Latest news with #AFCAsianCupSaudiArabia2027
News18
13 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
Manolo Marquez Says India 'Ready to Perform' Against Hong Kong
Last Updated: India will face Hong Kong, China on 10 June 2025 in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 as Manolo Marquez is confident after good preparations. India will face Hong Kong, China on Tuesday, 10 June 2025, in Matchday 2 of Group C in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round at Kai Tak Stadium in Kowloon. The Group C standings currently show all four teams level on one point each, after both games on Matchday 1 on 25 March ended in goalless draws. India drew with Bangladesh in Shillong, while Hong Kong secured a point against Singapore. Only the group winners will qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup. India, having qualified for two consecutive Asian Cups for the first time in 2023, aim to continue their historic streak. Hong Kong, also a qualifier for the previous tournament, are competing for the sole available berth. India's head coach, Manolo Marquez, expressed confidence ahead of the Blue Tigers' match against Hong Kong. 'Our preparations have been much better this time compared to previous FIFA windows, where time was limited. We had about three weeks to prepare in Kolkata, Bangkok, and here in Hong Kong. We are ready to perform. Nothing special," Marquez said. 'The team environment is quite good. Obviously, any team's environment improves when consistently winning games. Regardless of results, the relationship between our players is very good," he added. India centre-back, Konsham Chinglensana Singh, echoed his coach's sentiments. 'We are well prepared for the game after three weeks in the camp. Mentally and physically, we are ready," he said. The Blue Tigers have had mixed results recently. Of the three matches they played in 2025, they have won one, drawn one, and lost their last match against Thailand. Marquez, however, is not overly concerned about the 2-0 defeat. 'In my opinion, most coaches aren't worried about scores in friendly games. We are focusing on the important match against Hong Kong," he stated. 'I know the score against Thailand is being discussed, but with better finishing from our chances, it could have been different. This is football." The match at the newly built 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium is set to be the inaugural football event at the venue, with tickets reportedly sold out. The stadium features a retractable roof which will be kept closed during the match. On Monday, the Blue Tigers had an official training session to acclimatise to the conditions. 'We will try to enjoy the occasion at this stadium. I'm not sure if it will be completely full, but a large crowd is expected. It will be a nice event, but our focus is on winning the game," said Marquez. Hong Kong, China's head coach, Ashley Westwood, familiar with Indian football, having coached clubs like Bengaluru FC, ATK, and Punjab FC in India before his international roles in Afghanistan and Hong Kong, praised the development of Indian football over the years. 'I went to India in 2013, and the country has progressed significantly since then. I know their coach; I watched the ISL. He's a good coach, doing well with FC Goa. He trains right, prepares right, and his players are always fit. The spirit in the squad is good, and everyone gets along well. We're looking forward to it," Westwood said. Hong Kong midfielder, Ngan Cheuk Pan, emphasised the need for his team to focus on their game against India. 'We're following the coach's tactics and focusing on improving our performance. We want to play our game," he said. India and Hong Kong, China have faced each other 24 times, with the Blue Tigers winning nine matches, Hong Kong winning eight, and seven games ending in draws. First Published:
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Relief for India as eight players get Hong Kong visas after 15-day wait
Liston Colaco tries to work his way past Thailand during an international friendly at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani on Wednesday Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) heaved a sigh of relief as eight national team players were granted visas to travel to Hong Kong, after waiting for more than two weeks. India play Hong Kong in a crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier on June 10. Indian passport holders can travel to Hong Kong visa-free for up to 14 days but a pre-arrival registration form must be filled online before landing in the country. According to sources, the AIFF applied online for the pre-arrival registration on May 18 with a majority of the 28 players and 14 officials getting their applications cleared in quick time. On May 28, the team was scheduled to travel to Thailand for an international friendly, and they did with eight players, including captain Sandesh Jhingan, unsure about making the onward trip to Hong Kong. 'The applications kept coming back for eight players and we didn't know what to do,' said a senior AIFF official. 'We wrote to the ministry of external affairs and then the President (Kalyan Chaubey) had to speak with the concerned ministries to ensure that all players got the visas.' The visas for the eight players which included Jhingan, Amrinder Singh, Subhashish Bose, Manvir Singh, Ashish Rai, Anwar Ali, Gurmeet Singh and Mehtab Singh were finally issued on Tuesday, 15 days after their first application. Thailand cruise past India India were left with plenty of work to do for next week's all-important qualifier against Hong Kong after losing the friendly 2-0 against Thailand at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani on Wednesday. Benjamin Davis (8') and Poramet Arjvilai (59') scored in either half for Thailand as the hosts capitalised on the space and time that was afforded to them by India's defence. Davis, who featured for ASEAN All-Stars against Manchester United in a friendly last week, picked the top corner from inside the box, while Arjvilai saw goalkeeper Vishal Kaith slightly off his line and made no mistake with a shot that dipped perfectly. India gradually grew into the game and created chances of their own. Sunil Chhetri sliced through the Thailand defence with a perfect ball for Liston Colaco in first-half stoppage time, but the forward could not get past the goalkeeper from a one-to-one position. All through the game, Indian players got themselves into decent positions but lacked the finishing touch with Liston, Chhetri, Ashique Kuruniyan and Lallianzuala Chhangte all going close from inside the box. India now travel to Hong Kong on Thursday for their crucial AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 final round qualifier on June 10.
