All in readiness: Igor Stimac (l), who's banned from the touchline, with Sunil Chhetri in coaching forward of the semifinal.| Photo Credit: Okay. MURALI KUMAR

One of the explanations the 2023 SAFF Championship welcomed two West Asian sides in Kuwait and Lebanon was to make the event extra aggressive. India, in spite of everything, had received eight of the previous 13 editions, and the presence of a few evenly matched groups will surely enliven proceedings.

The India-Kuwait recreation on Tuesday match the billing, and India practically edged the competition earlier than an unlucky personal aim denied it a well-known win. On Saturday on the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, the hope is for one more feisty encounter because the hosts will look to place one throughout Lebanon within the semifinals.

Recent historical past means that India has the sting, having crushed Lebanon within the Intercontinental Cup last a fortnight in the past and drawn the opposite group stage recreation in Bhubaneswar. Form-wise, India can take coronary heart from the efficiency towards Kuwait the place it was the higher workforce for big chunks of the match.

India pressed excessive up the pitch, attacked in droves and transitioned excellently from defence to offence. Sunil Chhetri up entrance, the wingers in Naorem Mahesh and Lallianzuala Chhangte, and the defenders in Akash Mishra and Anwar Ali have been all glorious.

However, towards Lebanon, Chhetri & Co. must do with out Sandesh Jhingan in defence and head coach Igor Stimac on the touchline. The towering Jhingan, who performed a pivotal function within the 1-1 draw towards Kuwait, is suspended after choosing up his second yellow card. Stimac is banned after his second crimson in as many matches.

That Lebanon shall be eager to avenge the Intercontinental Cup loss will add spice. The Aleksandar Ilic-coached outfit topped Group-B with three wins out of three and the Serbian’s promise of “Total Football” indicated that his wards will play to win.

“There are no secrets any more [between the teams],” declared Ilic on Friday. “We are really motivated and I am pushing my players psychologically to make them believe we can succeed. It will be very important that we score the first goal. That will help us end the semifinal in a positive way.”

In the opposite semifinal, Bangladesh will tackle Kuwait.