The Intercontinental Cup 2023 will start on June 9 and conclude on June 18. 

The Intercontinental Cup is a four-nation football tournament which is organised by the All India football federation (AIFF). 

Hosts India, Mongolia, Lebanon and Vanuatu are the four teams that will feature in the upcoming edition of the tournament.

According to the FIFA rankings, Lebanon are the top-ranked team (99) in the tournament, followed by India (101) and Vanuatu (164). Meanwhile, Mongolia (183) will be the lowest-ranked side in the competition.

All matches of Intercontinental Cup 2023 will be played at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.

As per the format of the tournament, each team will play the other sides in a round-robin format. Every participating team will play at least a total of three matches. The top two teams in the standings will lock horns in the Intercontinental Cup 2023 final on Sunday, June 18.

The Intercontinental Cup was introduced by AIFF as a replacement for the Nehru Cup in 2018. 

Led by their talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri, India beat Kenya 2-0 in the 2018 final to clinch the inaugural Intercontinental Cup held in Mumbai.

Under head coach Igor Stimac, the 25-man Indian squad will once again be led by Sunil Chhetri in the upcoming edition. Chhetri is also the leading goal-scorer in the history of the competition with 11 strikes.

Interestingly, North Korea won the last edition of the Intercontinental Cup in 2019. 

Indian football squad for Intercontinental Cup 2023

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh

Defenders: Subhasish Bose, Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, Akash Mishra, Mehtab Singh and Rahul Bheke

Midfielders: Liston Colaco, Ashique Kuruniyan, Rohit Kumar, Udanta Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Jeakson Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Lalengmawia Ralte, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rowllin Borges and Nandha Kumar

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Rahim Ali and Ishan Pandita

Where to watch the Intercontinental Cup 2023 live in India?

The Intercontinental Cup 2023 will be telecast live on Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 2 HD TV channels in India.

Live streaming of the Intercontinental Cup 2023 will be available on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website.

Intercontinental Cup 2023 schedule and live India match times

All match times are in India Standard Time (IST)

Friday, June 9

Lebanon vs Vanuatu - 4:30 PM

India vs Mongolia - 7:30 PM

Monday, June 12

Mongolia vs Lebanon - 4:30 PM

Vanuatu vs India - 7:30 PM

Thursday, June 15

Vanuatu vs Mongolia - 4:30 PM

India vs Lebanon - 7:30 PM

Sunday, June 18

Intercontinental Cup 2023 final - 7:30 PM

Photo credit: Alamy

Kerala Blasters FC’s Albino Gomes created history as he became the only goalkeeper to save four penalties in a single Indian Super League (ISL) season.

Albino Gomes has now made the most penalty saves (5) in the history of ISL. He achieved this incredible feat when he saved a crucial penalty taken by Mumbai City FC talisman Hugo Boumous in their 2-0 loss at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Goa on January 2, 2021.

The only goalkeeper to save 3️⃣ penalties in a single #HeroISL season - Albino Gomes #LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/2xt6oObFcC

�?Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) January 7, 2021

Most penalty saves in each ISL season

Name	Season	Matches	Penalty saved
Mohammad Nawaz (Mumbai City FC)	2021-22	17	2
Albino Gomes (Kerala Blasters)	2020-21	19	4
Gurpreet Sandhu (Bengaluru FC)	2019-20	17	2
Subrata Paul (Jamshedpur FC)	2018-19	15	2
Karanjit Singh (Chennaiyin FC)	2017-18	17	2
Debjit Majumder (ATK)	2016	13	2
Apoula Edel (Chennaiyin FC)	2015	10	1
Arindam Bhattacharjee (FC Pune City)	2014	11	2

The Goa-born shot-stopper has been one of the few consistent performers for the Tuskers in the ISL 2020-21 season, saving penalties against NorthEast United, Chennaiyin FC and Bengaluru FC. His only other penalty save came in the 2017-18 season when he was plying his trade for the now-defunct Delhi Dynamos, stopping the penalty shot of Jamshedpur FC’s Andre Bikey.

SC East Bengal’s Debjit Majumder is second in the all-time penalty saves list, having made three penalty saves in seven attempts while former Odisha FC goalie Francisco Dorronsoro is in the third spot with three saves in nine attempts. SC East Bengal’s Arindam Bhattacharya is the fourth place having made three penalty saves in 10 attempts and Karanjit Singh of Chennaiyin FC completes the top five list with three penalty saves in 10 attempts.

