2011 SAFF Cup: Maldives in India's way to Finals

Defending champions India take on last time finalists Maldives in the first semifinal of the 2011 South Asian Football Federation Championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi today. And one can expect a high voltage affair with both sides knowing each other quite well.

Only in July 2011 the two sides last faced each other an international friendly in which the Maldives held India to a one-all draw. But today there will be a result and in the recent past India has often edged out the island nation, who have improved considerably over the last few years.

India coach Savio Medeira knows that very well and said before the game, "Maldives are a good team. They have some good players."

India go into the match with a nice dilemma to have. The youngsters in Lalrindika Ralte and Jewel Raja Sheikh are pushing for places in the starting eleven, while on the right flank Anthony Pereira and Steven Dias are hoping to get a start as are Samir Naik and Nirmal Chetri in the right back position. Savio did allow the team to play against Sri Lanka which beat Bhutan earlier, so he might continue to stick with the same eleven.

India have been far from their best, but expectations are high then anything else then winning the SAFF Cup is a disappointment and not reaching the finals would be a disaster for Indian football, then the powerhouse of South Asian football have a name and reputation to defend.

Meanwhile the Maldives Hungarian Coach Istvan Bela Urbanyi had said after his team had qualified for the semifinals, "We just don't care as to who we will be playing in the semis. We are ready for any team."

It goes as per Urbanyi's saying that his team would have to beat any opponent in the tournament to lift the trophy. He will once more depend on winger Ali Ashfaq, who had a strong game against Bangladesh.

Later on in the day in the second semifinal surprise side Afghanistan take on Nepal to find the second finalist.

The match will kick-off at 15.00 IST and will be shown live on TenAction+.