Football

The Indian men's football team's winless streak extended to four matches as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Malaysia in an international friendly on Monday. The match, played at the Balayogi Stadium, marked the debut of Chennaiyin FC's Irfan Yedwad for India.Despite dominating possession in the early stages, India conceded the first goal in the 19th minute due to a howler from goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Paulo Josue capitalized on Sandhu's error to put Malaysia ahead. However, India equalized in the 39th minute through a header from Rahul Bheke, assisted by Brandon Fernandes.The second half saw India continue to press for the winning goal, but the Malaysian defense held firm. Both teams had chances to snatch the victory, but neither could find the decisive touch.The draw extended head coach Manolo Marquez's wait for his first victory with the Blue Tigers. India has now drawn three and lost one of their four matches under Marquez.Despite the disappointing result, Marquez gave opportunities to several players who have been performing well for their clubs this season. The match also marked the return of central defender Sandesh Jhingan after almost 10 months.

India, still seeking their first victory of the year under head coach Manolo Marquez, will face familiar rivals Malaysia in an international friendly football match in Hyderabad on Monday. The match holds significance as it could be India's last before the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers in March next year.India will be bolstered by the return of experienced central defender Sandesh Jhingan, who has recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The team has played 10 matches so far in 2023, losing six and drawing four. Under Marquez, who took over in July, they have played three games, losing one and drawing twice.The India-Malaysia football rivalry dates back to 1957, with the two sides having faced each other 32 times. India and Malaysia have won 12 matches each, while eight have ended in draws. The current FIFA rankings show little difference between the two teams, with India placed 125th and Malaysia 133rd.Malaysia are coming into the match on the back of a 3-1 friendly win over Laos on November 14. Both teams know each other well, with India having nine players from the Merdeka tournament semifinal clash last month in their current squad. Malaysia, on the other hand, have 14 members from last year's squad, including two goal-scorers.Like India, Malaysia have also undergone changes in the coaching staff since last year. Manolo and his counterpart Pau Martí, both from Spain, know each other from their time in Barcelona. Martí took charge in July after Malaysia failed to qualify for Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers."They (Malaysia) have been playing good football and it will be a tough game for both sides," said Manolo.

The Indian senior men's football team, under the guidance of head coach Manolo Marquez, has announced a 26-member squad for the upcoming FIFA International Friendly against Malaysia. The match will be held on November 18 at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad.The Blue Tigers, as the Indian team is known, will assemble in Hyderabad on November 11 for a training camp. Their last friendly match was against Vietnam in October, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Farukh Choudhary scored the lone goal for India in that match.India has been struggling for form in recent times, failing to win in their last 11 matches. Their last victory came against Kuwait in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on November 16, 2023.Coach Marquez has named three experienced goalkeepers in the squad: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Vishal Kaith. Defenders Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, and Rahul Bheke have been included to strengthen the backline.Midfielders Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, and Jithin MS have also been named in the squad. Lallianzuala Chhangte will lead the attack force against Malaysia.The Blue Tigers will be hoping to end their winless streak and secure a victory in the upcoming match. They will face a Malaysia team that is ranked 148th in the FIFA World Rankings, while India is ranked 106th.

Bengaluru FC, the reigning Indian Super League (ISL) champions, will face a struggling FC Goa in a crucial match at the Fatorda stadium on Saturday. BFC, currently atop the standings with 16 points, has been in impressive form, winning five matches and drawing one. Their defensive solidity has been a key factor, conceding just once in six games.In contrast, FC Goa has endured a disappointing start to the season, languishing in 10th place with only six points. Manolo Marquez's men have managed just one win in their three home games, leaving them desperate for a turnaround.BFC will be confident of extending Goa's misery, especially after their impressive 3-1 victory away at Kerala Blasters. "Last season, we were mid-table and fought against the top teams. This year we are on top and everyone wants to beat us. It feels good," said BFC coach Gerard Zaragoza ahead of the tie.For Goa, the BFC fixture presents a golden opportunity to kickstart a revival. The astute Marquez, despite being without the injured duo of Borja Herrera and Rowllin Borges, remains optimistic. "We are playing better than last season," said the Spaniard. "But we have not been consistent. It is a good moment to play BFC because we need to show that we can beat the strongest."The match promises to be an intriguing clash between two teams with contrasting fortunes. BFC will be looking to maintain their dominance at the top of the table, while Goa will be desperate to end their winless streak and climb up the standings.