Most penalty saves made by a goalkeeper in ISL history

Name	Club	Matches	Penalty saved	Ratio
Albino Gomes	Kerala Blasters	37	5	45.5%
Debjit Majumder	Chennaiyin FC	52	3	42.9%
Francisco Dorronsoro	Odisha FC	25	3	33.3%
Arindam Bhattacharya	SC East Bengal	84	3	30%
Karanjit Singh	Chennaiyin FC	46	3	30%

A penalty save can turn a goalkeeper into a one-game hero but saving several important penalty kicks can turn a shot-stopper into a club legend or a national hero. Albino Gomes has on numerous occasions become a penalty-saving hero for the Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/AlbinoGomes07

It was only around two months ago that 20-year-old goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem was called up for senior Indian football team. The momentous occasion that it was, by his own admission, the National team call-up went on to motivate him to put up a stellar performance for his club FC Goa in the AFC Champions League 2021 Group Stage, which took place a couple of weeks later.

Dheeraj, who had been twice been named in the AFC Champions League’s Team of the Week for his performances, played a big part in helping FC Goa secure a third-place finish in Group E of the AFC Champions League, with FC Goa being the first Indian team to play in the Group Stage of the competition.

Speaking to AIFF TV, Dheeraj narrated: “I got the National Team call-up right after the Hero ISL. It gave me the opportunity to travel with the Senior Team to the UAE. It was a big motivation for me to train with Gurpreet paaji and Amrinder paaji. I was so motivated at that point that I reported straight to Goa after we came back.�?/span>

�?@dhee_singh01: Before the @theafcdotcom CL, my friends used to ask me how many goals we would concede. @FCGoaOfficial came out as a very strong and disciplined team in the end, and it was very difficult to score against us #ACL2021 #IndianFootball �?#BackTheBlue pic.twitter.com/zCCNieSoHj

�?Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) May 18, 2021

“Getting into the National Team had a big impact on my confidence. Our coach also gave us a lot of confidence, taking the pressure off from our shoulders. He just told us to go out there and play our normal game, and that’s what we did,�?continued Dheeraj.

With FC Goa being India’s first-ever representatives in the AFC Champions League Group Stage, Dheeraj and his teammates had a tall order, facing-off against quality teams like 2020 Champions League runners-up Persepolis FC (Iran), Al Wahda FC (UAE), and Al Rayyan SC (Qatar). However, the young goalkeeper got two clean sheets to his name, making 19 saves from his five appearances.

“I still remember when the AFC Champions League started, many of my friends asked whether I was ready, and how many goals I expected to concede,�?recalled Dheeraj. “We came up as a very strong team that was disciplined and difficult to score against. We did really well in the first two games, and that really gave us confidence to go forward for the rest of the matches. I think it was the benefit of playing the Hero ISL, that we had moved forward together, and could perform at that level.�?/span>

During the AFC Champions League Group E campaign, Dheeraj was a constant recipient of accolades, especially from opposition coaches. The likes of Laurent Blanc, a former FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro winner with France, who was the coach of Al Rayyan, and Al Wahda head coach Henk ten Kate, who had coached at top clubs like FC Barcelona, Ajax Amsterdam and Chelsea FC, showered praises on the young goalkeeper.

During the last Group E match between FC Goa and Al Wahda, Dheeraj had to be substituted off, due to an injury he had sustained on his throat while making a save. With the match still going on, ten Kate proceeded to the opposition technical area after Dheeraj got substituted, and went on to shower praises on the 20-year-old for his heroics under the bar. The keeper, in return, could only squeak out a weak “thank you,�?partly because he was dumbfounded at the gesture, and partly because of the injured throat.

“I still remember, he (ten Kate) came over to our side of the dugout and shook my hand, and gave me a lot of good words. I was not able to speak much because my throat was really painful, and I could only muster a soft ‘thank you�?�?recalled Dheeraj.

“It felt very good to be praised by such a high-profile and respected coach. But I was also sad that I was not able to continue the game. It felt very nice to get those good words from him, though,�?smiled Dheeraj. 

Featured photo: AIFF

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is super excited, and it’s all for Alisson Becker. And the lanky Indian custodian doesn’t mind doing a Becker sometime soon.

Alisson Becker, the Liverpool FC goalkeeper came off his line to head home the match-winner against West Bromwich Albion, the 2-1 victory keeping Liverpool’s chances of making it to the UEFA Champions League alive.

