'Both Teams Have Changed', Feels Manolo Marquez Ahead Of India's Exhibition Against Thailand
Last Updated:
Marquez opined that the circumstances surrounding the upcoming friendly fixture between India and Thailand are completely different to the previous meetings between the sides.
The Indian football team are set to face familiar foes Thailand in a friendly on the 4th of June at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani.
India play the exhibition fixture against Thailand as a tune-up event ahead of the Blue Tigers' Asian Cup Qualifier against Hong Kong, while Thailand are set to take on Turkmenistan in the qualifiers. Indian head coach Manolo Marquez touched upon the similar situation the sides find themselves in ahead of their respective qualifier fixtures.
'We are preparing for the game against Hong Kong, and Thailand are preparing for Turkmenistan. It's a good friendly game for both teams because we are in a similar situation," Marquez said during the pre-match press conference.
The hosts boast a better head-to-head record against India with 12 wins for Thailand, 7 for India and 7 draws, however, the Blue Tigers can seek to draw inspirtation from their recent victories against the Changsuek as India managed to beat Thailand 4-1 at the AFC Asia Cup 2019, and 1-0 in the King's Cup.
Marquez, however, opined that the circumstances surrounding the upcoming fixture are completely different to the meeting between the sides over half-a-decade ago.
'Those games were a long time ago. It wasn't last week or last month. I think both teams have changed players since then," the Spaniard said.
'I spoke with the players who played that game. It's practically impossible to compare the games," he added.
'I expect a good game. We are here to win, and obviously, if you ask me if we can repeat the score of 2019, that would be great," the 56-year-old added.
Thai head coach Ishii also alluded to the changes that the sides have undergone since their last meeting and sought to pick up a win over India to generate momentum going into the Asia Cup qualifier.
'We lost the last two games against India, but there have been a lot of changes. I wasn't the coach at that time, and a lot of players were different. So, it doesn't matter. We want to win against India and use this game as preparation for Turkmenistan,"
First Published:
June 03, 2025, 16:56 IST
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
8 minutes ago
- The Hindu
UTT 2025: Izaac Quek aims to end Singapore's 16-year medal drought at LA 2028 Olympics
The Singaporean table tennis community has high hopes from Izaac Quek. Half of the country's six Olympic medals have come in ping pong but there has been no podium-finish since 2012. Also, all three medallists were born in China. But the 19-year-old Izaac is a Singaporean through and through. The talented youngster, who doesn't have a sports background, already made history last year in Paris as the youngest-local born player to qualify for the Olympics. 'I started playing table tennis in school at the age of 7. My family didn't play table tennis at all. I randomly chose the sport because one time, I played with my family and I really enjoyed it. To be able to come from there to qualify for the Olympics was a dream,' said Izaac, who is playing for Dabang Delhi in Season 6 of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league in Ahmedabad. ALSO READ | Indian players keen to learn as Fan Siqi ends eight-year Chinese absence In his debut UTT season, Izaac - the youngest overseas player - has already impressed everyone with wins over Kanak Jha and Portuguese Tiago Apolonia. He had a nervous start against Jha but after conceding the opener to the American, he has clinched five straight games. Apolonia, who is double the age of Izaac, and the 24-year-old Jha found themselves wanting when it came to keeping up with the quick reflexes. The low center of gravity - Izaac is 172cm tall - and raw power help the Singaporean produce winning shots even from some very difficult positions. For Izaac, the current Olympic cycle is very important for him after which he will be forced to leave the paddle for a while. | Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI/The Hindu 'There are not many tournaments where you can team up with foreigners, fight and try to win a competition. We always see each other internationally but we are always competing against each other. Trying to adapt and playing together is a good opportunity for me,' said Izaac, describing his experience in India so far. For Izaac, having played all the major tournaments already, the next goal is to better his results at those events. The current Olympic cycle is very important for him after which he will be forced to leave the paddle for a while. 'In Singapore, for boys, two years of military training is compulsory. There are no exemptions even if I win a gold at the Olympics. I can only defer the national service. Right now, I am still in school but I'll be going for military training after the LA Olympics. So, either in late 2028 or 2029,' revealed the teenager. ALSO READ | Dabang Delhi TTC, PBG Pune Jaguars remain unbeaten after winning respective matches World No. 98 Izaac came into the national limelight after his run to the round of 16, which included wins over veterans Achanta Sharath Kamal and Sweden's Mattias Falck, at the Singapore Smash 2023. However, it's his consistency in doubles which could be crucial to the country's hopes of clinching an Olympic medal after 16 years. Izaac and Koen Pang, another local-born Singaporean, are World No. 11 in the men's doubles ITTF Rankings. They also grabbed a silver medal at the Asian Championships 2024. 'We didn't imagine reaching such a high level. We are trying to use that confidence and bring it to singles because we have a lot of room for improvement. The men's doubles are a separate event at the LA Olympics. So, me and Pang will be focussing on the doubles while also improving our singles,' said a hopeful Izaac.
