Out of reckoning for next round of World Cup qualifiers but still hoping to make the continental showpiece in China in two years’ time, mid-fielder Brandon Fernandes said the upcoming fixture is extremely crucial for the Blue Tigers.

The fighting loss to Qatar done and dusted with, Indian footballers are now looking forward to their next match against Bangladesh in the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Playing with 10 men for a major part of the match, India went down 0-1 to Asian champions and FIFA World Cup hosts Qatar in their previous outing in the joint preliminary qualification round on Thursday.

Out of reckoning for next round of World Cup qualifiers but still hoping to make the continental showpiece in China in two years’ time, mid-fielder Brandon Fernandes said the upcoming fixture is extremely crucial for the Blue Tigers, who are going through one of their longest winless streaks of all time.

“We are moving as a team and we need to back each other. We are aware that we have specific roles in the team. The next match is extremely crucial as we need to sustain the momentum gained in the first match. The first match is history,” Fernandes was quoted as saying by All India Football Federation.