King's Cup 2023: Sandesh Jhingan says defeats not a setback, India on right track for AFC Asian Cup

India’s 11-game winning streak came to an end in the 2023 King’s Cup in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as the Blue Tigers suffered back-to-back defeats to Iraq and Lebanon to bow out without a medal. India’s last defeat before coming to Thailand had come in September 2022 against Vietnam. India were the better team against World No. 70 Iraq and twice took the lead before squandering them and losing narrowly 5-4 on penalties. Against 100th ranked Lebanon, whom India had beaten twice this year, the Blues created plenty of chances but failed to convert them and lost 1-0. King’s Cup 2023: Two defeats give India the right perspective ahead of Asian Cup India felt the goal against Lebanon should have been disallowed for offside. Even the second penalty awarded to Iraq was deemed questionable. India’s foremost defender and captain in Sunday’s third-place match against Lebanon, Sandesh Jhingan, in his assessment of the tournament, said that the 99th ranked team gave a “good account of themselves.” “In all friendlies, you need to move ahead in a positive direction. That was the target in this game (vs Lebanon). I think what we missed out on in the last game against Iraq, we gave a great account of ourselves and we wanted to improve from that game and if you look from that perspective, I think we were very good. We held the ball very well, we created a lot of chances and that is a positive. As for the goal, I still need to see it (in replay) but I genuinely hope it’s onside, I genuinely hope there was no foul on Anwar (Ali). From what I remember from the pitch, it was a clear foul on Anwar and I felt it was offside as well,” Jhingan told Firstpost after the game.

But I am and will always be proud of this group because I know the potential of this squad. We keep getting better.
Sky is the limit and We are in this together 🇮🇳

Thank you for all for the support 🇮🇳💙💙

— Sandesh Jhingan (@SandeshJhingan) September 7, 2023

“If that’s the case, then if you look at these two games. Nothing against Iraq and Lebanon and refereeing is also a tough job but if you lose two games because of a penalty that was never a penalty and given a corner which in my opinion was clearly a foul. If you lose two games based on these decisions, I won’t let my boys feel so bad about it.” King’s Cup 2023: A loss that feels almost like a win for India against Iraq The 30-year-old centre-back went on to say that India are currently playing like one of the “finest” sides in Asia. “Anyone watching football for the first time anywhere in the world, if he sees how India are playing, he would regard India as one of the finest teams in Asia. I am not getting too arrogant or carried away. I think we are on the right track and it’s a process. It started four years ago, so we were there when we were losing regularly and there was a lot of criticism but we kept on believing in each other, we kept the belief in the system of the coach, the way he wanted us to play,” he added before being interrupted by the Lebanese players’ celebration who played music on full volume in the post-match interview area.

Lebanon 🇱🇧 secure a hard-fought solitary goal victory over India 🇮🇳 at full-time.#LBNIND ⚔️ #49thKingsCup2023 🏆#BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/nS9pVfp5jl

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 10, 2023

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The victory over India was Lebanon’s first in four attempts this year. This led to a candid reaction by Jhingan. “This is the difference. Two years ago they won’t be celebrating like this. A country like Lebanon who thinks they are better than us, in the last three months we showed them who is the boss, and today they won with that goal,” the FC Goa player reacted. The King’s Cup was an important pit stop for India on their way to the AFC Asian Cup in January next year where they are slated to play against World No. 38 Australia, Uzbekistan (74) and Syria (94) in the group stage. Jhingan said India are on the “right track” for the continental event and that the Igor Stimac-coached side has taken giant strides.

WE WILL RETURN 💪🏼

Two narrow defeats in #49thKingsCup2023 🏆 won't deter us from pursuing our goal.#BlueTigers 🐯 will continue to make everyone dream 💙🇮🇳#LBNIND ⚔️ #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/ap4jzLgGzu

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 10, 2023

“It’s (Asian Cup preparation) going well. Of course, you feel disappointed when you lose a game but when you take a backseat and look at why we played these games: to play on foreign soil, in difficult conditions, and (to) test yourself. We played against Iraq who are seventh in Asia and we almost beat them. Based on that there were a lot of positives so that keeps us on the right track. “Of course, this is a tournament but it’s basically friendlies. You play these games to test yourselves and see where you are. I think we are on a really good track, we are improving a lot. I have a lot of positive feelings (based on) the way we are going. Just keep believing, and stay positive. Decisions will go against you every now and then but I am super proud. “Since I made my debut in 2013 I always kept saying this is the time for India. From 175 to now, I think we have taken big strides. Just have to keep going, sky is the limit. 40 years down the line, when we will talk to our grandchildren about this whole revolution, we will say we were part of it,” he signed off.