“I just can’t stop watching his header again, and again. Maybe it just happened �?the ball fell in place and out of pure commitment he glided the ball �?and what a header! But if he is doing that regularly in practice, then we have to admit that he is extra special,�?he opines.

 

Do you want to emulate him?

“Not that I am desperate to do it, and I hope that I don’t have to do it ever. Obviously, there have been quite a few times that I have gone up for my club Bengaluru FC, and also during my stint with previous clubs,�?he mentions.

“But if the team requires it as per the situation, who knows? But I would rather leave it to Sunil Chhetri. He is much better at it than me,�?Gurpreet’s laughter almost breaks the ceiling. “I have to work on me attacking the ball, and on my heading. But I don’t mind it,�?he smiles again.

“For a modern-day goalkeeper, the importance of being good with your feet is paramount. Gone are the days when a goalkeeper was just a shot-stopper,�?Gurpreet, an Arjuna Awardee, adds.

“Personally, it was an exciting challenge to undergo the transition phase. When I started professionally, the trend was more to save shots. The first instructions which I received were to kick the ball back to where it came from. But it’s changed now,�?the first Indian player to feature in a Europa League (for Norwegian side Stabaek FK) match expressed.

“The goalkeeper needs to initiate the attack, help the team build up on the possession. His distribution has to be impeccable. However, I am still a student of the game and working on the same. There is a long way to go,�?he expresses.

“And now I know, a goalkeeper needs to head it perfectly too,�?he laughs again.

 

Featured photo: AIFF

Indian football team national coach Igor Stimac has named a list of 35 players who will be in contention for the upcoming international friendlies against Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) scheduled to be held in Dubai on March 25 and March 29, respectively.

.@stimac_igor names 3️⃣5️⃣-man list of probables for International Friendlies against Oman and UAE

Read the statement here //t.co/rvkQFf5jEY#BackTheBlue #BlueTigers #IndianFootball �?pic.twitter.com/zWnUvVyWe4

�?Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 2, 2021

10 new faces that have earned their maiden call up to the national squad, including Akash Mishra, Liston Colaco, and Ishan Pandita, for their commendable display in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21 season.

Other notable inclusions in the squad are Ashutosh Mehta, Bipin Singh, Lalengmawia,  Yasir Mohammed, Jeakson Singh, and Suresh Singh.

"We have kept 35 players in the list as a cushion in case any player picks up an injury during the ISL playoffs," said Stimac. 

The Indian head coach further said that Brandon Fernandes, Rahul Bheke, Sahal Abdul Samad, and Asish Rai do not feature in the list as they recover from injuries. 

The final list of 28 players will be announced after the ISL final on March 13. The Indian football team players will assemble in a preparatory camp in Dubai from March 15 onwards.

India last played against Oman as the Blue Tigers lost 1-0 in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier on November 19, 2019. While they were scheduled to resume their World Cup qualification campaign with a match against Qatar in March, it was eventually postponed due to the global virus. The qualifiers are now scheduled to resume in June, with India facing Qatar on June 3, Bangladesh on June 11, and Afghanistan on June 15. 

Here's the 35-man Indian football team squad

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, Dheeraj Singh, Vishal Kaith.

Defenders: Seriton Fernandes, Ashutosh Mehta, Akash Mishra, Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Chinglensana Singh, Sarthak Golui, Adil Khan, Mandar Rao Dessai, Prabir Das, Mashoor Shereef.

Midfielders: Udanta Singh, Rowllin Borges, Lalengmawia, Jeakson Singh, Raynier Fernandes, Anirudh Thapa, Bipin Singh, Yasir Mohammad, Suresh Singh, Liston Colaco, Halicharan Narzary, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Ashique Kuruniyan, Rahul KP, Hitesh Sharma, Farukh Choudhary.

Forwards: Manvir Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Ishan Pandita.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/IndianFootball

Odisha FC goalkeeper Arshdeep Singh has been a revelation for the Indian Super League side this season, tallying a whopping 26 saves from the six matches that he has played so far.

Though it has taken the Kalinga Warriors nine games to register their first win in ISL 2020-21, lack of effort or dedication was never an issue. Being one of OFC’s most reliable performers this season, Arshdeep believes discipline and hard work always bear fruits.

“There are always better days if you are consistent, determined and working hard towards your goals and dreams,�?the 23-year-old told SportsAdda in an exclusive interview.

“I think you can’t always have a perfect journey. Failures and difficult times make you a stronger and a better person,�?he added.

