After bagging the Intercontinental Cup with a 2-0 win over Kenya in the final, the Indian football team is now looking at playing two or three friendlies as part of their preparation for the all-important AFC Asian Cup (January 5 to February 1). The triumph at the Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri on Sunday marked the end of the Blue Tigers' 2017-18 season. Stephen Constantine's next tournament will be the Asian Games (August 18-September 2) in Indonesia with an U-23 squad.

After the Asian Games, a full strength Indian team will depart for Bangladesh to participate in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship (September 4-15) following which the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has lined up two friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Syria at the end of the year, Constantine revealed.