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Kicking off on June 7th in Ahmedabad, the 2019 Intercontinental Cup sees the defending champions, India, returning to the stage. This year, the hosts are facing a fresh set of challenges, having invited three debutants to the tournament: Syria, North Korea, and Tajikistan. With a new manager at the helm and a wave of youthful energy flowing into the squad, there is a genuine sense of anticipation surrounding this edition of the competition.2019 Intercontinental Cup is scheduled to start on the 7th of June in Ahmedabad with the defending champions and hosts India gearing up for a new challenge this time around by inviting three new sides. Syria, North Korea and Tajikistan will play in the second edition of the Intercontinental cup alongside the hosts India. With a new coach and a plethora of young talent, there’s plenty to be excited for the competition.
We've broken down four of the most intriguing aspects of the upcoming 2019 Intercontinental Cup.
Tough Challenges: Facing Syria and North KoreaStern tests against Syria and North Korea
Syria enters the tournament as the top-seeded team (ranked 85th), making them the most formidable opponent for India. Their squad boasts significant international experience, with key figures like Gabriel Somi, Aias Aosman, and Mohammed Osman having competed in Major League Soccer and top-tier European leagues. Syria showed great resilience during the 2019 Asian Cup, where they held Palestine to a draw and pushed a strong Australian side to a close 3-2 finish. Their ability to construct creative attacks from the back could prove problematic for an Indian defense that often struggles against imaginative playmakers. North Korea, meanwhile, remains one of Asia's biggest enigmas, largely because their domestic matches aren't broadcast globally. However, they have a history of upsetting the odds, evidenced by their 2010 World Cup qualification and their recent Asian Cup run where they overcame Malaysia and Mongolia and held China to a stalemate. Defined by incredible endurance and explosive speed, the North Koreans are poised to push the Indian side to their absolute limits. For head coach Igor Stimac, this marks only his second major outing since taking charge a few months ago. We caught a glimpse of his vision during the Kings Cup, where he pivoted away from Stephen Constantine's counter-attacking style in favor of a more proactive, possession-oriented approach. Under Stimac, the team is prioritizing fluid passing and keeping the ball, signaling a tactical shift in how India plays. Stimac has also shown a bold willingness to integrate new blood, handing debuts to six players—some as young as 17 or 18—during the match against Curacao. Standouts from the 2018 Indian Super League, such as Brandon Fernandes and Rahul Bheke, have finally earned their international opportunities. By benching established names like Anirudh Thapa and Jackichand Singh, the Croatian manager is making it clear that merit and youth will drive his selection process.th position, Syria are the highest ranked side in the competition this year and will be the main threat to this Indian football team. Several of their star players like Gabriel Somi, Aias Aosman, Mohammed Osman having played previously in some of the best leagues in Europe as well as the MLS. This Syrian side performed admirably in the Asian Cup of 2019, getting a hard-fought draw with Palestine and narrowly losing out 3-2 to a full-strength Australian team. Known for their skilful build-up plays, this Syrian side could torment an Indian team which tends to struggle against creative midfielders.
The Ultimate Warm-up for World Cup Qualifiers
New coach, new ideas
The Intercontinental Cup serves as the final multi-national rehearsal for India before the high-stakes World Cup qualifiers begin in September. Since the qualifiers will likely feature opponents similar in quality to Syria and Tajikistan, this tournament is the perfect testing ground. Beyond tactical preparation, it gives Stimac a vital opportunity to finalize his starting eleven and evaluate whether fringe players, such as Farukh Choudhary or Salam Ranjan Singh, can break into the core squad.
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Written by: Saurabh Shankar