that Thailand will be a very tough opponent and we are concentrating only on them.

"We are not looking (at) anything beyond that. There are matches against UAE and Bahrain lined up but we will think about them only when they come."

India captain Sunil Chhetri backs the squad's young core to play out of their skins and test their Asian Cup opponents when they kick-start their campaign on Sunday.

India captain Sunil Chhetri backs the squad's young core to play out of their skins and test their Asian Cup opponents when they kick-start their campaign on Sunday. Coach Stephen Constantine has selected a 23-man squad whose average age is below 25 as India look to improve on their last appearance in 2011 when they were knocked out in the group stage. "Apart from me and Gurpreet (Singh), it's a first-time experience for all else," Chhetri told the All India Football Federation website. "Everyone is ready to grab this opportunity. "I can assure you that it won't be an easy job for other teams to face us. "We are a team who hate to lose, and we have proven it in recent times. We are working as per the plan." India face Thailand in their Group A opener in Abu Dhabi on Sunday before taking on hosts United Arab Emirates (Jan. 10) and Bahrain (Jan. 14). "At the moment, our sole focus is on our opening fixture, the game against Thailand," Chhetri said. "We know that Thailand will be a very tough opponent and we are concentrating only on them. "We are not looking (at) anything beyond that. There are matches against UAE and Bahrain lined up but we will think about them only when they come."

Asian Cup 2019: Youthful India will prove handful in Asian Cup, says Sunil Chhetri

The 17th Asian Cup tournament, to be held in the United Arab Emirates from January 5 to February 1.

Here is all you need to know about the tournament:

-The Asian Cup is the pre-eminent football tournament in the vast continent, although it had inauspicious beginnings in 1956 when four teams played a round-robin tournament in Hong Kong, two years after the Asian Football Confederation was formed.

-Hong Kong's Chang Chi Kong scored the competition's first goal in front of 30,000 spectators against Israel, who won the game 3-2. South Korea went on to win the title ahead of Israel with the hosts third and South Vietnam fourth.

-It is the second oldest continental football tournament in the world behind South America's Copa America, which began in 1916.

-The tournament has been dominated by the traditional powerhouses of Asian football with Japan having won the most titles - their fourth coming in a 1-0 victory over Australia in 2011.

-Israel won the title in 1964 and finished third in 1968 but did not take part in Asian competition after 1974 due to political issues with Arab nations. It moved to UEFA in 1994.

-South Korea won the first two tournaments and were losing finalists in 2015.

-Iran won three successive titles from 1968-1976 - their only victories in the competition - and are still the only side to win three successive tournaments. They finished third in 1980.

-Saudi Arabia won successive titles in 1984 and 1988 but were beaten 1-0 by hosts Japan in the 1992 final. The Saudis then won the 1996 title on penalties against hosts UAE.

-Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning coach Carlos Alberto Perreira has won the tournament twice, with Kuwait in 1980 and Saudi Arabia in 1988, and is the only coach to win two titles. UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni could match him in 2019 having led Japan to their 2011 triumph.

-Iran centre forward Ali Daei holds the record for most goals in the tournament, scoring eight times in 1996, four of which were in the 6-2 demolition of South Korea in the quarter-finals. Daei also holds the career record of 14 goals.

-The tournament was held on a four-yearly basis until 2004, when the AFC decided to change the timing to avoid clashing with the Summer Olympics and the European Championships.

-The next tournament was jointly hosted by Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia in 2007 - the only time hosting rights were granted to more than one country. It was later called a 'mistake' by then AFC president Mohammed Bin Hammam.

-Australia became part of the Asian Confederation after the 2006 World Cup and won the title on home soil in 2015.

-The tournament was expanded from 16 to 24 teams for the 2019 edition. Kyrgyzstan, Philippines and Yemen will make their Asian Cup debuts in the UAE.

-The United Arab Emirates will be hosting the tournament for the second time after edging out Iran in the bidding. They were runners-up on home soil in 1996.

-Eight stadiums will host matches: Zayed Sports City Stadium, Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium and Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium and Al-Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium and Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain as well as Sharjah Stadium.

-The Zayed Sports City Stadium, which was built in 1980 and has a capacity of 45,000, will host eight matches, including the opener on Jan. 5 between the hosts and Bahrain and the final on Feb. 1.

-The winners of the tournament will represent Asia in the 2021 Confederations Cup.

The 17th Asian Cup tournament, to be held in the United Arab Emirates from January 5 to February 1. Here is all you need to know about the tournament: -The Asian Cup is the pre-eminent football tournament in the vast continent, although it had inauspicious beginnings in 1956 when four teams played a round-robin tournament in Hong Kong, two years after the Asian Football Confederation was formed.

The 17th Asian Cup tournament, to be held in the United Arab Emirates from January 5 to February 1. Here is all you need to know about the tournament: -The Asian Cup is the pre-eminent football tournament in the vast continent, although it had inauspicious beginnings in 1956 when four teams played a round-robin tournament in Hong Kong, two years after the Asian Football Confederation was formed. -Hong Kong's Chang Chi Kong scored the competition's first goal in front of 30,000 spectators against Israel, who won the game 3-2. South Korea went on to win the title ahead of Israel with the hosts third and South Vietnam fourth. -It is the second oldest continental football tournament in the world behind South America's Copa America, which began in 1916. -The tournament has been dominated by the traditional powerhouses of Asian football with Japan having won the most titles - their fourth coming in a 1-0 victory over Australia in 2011. -Israel won the title in 1964 and finished third in 1968 but did not take part in Asian competition after 1974 due to political issues with Arab nations. It moved to UEFA in 1994. -South Korea won the first two tournaments and were losing finalists in 2015. -Iran won three successive titles from 1968-1976 - their only victories in the competition - and are still the only side to win three successive tournaments. They finished third in 1980. -Saudi Arabia won successive titles in 1984 and 1988 but were beaten 1-0 by hosts Japan in the 1992 final. The Saudis then won the 1996 title on penalties against hosts UAE. -Brazil's 1994 World Cup winning coach Carlos Alberto Perreira has won the tournament twice, with Kuwait in 1980 and Saudi Arabia in 1988, and is the only coach to win two titles. UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni could match him in 2019 having led Japan to their 2011 triumph. -Iran centre forward Ali Daei holds the record for most goals in the tournament, scoring eight times in 1996, four of which were in the 6-2 demolition of South Korea in the quarter-finals. Daei also holds the career record of 14 goals. -The tournament was held on a four-yearly basis until 2004, when the AFC decided to change the timing to avoid clashing with the Summer Olympics and the European Championships. -The next tournament was jointly hosted by Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia in 2007 - the only time hosting rights were granted to more than one country. It was later called a 'mistake' by then AFC president Mohammed Bin Hammam. -Australia became part of the Asian Confederation after the 2006 World Cup and won the title on home soil in 2015. -The tournament was expanded from 16 to 24 teams for the 2019 edition. Kyrgyzstan, Philippines and Yemen will make their Asian Cup debuts in the UAE. -The United Arab Emirates will be hosting the tournament for the second time after edging out Iran in the bidding. They were runners-up on home soil in 1996. -Eight stadiums will host matches: Zayed Sports City Stadium, Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium and Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium and Al-Maktoum Stadium in Dubai, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium and Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain as well as Sharjah Stadium. -The Zayed Sports City Stadium, which was built in 1980 and has a capacity of 45,000, will host eight matches, including the opener on Jan. 5 between the hosts and Bahrain and the final on Feb. 1. -The winners of the tournament will represent Asia in the 2021 Confederations Cup.

All you need to know about Asian Cup 2019

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