New Delhi, Aug 30 - India may have made the final without any palpitations, but not many are giving them a chance of retaining the Nehru Cup football title they won two years ago beating the same Syrians in the final.

The home team would, however, back themselves to send Syria packing in front of home crowd, a feat they managed in 2007. Back then India lost to Syria 2-3 in the league phase and went on to beat the visitors in the final. This time,too, India lost 0-1 in the inconsequential league match against Syria Saturday and would hope to turn the tables Monday.

Syria are the only unbeaten side at the round-robin stage and there was some suspense about who do they play in Monday's final till it was belatedly revealed that India were through after their facile victory over Sri Lanka as no-one cared to flip through the rule book to see how a tie is resolved.

The inconsequential last league game gave both the teams to ponder about a couple of things.

Syrians realise that they had a reasonably tough game Saturday against an India team that rested their regulars, while the match must have given the hosts confidence to fight it out on level terms. But it will take some doing for the defending champions to send Syria home without the trophy a second time from the Ambedkar Stadium.

While India were impressive against Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan, they had to pull themselves back from a shock defeat in the opening game against Lebanon.

Whatever the players' feelings be, India's coach Bob Houghton would have liked the team to have, at least, left the stadium on level terms ahead of the final. The win would certainly boost Syria's confidence but the match should have given enough for Houghton to strategise for Monday's title clash.

India's best strikers, skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, who warmed the bench, and Sunil Chettri, who came out for the last ten minutes, should be in better physical and mental shape after the day's rest.