For India’s national football team coach Igor Stimac, defence would be a priority as Sunil Chhetri and Co. prepare for the AFC Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Qatar in January-February next year.

India will play a slew of international matches in the build-up to the continental tournament starting with the Intercontinental Cup which begins in Bhubaneswar on June 9.

“We are looking to strengthen each position. Full-back positions are up for grabs and we need more physical and mental strength in these slots. Defending is a problem, it is about understanding how to close out the gaps. We are just dancing around the balls and rival players are easily putting in the crosses. We will try various things in the Intercontinental Cup, these games are perfect for trying out things,” Stimac said during a virtual news conference on Saturday.

There are still eight months left for the Asian Cup and Stimac said in this period the team is looking to improve its finishing, passing, pattern in the final third and also the build-up.

“Before the Asian Cup, India will play tournaments like Intercontinental Cup and Merdeka Cup. There is the U-23 SAFF Championships in June-July, Merdeka is in October. In between we have the Kings Cup. Then we are starting the 2026 World Cup qualifiers,” Stimac said.

“Our Asian Cup prospects will depend on December preparations because things are changing on a daily basis. It will depend on who will be in form, and who will be in the best position in December, they (players) are coming after a long domestic season behind. They need to stay in form and enter the Asian Cup on a positive note.”

As always, Stimac has only words of praise for India captain Chhetri. “Sunil has always been a role model and a leader in every sense for the boys and girls. But he’s not only talking, he’s showing that with his test results once again. In this camp, he was in the top five in all the tests we executed. So that’s the best way of leading the team and showing them how much it can be done.

“Never mind the age (Chhetri turns 39 in August). What he does on the pitch and how he works have always mattered. That’s the most important thing,” Croatia’s 1998 World Cupper said.

Stimac also condoled Friday’s devastating train accident in Balasore.