Time of India
8 minutes ago
- Time of India
Vaibhav Suryavanshi: I will look to do two times better for my team in next IPL
Having left an indelible mark in his debut season itself, 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi says he will look to do two times better for his team Rajasthan Royals in next year's Indian Premier League . Suryavanshi created the record for the fastest century for any Indian in terms of balls faced (35) when he cracked 101 off only 38 balls with seven fours and 11 sixes against Gujarat Titans in Jaipur in April. The whirlwind knock helped Suryavanshi not only enter his name in record books for the second fastest century ever in IPL , he also become the youngest T20 centurion in men's T20 cricket at 14 years and 32 days. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Recessão ou vibecessão? Franklin Templeton Brazil Leia mais "Playing in the IPL is like a dream for everyone and I got a lot of positives from my first season and I also learnt a lot in terms of what I can do for the team in the next season," Suryavanshi said in a video shared by IPL's official website. Even as the Royals endured a forgettable campaign, the left-handed Suryavanshi tasted success on personal front as he was given the IPL Super Striker of the Season award after the conclusion of the final on Tuesday. Live Events "Next year, I will work on areas where I made mistakes and try to do much better for the team," he said. Talking about his learnings from the maiden season, Suryavanshi said, "My learning is that I have to do two times better than what I have done so that my team also plays in the final next year and how much I can contribute to my team, I will focus on that." Given his exploits, Suryavanshi was also named in the India Under-19 squad for a multi-format tour of England along with Mumbai's Ayush Mhatre, who made a successful debut for Chennai Super Kings. "It is a new tournament. I am going to the UK for the first time so it will be a new experience. I will experience how the game goes on there," Suryavanshi said. "Ayush Mhatre, who played for Chennai Super Kings this time, is our captain. The preparations are going well and it will be a good experience of playing in England and will try to return with the trophy," he added.
Time of India
8 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Narender surrendered to Adani, China': Congress ups ante with fresh jibe at PM
The Congress on Thursday upped the ante with its " Narender-surrender " jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi , alleging that he "surrendered" before billionaire Gautam Adani as well as to China. There was no immediate response from the government or the Adani Group over the Congress's accusations but the business conglomerate has, in the past, rejected all such allegations against it. Congress leader Ajoy Kumar said the duo of Adani and Modi has left behind the Jai-Veeru duo from the film "Sholay". "The process of Narendra Modi's surrender before (US President Donald) Trump has happened after many years of practice," Kumar said at a press conference at the Indira Bhawan, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters here. "Wherever Narendra Modi goes or whatever Adani wants -- he gets the contract.... The diplomatic moves of India's prime minister have helped industrialist Mr A to expand his international business interests in ports, airports, electricity, coal mining and weapons," the Congress leader claimed and cited examples from various countries. Live Events "Narenderji has hurt his country's relations with her neighbours as well as with other countries by brazenly promoting Mr A's ambitions. The growth of the Mr A Group outside India over the past decade or so has been closely aligned with the diplomatic efforts of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he alleged. Many of "Mr A's" international deals were struck soon after Modi's official visits to certain countries or after heads of government visited India, Kumar claimed. Alleging that Modi had also "surrendered" before China, he said "Narender-Surrender" must apologise to the country for his "clean chit" to the neighbouring country on its invasion of Indian territory in 2020. Kumar claimed that China has vowed to stand by Pakistan in defending its "sovereignty" and "territorial integrity", and called it its "iron-clad friend". "China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, recently gave a statement that his country would continue to stand by Pakistan in upholding its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national independence. China has supplied arms worth over USD 20 billion to Pakistan," Kumar claimed. The Congress had said on Wednesday that it is wrong to think that "Narendra Modi is India and India is Narendra Modi", as it slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its criticism of Rahul Gandhi over his dig at the prime minister, and doubled down on the "Narender-surrender" jibe. Gandhi had said in Bhopal on Tuesday that "as soon as Trump signalled from there, picked up the phone and said, 'what are you doing Modiji? Narender, surrender'.... And Modiji obeyed Trump's orders with Ji Huzoor'". Urging people to remember 1971, Gandhi said back then, a phone call had not come but the United States had sent its 7th fleet, weapons and an aircraft carrier, but prime minister Indira Gandhi did not surrender and said she would go by national interest. Referring to the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Gandhi said they are habituated to writing "surrender letters" since Independence. The BJP has accused Gandhi of insulting the armed forces with his "surrender" barb at Modi, saying it amounted to undermining the success of Operation Sindoor. BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said the Congress leader has surpassed even Pakistan's army chief, prime minister and the terror masterminds based there in speaking in support of the neighbouring country, and alleged that his jibes reflect a sick and dangerous mindset. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
