JOIN USA preliminary squad of 38 players, for the upcoming FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Oman and Guam, was announced on Wednesday by national coach Stephen Constantine.
The list would be pruned to 26 after the completion of the ongoing Hero I-League. The shortlisted players would participate in the camp in Bengaluru from June 4.
Constantine said the World Cup qualifier against the top ranked Asia teams would provide India the “best platform” to gauge their progress. "We are on the platform where we wanted to be. We are now competing against the best Teams in Asia and it’s the stage for the best teams to compete against each other,” said Constantine. "We have selected a group of players that have impressed for their respective Clubs in the last two-three months.”
The squad:
Goalkeepers: Subrata Paul (Salgaocar SC), Arindam Bhattacharya (Kalyani Bharat FC), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Stabaek FC), Sanjiban Ghosh (Mumbai FC). Defenders: Rino Anto, Lalchhuanmawia (both Bengaluru FC), Reagan Singh, Lalhmangaihsanga (both Royal Wahingdoh FC), Pritam Kotal, Dhanachandra Singh (Mohun Bagan), Robert Lalthlamuana, Arnab Mondal, Gurwinder Singh (all East Bengal), Sandesh Jhingan (Sporting Clube de Goa), Augustin Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Aiborlang Khongjee (Shillong Lajong FC).
Midfielders: Cavin Lobo, Md. Rafique (East Bengal), Eugenson Lyngdoh, CK Vineeth (both Bengaluru FC), Godwin Franco, Jackichand Singh, Saityasen Singh (all Royal Wahingdoh FC), Sehnaj Singh (Mohun Bagan), Dhanapal Ganesh (Pune FC), Mandar Rao Dessai, Francis Fernandes, Germanpreet Singh (all Dempo SC), Harmanjot Singh Khabra (East Bengal), Rowlin Borges, Bikash Jairu (both Sporting Clube de Goa). Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh (both Bengaluru FC), Holicharan Narzary (Dempo SC), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Mohun Bagan), Thongkhosien Haokip (Pune FC), Sumit Passi (Sporting Clube de Goa), Lalchhawnkima (Royal Wahingdoh FC).