 

Ups and downs are not something new for Arshdeep Singh. On June 19, 2019, during an AFC Cup match, the young custodian had a severe collision with Chennaiyin FC’s CK Vineeth where the striker’s knee struck Arshdeep’s face.

A Minerva Punjab FC player then, Arshdeep was rushed to the hospital with multiple fractures to his face and was consequently admitted to the ICU. However, he returned within six months and this time in the Indian top-tier football.

“I have been through some really tough times and it made me feel low. But I never gave up. I love challenges and every time I fall down; I get up and start working hard,�?Arshdeep says.

“I love football, and nothing can stop me. If I fall seven times, I will get up the 8th time and start from scratch,�?he adds.

A Manchester United fan, who idolises David de Gea, Arshdeep got the chance to learn from Spanish goalkeeper Francisco Dorronsoro during his first season with Odisha. And although his outings were limited to nine matches in the ISL 2019-20 season, Arshdeep learned a great deal.

Arshdeep stated, “Dorronsoro was very calm and composed on the field. Also, he was very good with his feet, and his reflexes were amazing even at the age of 34.  Overall, he was quite experienced that helped me gain a lot of techniques.�?/span>

From the Indian football team’s no. 1 goalie Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to Mumbai City FC goalkeeper Amrinder Singh, some of the country's most promising custodians have come from Punjab. Chandigarh-born Arshdeep Singh is no different and he believes Punjab’s coaching style and craze about the game has been the reason.

“The coaching in Punjab is really strong, and we have some really amazing coaches who help in building a strong base. There’s a craze for football there and therefore people strive to make the most out of it.

“In my case, my father has been an influence as he was a coach and professional player as well.�?/span>

The same pedigree has been quite evident in Arshdeep Singh as well, especially during Odisha FC’s clash against FC Goa on December 12, 2020, at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim.

Standing between the sticks, Arshdeep showed his incredible reflexes as he saved eight of the nine shots that the Gaurs had attempted on target.

“I won’t say I am gifted. As goalkeepers, we do a lot of training and hard work every single day which helps us polish ourselves and rest is up to god. There’s a slight chance of luck as well.�?/span>

With the Indian Super League being played behind closed doors in Goa this season, the stands have been empty, and Arshdeep has missed that extra push this season.

The 24-year-old added, “The energy that you feel when the fans are around and when they cheer you seems to be missing. I miss that part. Fans�?presence is important because it boosts the players and helps them perform even better."

With momentum firmly on their side following a 4-2 drubbing of Kerala Blasters, Odisha FC will next face Chennaiyin FC on Sunday, January 10, and Arshdeep is expected to play a crucial role yet again.

Written by: Subhayan Dutta

Feature Image Courtesy: Odisha FC

The ISL fantasy league is back after an eight-month hiatus with the ISL 2020-21 season set to begin from November 20, Friday. Kerala Blasters will take on defending champions ATK Mohun Bagan at the GMC Stadium in Bambolim, Goa, in the season-opener. 

No matter how experienced you are with the ISL fantasy league, you will need suggestions in cherry-picking the most productive playing eleven to kickstart the tournament. Here are five players who could potentially fetch you the maximum points in the opening matchweek:

Player: Gary Hooper, Kerala Blasters FC

Match: Kerala Blasters FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan FC

Gary Hooper has arrived at the back of eight goals and five assists to his name in 21 A-League matches after Kerala Blasters FC broke the bank to sign the perfect replacement for ISL 2019 star Bartholomew Ogbeche. Hooper, a journeyman footballer, has enjoyed prolific stints with Scunthorpe United and Scottish giants Celtic apart from his prominent outings with Premier League side Norwich City. Replacing Ogbeche was never going to be easy but the Manjappada have already forgotten him after the arrival of Gary Hooper. The English professional is a must-have in your ISL fantasy league team.

Player: Roy Krishna, ATK Mohun Bagan FC

Match: Kerala Blasters FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan FC

Speaking of the Blasters' opponent in the ISL 2020-21 season-opener, defending champions ATK Mohun Bagan FC will yet again pin their goal-scoring burden on last season's ISL top scorer Roy Krishna. The 33-year-old Fijian striker had netted 15 times and provided six assists last season, thereby helping his side to lift their third ISL title - the most by any club. Roy Krishna has been reliable in front of goal throughout his career and is expected to bag a bunch of goals this season as well.

Player: Bartholomew Ogbeche, Mumbai City FC

Match: NorthEast United FC vs Mumbai City FC

A new era begins for Mumbai City FC on Saturday and their revamp has largely been based on the big imports at the City Football Group-funded club. One of the biggest ISL transfers this summer was Bartholomew Ogbeche as he traded his Kerala Blasters shirt for Mumbai City FC after just one season. With 27 goals and three assists already to his name in just 34 ISL appearances, the Nigerian striker is only expected to get better. And with Spanish coach Sergio Lobera now leading Mumbai City FC after three successful years at FC Goa, where he built quite a reputation for his attractive football, Ogbeche is among the early favourites to win the ISL Golden Boot this season.

Player: Mandar Rao Dessai, Mumbai City FC

Match: NorthEast United FC vs Mumbai City FC

One of the many players that followed Sergio Lobera from FC Goa to Mumbai City was left-back Mandar Rao Dessai. The full-back played exactly 100 games for his former side before leaving the Gaurs with four assists to his name last season. Widely regarded as one of the best fullbacks going forward, the experienced and prolific Dessai should definitely be in your dream team for both defensive reassurances and offensive stability.

Player: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Bengaluru FC

Match: FC Goa vs Bengaluru FC

For the goalkeeper's spot, there can only be one safe option for every fantasy team owner �?Bengaluru's Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The Indian No.1 one has never finished below the third position in the race for the ISL Golden Glove and is currently the winner of the award after keeping 11 clean sheets in 19 matches last season. An unparalleled shot-stopper, Sandhu is commanding in the box and brilliant at distributing the ball as well. A must-have in any ISL fantasy league team.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @GurpreetGK

Last-minute goals, first-time champions, strong performances from the tournament’s big names - the Indian Super League (ISL) 2019 had it all! The past 12 months have been momentous for clubs as well as individual players with each accomplishing personal milestones on the road.

Here we take a look at the top performers in the ISL in 2019, who definitely deserve the ‘Superstar�?tag.

Most Goals - FERRAN COROMINAS

FC Goa were brilliant in the 2018-19 season of the ISL, making it to their second final in four seasons. And a bulk of the credit for their run must go to forward Ferran Corominas, better known simply as ‘Coro�? Playing as the solitary striker in FC Goa’s dynamic 4-2-3-1 formation, the Spaniard benefitted from Sergio Lobera’s attacking football. He scored 13 goals in 2019, averaging almost a goal in every game. Apart from scoring the most goals, the 36-year-old also created the most chances in 2019, eclipsing the likes of Sunil Chhetri and Ashique Kuruniyan.

Most Assists - BRANDON FERNANDES

2019 was well and truly a year when young Goan playmaker Brandon Fernandes came into his own. From getting that maiden Indian call-up to guiding FC Goa to the finals, Fernandes has been in the thick of things in the past 12 months. The 25-year-old notched up seven assists in 2019, more than any other player for that year and has made a good start to the 2019-20 ISL season, nabbing five assists to date.

Most Saves - KAMALJIT SINGH

The 23-year-old shot-stopper Kamaljit Singh was very much a second-choice keeper when he first joined FC Pune City in 2017. The last 12 months however he managed to become a first choice at the club, alongside captaining Hyderabad FC in the 2019-20 season under head coach Phil Brown. Singh repaid the faith put on him by Brown with great diligence, putting in top performances week after week in the ISL. He made 67 saves for his club in 2019. He has continued to shine in the 2019-20 season as well and currently top the ‘Saves�?list.

Most Clean Sheets - GURPREET SINGH SANDHU

India’s first-choice goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu lived up to his lofty expectations in the 2018-19 ISL season, where his assured keeping and assertiveness shepherded Bengaluru FC to their first-ever title. The lanky shot-stopper managed 11 clean sheets for his club in the last calendar year, more than any other ISL goalkeeper. Sandhu also performed admirably when playing for the Blue Tigers, with the highlight being the goalless draw away to Asian champions, Qatar.

Most Successful Tackles - AHMED JAHOUH

Moroccan defensive midfielder, Ahmed Jahouh has been pivotal to FC Goa’s play in the past two seasons. Sitting ahead of the back four, Jahouh has acted as a screen for his club, thwarting the opposition attackers and enabling FC Goa to play their free-flowing football. Jahouh recorded the most successful tackles in 2019, with 86 of his precisely timed slides managing to win back the ball for his team. It was this accurate tackling that helped Goa to reach the finals of 2019, and make a good start to the 2019-20 Indian Super League season as well.

Feature Image courtesy: Twitter / @FCGoaOfficial