Soccer-India ready to weather storm as Australia 'reach for the stars' at Asian Cup

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - AFC Qualifiers - Group A - India v Qatar - Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, India - November 21, 2023 India's Sunil Chhetri in action REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

DOHA (Reuters) - Australia and India have two of the longest-serving coaches at the Asian Cup and Saturday's Group B opener between the teams promises to be a battle of styles between the pragmatic Aussies and an Indian side attempting to shed a defensive mindset.

Australia come into the Asian Cup as one of the pre-tournament favourites having won the competition in 2015 and coach Graham Arnold said on Friday that their goal is to lift the trophy once again in Qatar, where they have fond memories.