India were not the lowest ranked team in the group. Going by the FIFA rankings, India would be the second favourites to proceed from Group A. But yet India were considered the least-favourite in the group to qualify to the Round of 16. The underdogs tag helped India surprise Thailand in the opening game. With a 1-4 win over Thailand and the other group game ending in a draw, India shot up their chance to making the knockouts with a dream start. From the surprising opening game performance, India only went better in the next game against U.A.E. After the second game too, India were in the second position in the table. Considered as minnows in the tournament, India put on a show to go head on with the mightier U.A.E., only not being able to be more precise at goal scoring like they were against Thailand. Staying in contention of qualifying till the final whistle, proved India have come a long way ahead with improvement in more aspects than one.