Doha, January 12 (QNA) - Croatian Igor Stimac, coach of the Indian national team, stressed the difficulty of the match against Australia on Saturday in the first round of the group stage of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.

Stimac said today in the press conference for the match that it will be a difficult confrontation against the Australian team, a team with great capabilities and professional players at a distinguished level.

The coach of the Indian team stressed the readiness of his team for the start of the tournament, indicating that the players are very excited to play their first match in the Asian Cup, and hoping they give their best.

He noted also that a lot of players are in the tournament for the first time, after introducing new players to the team, and he hopes that they will perform well.

"We lost a key part of our quality in four players who are not only first team but ones that gave us physicality. Not having those players is a loss but on the other hand, it's a chance for others to show that they can represent India at such a high level," he added.

The Croatian coach revealed that there is a strategy for the development of football in India, and reaching the top of the football pyramid at the Asian level, and stressed the need for humility in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, considering that development requires time and a lot of work to reach the desired goals.

India will play in Group B, which also includes Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria, and will begin its adventure in the tournament by facing Australia on Saturday in the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, then Uzbekistan on Jan.18 in the same stadium before the game with the Syrian team, at the end of the group stage at the Al Bayt Stadium on Jan. 23. (QNA)