India face Maldives in a friendly match to fine-tune their combination ahead of their crucial AFC Asian Cup Qualifying opener against Bangladesh on March 25. Both matches will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong from 7 PM, marking the first-ever international fixtures for Meghalaya’s capital, a city that breathes football.
In pursuit of their first win since defeating Kuwait in November 2023, 489 days ago, the Blue Tigers will aim to snap their winless run against the 162nd-ranked Maldives, who will face the Philippines in their Asian Cup Qualifier first-round game.
Since Manolo Marquez took charge as India’s head coach, the team have yet to yield positive results, managing three draws and one loss from four outings. As the squad embark on the crucial AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, Marquez has left no stone unturned. To address the team’s goal-scoring concerns, he brought Sunil Chhetri out of international retirement. The Spaniard will be eager to test his combination against Maldives before the Bangladesh clash.
“Obviously, we want to win, but the main objective is to arrive in the best condition for the first official game against Bangladesh on Tuesday,” said Marquez.
He also hinted at playing Chhetri, but not for the entire 90 minutes. “He will play,” said Marquez. “Let’s see. For sure, he will play some minutes. I don’t know if it will be from the start or off the bench, but he will definitely get some minutes. In this game, six substitutions are allowed, and all 17 players could get a chance. I think Sunil will be one of them.”
India began their preparations in Shillong on March 15, with the entire squad assembling a day prior. However, Lallianzuala Chhangte and Ashis Rai were ruled out due to injuries. To add to their woes, Manvir Singh, a key member of the playing XI, has also been ruled out. According to AIFF media reports, Manvir will return to Kolkata for rehabilitation with Mohun Bagan. His injury serves as a major blow, leaving Marquez with the option of either Irfan Yadwad or Naorem Mahesh as his replacement. However, whether they can match Manvir’s versatility down the flanks remains to be seen.
While no replacement has been called up for Chhangte, Brandon Fernandes is expected to step up in his place. Additionally, Punjab FC defender Abhishek Singh has received a debut call-up as Rai’s replacement. Marquez will be keen to assess their potential in the Maldives game.
The head coach has also brought in several new faces from FC Goa, the club he manages in the ISL. Brison Fernandes, Boris Singh, and Ayush Dev Chhetri have all earned call-ups. Brison has had a standout season in the ISL, scoring seven goals and providing two assists, making him the second-highest Indian goal-scorer behind Chhetri. Boris and Ayush have also impressed, and it remains to be seen how Marquez will utilise them.
Another key decision will be who guards the goalposts. With Gurpreet Singh Sandhu dropped following an underwhelming ISL season, Amrinder Singh, Vishal Kaith, and Gurmeet Singh are in contention. Vishal, who leads the Golden Glove race in the ISL with 14 clean sheets, is the favourite to start. His last appearance for the national team was in India’s 2-1 loss to Maldives in the SAFF Championship 2018 final.
Shillong, a city passionate about music and football, is all set to host its first international fixture. Recent ISL games have garnered immense support, and with Chhetri’s return, the excitement surrounding the India-Maldives clash is palpable. Now, it’s up to the Blue Tigers to make this occasion memorable for the football-loving fans of the hilly state.
Also Read: Doesn’t Matter if he’s 20, 40, or 87: Marquez Backs Chhetri’s Return to National Team
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