Football

India vs Syria: Intercontinental Cup Final PreviewIndia's men's football team will face Syria in the final of the Intercontinental Cup on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad. The match will kick off at 7:30 PM IST and will be telecast live on Sports 18.India began the tournament with a goalless draw against Mauritius, while Syria defeated Mauritius 2-0 in their opening match. This means that Syria holds a slight advantage heading into the final, as they only need a draw to claim the trophy.India is aiming for their second consecutive Intercontinental Cup triumph, and third overall. They won the tournament in 2018 and 2022. Syria, on the other hand, has a long history of playing tournaments in India but has never won the title. They lost back-to-back Nehru Cup finals to India in 2007 and 2009 before finishing fourth in 2012.India will be looking to their captain, Sunil Chhetri, to lead them to victory. Chhetri is India's all-time leading goalscorer and has been in impressive form in recent months. He scored a brace in India's 4-1 win over Cambodia in a friendly match in June.Syria will be relying on their experienced midfielder, Omar Khribin. Khribin is a key player for the Syrian national team and has scored over 50 goals for his country.The match is expected to be a close and exciting affair. India will be looking to attack from the start and will be hoping to take advantage of their home crowd. Syria, on the other hand, will be looking to defend deep and hit India on the counterattack.

Hosts India and Syria will face off in a thrilling winner-takes-all clash in the final of the Intercontinental Cup on Monday. India, seeking their second consecutive and third overall Intercontinental Cup triumph, will need to overcome a slight disadvantage against Syria, who require only a draw to claim the trophy.Syria, with a long history of playing tournaments in India, has yet to secure a title on Indian soil. They lost back-to-back Nehru Cup finals to India in 2007 and 2009 and finished fourth in 2012. In their last trip to India for the 2019 Intercontinental Cup, Syria finished third.India, on the other hand, will need to end a winless streak dating back to November last year to deny Syria their first silverware in India. India head coach Manolo Márquez, who celebrated his 56th birthday on Saturday, expressed confidence in his team's ability to win the tournament."It will be a difficult game for both sides. It's a friendly game, but the team who wins the game wins the trophy. We expect to play a good game and win the tournament," said Márquez.However, Márquez emphasized the importance of playing good football, believing that results will follow. "If you ask me, I prefer to play a good game than to win the tournament. I don't want to win it 1-0, scoring with the hand. I want that, in this moment, the team understands our ideas and we play better because finally, it's not about winning or losing."Defender Jay Gupta echoed his coach's sentiments, stating that the team is focused on adapting to Márquez's style of play. "Obviously, it's a game where we have to fight for the cup, but we're just focused on how we adapt to what the coach wants as soon as possible."Syria, under new head coach José Lana, is also in a new era. Lana was pleased with their opening-game display against Mauritius, which they won 2-0. He hopes to continue progressing and improve against India."I think India are a great team. I like the way they play with this coach. They try to move the ball fast. I think it will be a difficult match for us. And our only objective for tomorrow is to be better than our previous match," said Lana.The match promises to be an exciting battle between two teams eager to claim the Intercontinental Cup trophy.

The Indian men's football team, under the guidance of new head coach Manolo Márquez, embarks on a fresh chapter as they prepare for the Intercontinental Cup opener against Mauritius on Tuesday. The tournament serves as a crucial dress rehearsal for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, which hold immense significance for India's long-term goal of qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.Márquez, who has had limited time with the squad due to pre-season commitments, has emphasized the importance of securing positive results in the upcoming FIFA international match windows to maintain India's position in Pot 1 ahead of the December draw. The team's performance in the Intercontinental Cup will be a key indicator of their progress and readiness for the challenges ahead.The Indian squad features a blend of experienced players and promising newcomers, including Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Yasir Mohammad, Asish Rai, Roshan Singh Naorem, Kiyan Nassiri Giri, Lalthathanga Khawlhring, and Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. Márquez will be eager to see how these players perform and integrate into the team's system.India's opponents, Syria and Mauritius, are no strangers to Indian soil. Syria has participated in previous editions of the Intercontinental Cup and the Nehru Cup, while Mauritius competed in the 2017 Tri-Nation Series. Both teams will pose different challenges, and India will need to adapt and execute their game plan effectively.Mauritius, ranked 179th in the world, has shown resilience in their FIFA World Cup Qualifiers group, securing a home win over Eswatini and a draw against Angola. They will be led by French coach Guillaume Moullec and key players such as captain Kevin Jean-Louis, defender Dylan Collard, and midfielder Lindsay Rose.The Intercontinental Cup provides India with an opportunity to assess their current standing and identify areas for improvement. Márquez will be keen to instill his philosophy and tactics into the team while also evaluating the players' individual abilities and team chemistry. The tournament will be a valuable stepping stone on India's journey towards the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers and their ultimate goal of continental success.

Indian football is set to witness a new era under head coach Manolo Marquez, as he has named his 26-member provisional squad for the upcoming Intercontinental Cup. The tournament, scheduled from September 3-9 in Hyderabad, will serve as a preparatory camp for the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary joint qualification round 2 matches.Among the notable inclusions is Chennaiyin FC forward Kiyan Nassiri, son of East Bengal legend Jamshid Nassiri. The 23-year-old has been in impressive form for his club and is now on the cusp of his maiden India call-up.Also receiving their first call-ups are Mohun Bagan SG right-back Ashish Rai and East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. Both players have yet to feature for the senior India team but have shown promise at the club level.However, the squad is missing a key figure in Sandesh Jhingan. The influential centre-back is still recovering from a right knee injury sustained during India's Asian Cup group match against Syria in January. Jhingan also missed out on selection for the team's camp ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary joint qualification round 2 matches against Kuwait and Qatar in May.The Intercontinental Cup will feature three teams: India, Syria, and Mauritius. India will face Mauritius on September 3 and Syria on September 9. Syria, ranked 93rd in the latest FIFA rankings, will be a formidable opponent, while Mauritius, ranked 179th, will provide a different challenge.Marquez, who was appointed India head coach last month, is excited about his first assignment. "We are very excited about our first preparatory camp and I know it will be the same for the players," he said. "We face two different teams and the rankings are not very important. We need to work all together in the same direction to find the correct group of players and their predisposition will be very good, something I am completely sure about."The Intercontinental Cup will be the first full tournament for India after the retirement of legendary captain Sunil Chhetri. It will also be a chance for Marquez to assess his squad and prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.