India and Maldives are scheduled for an international friendly in Shillong, serving as a precursor to their Asian Cup qualifying campaigns. Both teams experienced disappointing exits from World Cup qualifying, with India last winning in 2021. Coach Manolo Marquez has yet to secure a victory with India, while Maldives’ Ali Suzain aims for improvement following a sparse competitive schedule. Veteran players Chhetri and Fasir will be pivotal, and India is favored to win 2-0.
India and Maldives will face off in an international friendly match at the Polo Ground in Shillong on Wednesday, which serves as a precursor to both teams’ Asian Cup qualifying campaigns commencing next week. Both nations experienced quick exits from World Cup qualifying and are eager to embark on the qualifying journey for the 2027 Asian Cup after this friendly.
It has been 18 months since India last celebrated a victory in international football, achieving a 1-0 win against Kuwait during World Cup qualifying. Unfortunately, India was eliminated from the World Cup qualifying round, finishing last in their group that included Qatar and Afghanistan. The team only garnered two points from five matches and failed to score in their three group games during the Asian Cup.
The coaching helm now rests with Manolo Marquez, who after a string of winless matches, including three draws and a 3-0 defeat against Syria, is determined to improve India’s fortunes as they prepare for a crucial qualifier against Bangladesh next week. Marquez plans to resign from his role at FC Goa to concentrate on the national team.
Conversely, Maldives also begins their campaign next week against the Philippines, having faced an inconsistent recent schedule. Their previous World Cup qualifying match ended in a 3-2 aggregate loss to Bangladesh. After only two friendlies in the past 18 months, new coach Ali Suzain hopes to instigate a turnaround, especially following their historical record against India.
India’s veteran player Sunil Chhetri, now 40, returns from retirement, aiming to reach his century of international goals. Unfortunately, he will not have support from key players Lallianzuala Chhangte and Ashish Rai, who are sidelined due to injuries. Similarly, Sahal Abdul Samad and defenders Jay Gupta and Anwar Ali are also absent.
Maldives will rely on 36-year-old Ali Fasir for guidance, who has consistently performed well, scoring in recent matches. Due to limited competitive action, debut appearances for several uncapped players in the squad are probable.
India is anticipated to dominate the match with a predicted score of 2-0, largely due to their superior FIFA world ranking, with Maldives seeking to build momentum before their Asian Cup qualifiers.
In conclusion, the upcoming friendly between India and Maldives presents both teams with an opportunity to refine their strategies ahead of their respective Asian Cup qualifying campaigns. Despite a challenging recent performance for both nations, India is favored to secure a victory based on their higher ranking and experience. With significant absences on both sides, the match will be a pivotal test for the upcoming players and coaching staff as they aim for success in the Asian Cup.
Original Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk
