India and Maldives will compete in a friendly ahead of their Asian Cup qualifying campaigns. Both teams seek to recover from previous qualifying disappointments, with India having not won in 18 months and Maldives struggling due to limited competitive play. Key players include Sunil Chhetri for India and Ali Fasir for Maldives. Expectation leans towards India winning 2-0 given their higher ranking.
India will face the Maldives in an international friendly match at the Polo Ground in Shillong on Wednesday, ahead of the commencement of their Asian Cup qualifying campaigns next week. Both teams encountered early elimination from World Cup qualifying, making this friendly a significant precursor to their upcoming challenges in the race for the 2027 Asian Cup.
India has struggled in recent international competitions, with their last win occurring 18 months ago against Kuwait. Their performance in the World Cup qualifiers was disappointing, finishing at the bottom of their group without securing a win in their last five matches, and they also failed to score in their last three Asian Cup group outings.
Under the leadership of coach Manolo Marquez, India is still searching for their first victory, having drawn with Mauritius, Vietnam, and Malaysia, and suffering a 3-0 defeat to Syria. Marquez plans to entirely focus on the national team after his tenure with FC Goa concludes, as India gears up for their qualification match against Bangladesh.
The Maldives are grappling with a sparse schedule, as they prepare for their upcoming qualifier against the Philippines. Recently, they experienced a World Cup qualifying exit following a close aggregate defeat to Bangladesh. Only two friendlies were contested since their exit, with mixed results, leading new coach Ali Suzain to hope that they can capitalize on their limited play to foster a strong performance in the upcoming campaign.
Historically, Maldives has faced challenges against India, holding only two victories from sixteen encounters, the latest match resulting in a 3-1 defeat. 36-year-old Ali Fasir is expected to be a pivotal player for the Maldives, having scored in recent friendly matches.
In terms of squad news, India’s veteran captain Sunil Chhetri returns from retirement aiming for his 100th international goal; however, key players such as Lallianzuala Chhangte and Ashish Rai are sidelined due to injuries. Similarly, Maldives will depend on experienced players like Fasir, along with incorporating new talent from uncapped players called up under Suzain’s leadership.
In conclusion, while both teams bring little recent form into the match, India’s higher ranking of 36 places above the Maldives implies expectations for a 2-0 victory. The game serves as a crucial preparation for both teams as they embark on their respective qualification campaigns for the Asian Cup.
The friendly match between India and the Maldives is poised to be pivotal as both teams prepare for upcoming Asian Cup qualifying campaigns. While India seeks to break a long winless streak and bolster their team dynamics under Coach Marquez, the Maldives aims to overcome their recent lack of competitive play and improve their historical record against India. A successful match could provide essential momentum for both squads ahead of important qualifiers.
Original Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk
