NEW DELHI: India coach Bob Houghton has picked Syria as the favourites to win the five-nation Nehru Cup beginning on August 19. The biennial event was left with only five teams after the All India Football Federation scratched Palestine, who had earlier replaced Thailand, for not sending their national team.
The tournament will be played on a round-robin format with the top two teams meeting in the final on August 31. India will begin their title defence against Lebanon on the opening day.
The Englishman said that Syria would be favourites to clinch the crown while defending champions India would be the team to beat.
“India played very few international matches while Syria did the reverse. They played quite a few international games and did well in them to jump up the FIFA rankings,” he told the Indian media.
“That does not bother us because we will be satisfied if we prepare well and perform to our potential. I cannot say we will win the tournament but we are comfortable that the other teams would consider us as the team to beat,” he said.
REVISED FIXTURES
August 19: India vs Lebanon
August 20: Kyrgyzstan vs Syria
August 21: Sri Lanka vs Lebanon
August 22: India vs Kyrgyzstan
August 23: Syria vs Sri Lanka
August 24: Lebanon vs Kyrgyzstan
August 25: India vs Sri Lanka
August 26: Syria vs Lebanon
August 27: Sri Lanka vs Kyrgyzstan
August 28: India vs Syria
August 31: Final