The Indian men's football team, under the guidance of head coach Manolo Marquez, will face Malaysia in an international friendly on November 18 in Hyderabad. The match, initially scheduled for November 19, has been advanced by a day and will be played at the Gachibowli Stadium.This will be Marquez's fourth match in charge of the national team, and he will be eager to secure a victory against a lower-ranked opponent. Malaysia currently sits at 133rd in the FIFA rankings, while India occupies the 125th spot.The last encounter between the two teams took place in October 2023 in the Merdeka Cup semifinal, where India suffered a 2-4 defeat.The November 18 match falls within the last FIFA international match window of the year, which mandates clubs to release players for national duty.The Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad recently hosted the three-team Intercontinental Cup tournament, where India drew 0-0 with Mauritius and lost 0-3 to eventual champions Syria. The team then traveled to Vietnam for an international friendly, which ended in a 1-1 draw.Marquez will be looking to improve India's recent form, having failed to secure a win in his first three matches in charge. The match against Malaysia will provide an opportunity for the team to gain momentum and build confidence ahead of future challenges.

Farukh Choudhary's return to the Indian national team after a three-year absence was marked by a goal in a 1-1 draw against Vietnam in an international friendly. The midfielder's strike in the second half canceled out Vi Hao Bui's first-half opener for the hosts.Choudhary, who was sidelined for three years due to a knee injury, expressed his delight at being back in the national team setup. "Personally, I feel great. I've not been a part of the national team for a long time, but this is where I wanted to be. I worked hard at my clubs and I knew in my heart that I deserved to be here," he said.The last time Choudhary played for India was in October 2021, when he provided an assist in a 1-0 victory over Nepal. He admitted that he was disappointed that India could not find a winning goal against Vietnam. "I'm glad that I could make a difference for the team, but I feel that we could have scored another," he said.Despite the draw, head coach Manolo Marquez was positive about his team's performance. "In the first half, it was practically all Vietnam. Then we discussed at half time how we have enough quality to play, and finally, we started executing our plans in the second," he said.Marquez praised the efforts of goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Saandhu and defender Anwar Ali, who played exceptional games in defense. "Sure, Vietnam could have scored in the last minutes when we were tired, but we could have scored too with our last chance. But overall, I am satisfied with this. It was a friendly game, after all."Choudhary's return to the national team is a testament to his hard work and determination. He is now hoping to help India achieve success in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

The Indian senior men's football team will face Vietnam in a one-off friendly match on October 12 at the Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh, Vietnam. The match will count towards the FIFA Rankings.The friendly was originally scheduled to be a tri-nation tournament, with India also facing Lebanon on October 12. However, Lebanon withdrew from the tournament, prompting the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) to request the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to reschedule the Vietnam-India match to October 12, which was accepted by the VFF.India will assemble in Kolkata on October 5 and have a training session on October 6. Manolo Marquez and his squad will travel to Vietnam on October 7, where they will continue training.Marquez announced a list of 26 probables on Monday. The final squad of 23 players will be announced before the team's travel to Vietnam.This will be the second event that the Indian senior national football team will be played under Manolo Marquez, who was appointed to the post succeeding Igor Stimac on July 20, 2024. The Intercontinental Cup was the 56-year-old Marquex's first assignment as India coach.India will be looking to build on their recent good form, which has seen them win the SAFF Championship and qualify for the AFC Asian Cup. Vietnam, meanwhile, are ranked 97th in the FIFA Rankings, 10 places below India.The match will be a good test for both teams as they prepare for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup. India will be hoping to continue their good form and Vietnam will be looking to improve their FIFA Ranking.

Indian Football Team Announces Probables for Tri-Nation Tournament in VietnamThe Indian senior men's football team, under the guidance of head coach Manolo Marquez, has unveiled a 26-member provisional squad for the upcoming Tri-Nation friendly tournament in Vietnam. The tournament, scheduled for the October FIFA international match window, will see the Blue Tigers take on hosts Vietnam and Lebanon.The Indian team will face Vietnam on October 9 and Lebanon on October 12 at the Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh, approximately 100 kilometers from Hanoi. The final 23-player roster will be announced before the team's departure for Vietnam.The provisional squad features a mix of experienced and emerging players, including goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, defender Rahul Bheke, and midfielder Anirudh Thapa. The team also includes promising youngsters such as defender Roshan Singh Naorem and forward Vikram Partap Singh.The Tri-Nation tournament will provide the Indian team with valuable preparation for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, scheduled for June 2023. The Blue Tigers will be aiming to secure a berth in the continental championship, which will be held in China in 2023.Coach Marquez expressed his confidence in the squad, stating, "We have selected a balanced team with a good mix of experience and youth. The Tri-Nation tournament will be a great opportunity for us to assess our players and prepare for the Asian Cup qualifiers."The Indian team will begin its training camp in Kolkata on September 26 before traveling to Vietnam for the tournament. The Blue Tigers will be looking to make a strong impression in the Tri-Nation tournament and build momentum ahead of the crucial Asian Cup qualifiers.

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.