Asian Cup 2019: India's qualification scenario - How can Blue Tigers make Round of 16?

Scenario 2: India draws with Bahrain

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu makes a save against UAE (Image: AIFF Media)

If India draw with Bahrain, India would find themselves at 4 points and they would hope that UAE at least win or draw with Thailand. In that case, India will be tied on 4 points with Thailand and would go through to the next round, courtesy their head-to-head result against the Thai side in the first match.

However, if UAE lose to Thailand, India’s chances would further diminish as they will be tied for the third spot in the group. In that case, India would hope to qualify as one of the four third-placed teams but that would depend on the results of the matches of the other groups.

India have a goal difference of +1 currently which could play a part going forward.

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Scenario 3: India lose to Bahrain

If India fail to salvage even a single point from the game, they would still have some faint hope of qualifying, only if UAE manages to beat Thailand. In such a scenario, India will sit on the 3rd spot with three points and Thailand on 4th and India would hope to qualify as of the best third-placed team in the competition.

However, if UAE lose or draw with Thailand, India would make an exit from the competition as the last-placed team from the group.

With all three scenarios on the cards, India still have the ball in their court and would look for nothing less than a win against Bahrain