Three reasons why Team India will win the 2018 SAFF Championship

#2) Form and history favour the Blue Tigers

Form and history favour the

seven time

winners

The Blue Tigers who are currently ranked 97 in the FIFA rankings were on a thirteen match unbeaten run until their loss against Kyryz Republic at Bishkek (away) this March. That astonishing feat started on June 2, 2016 after their win against Laos in the play-off round for AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. India qualified for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup after topping Group A with four wins out of six matches (four wins, one draw and one loss) during the qualifiers. Team India won the title at the 2018 Intercontinental Cup held in Mumbai from June 1-10. The tournament which comprised of four teams from four different confederations saw India locking horns with Kenya, Chinese Taipei, and New Zealand.

In the four matches they played, India scored 11 goals while conceding just two. With that convincing win in the four tournaments, India are undoubtedly a force to reckon with at the SAFF Championship. Also, the fact that Team India are the most successful nation at the South Asian tournament augurs well for them. Having won the title a record seven times in eleven editions so far, the Blue Tigers are the hot favourites to retain their crown this time. They won the last edition in January 2016, defeating the Afghans 2-1 in the finals. India, who have participated in all the eleven editions of the tournament so far have won 29 out of the 46 matches played- losing 7 while drawing 10. With form and history favouring them, they might once again go all the way this year.