The match on Tuesday will be the third World Cup qualifier between these countries at this venue since 2004.

In a quaint coincidence, in their 2018 World Cup qualifiers India played their fifth match vs Oman in Muscat and is scheduled to do the same in their 2022 campaign tomorrow at Sultan Qaboos Stadium.

Muscat is not a happy hunting ground for India as they have yet to score a goal there.

India coach Igor Stimac is relieved that temperatures in Muscat will be 25 degrees celsius, suitable to the players and the match is being played on grass.

But he knows that Oman will be formidable opponents at home as they had beaten both Afghanistan 3-0 and Bangladesh 4-1.

Oman eyeing full points

Oman’s coach and former Dutch international Erwin Koeman wants to notch up 16 to 18 points against the three South Asian rivals.

The victories will help them progress to the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers as of the four best second-placed teams.

Omani fans cheer their football team in Muscat.

So, there will be no let up in intensity by Oman.

Nippy left winger Al Mandhar Al Alawi is in sparkling form having scored four goals in four matches twice against India in the 2-1 win in Guwahati, one against Bangladesh and equalised against Qatar in his team’s 1-2 defeat.

Striker Abdulaziz Al Muqbal also scored a brace vs Afghanistan. Their attack is lethal with 10 goals in four matches so far.

Len Doungal likely in First XI

Stimac has said that he is willing to try out new players, and this means that he may shuffle his pack.

His options are limited as two key defensive players Sandesh Jhingan and Rowlin Borges are unavailable due to injury, but there will be changes.

The 25 year old Manipuri Seminlen ‘Len’ Doungal could be in the starting eleven instead of Sahal Abdul Samad.

Seminlen ‘Len’ Doungal could start for India.

Left-back is also an area of uncertainty for India. Afghanistan’s most probing attacks were from their right flank and exposed Mandar Rao Dessai.

Two-pronged attack?

The choice of left-back could depend on whether Stimac prefers twin strikers upfront or will he gamble on just Sunil Chettri as the lone front runner with thrust from the flanks by Udanta Singh and Ashique Kuruniyan.

If either Farrukh Chowdhury or Manvir Singh starts upfront then Kuruniyan could be used as an attacking left-wing back.

Considering Kuruniyan’s speed and thrust troubled Oman especially in the first half in Guwahati on 5 September, it would be wiser to use him as a winger.

Maybe, Subashish Bose or Nishu Kumar gets to start as left-back.

Defensive midfielder India’s main headache

Without Borges and with veteran Lenny Rodrigues not being considered, not having a good defensive midfielder will hurt the Indian think-tank.

Pronoy Halder was quite pedestrian in the match in Dushanbe. Anirudh Thapa, who played in this position against Bangladesh, was tentative and his retrieving abilities limited.

Pronoy Halder, right, with Sunil Chhetri. Pic: AIFF

So options are limited. Stimac may gamble by playing three young attacking midfielders — Brandon Fernandez, Seminlen and either Samad or Thapa — in central midfield.

Both Brandon and Seminlen were comfortable with the ball and distributed well against the Afghans, traits that Stimac likes.

Indian players must take responsibility and not concede the ball easily when in possession by inaccurate passes, otherwise Oman will dominate.

Stimac philosophy

The style that Stimac favours is building from the back with quick passes, ball rotation and speed of movement. But the Indian team needs more time to get used to this way of playing.

Igor Stimac with assistant coach Shanmugam Venkatesh.

Brandon has been the saviour in the current World Cup campiagn. His whipped in, accurate corner kicks have enabled India equalise in the dying minutes against both Bangladesh on 15 October and against Afghanistan on 14 November.

If not for these dramatic equalisers by Adil Khan (vs Bangladesh) and substitute Seminlen (vs Afghanistan) India would have been languishing at the bottom of Group E with just one point from four matches.

Can India qualify?

If India had lost both these matches against their South Asian rivals, then Afghanistan would have been way ahead on six points and Bangladesh on three points.

Instead India is on three points and in fourth position. They are trailing Afghanistan by one point. Chances of progress to the third round for all three South Asian nations are remote.

Indian footballers in Muscat. Pic: AIFF

After four rounds of matches Qatar is topping with ten points followed by Oman on 9 points. So it will now be a battle to secure third spot.

It is vital to come third as that will ensure that India can play the Asian Cup 2023 qualifying third round.

If not, India will have to play the 2023 Asian Cup qualifying play-off round to progress and then luck of the draw will play a vital role.