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Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
India's young side fails to clear Thailand hurdle
Back in 2019, when Stephen Constantine was the national football coach, India beat Thailand 4-0 at the AFC Asian Cup. Seven games into his tenure, coach Manolo Marquez chose a young Indian team for a friendly against Thailand on Wednesday, ahead of the country's attempt to return back to that very competition. Despite a crucial Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on the road looming, and a lengthy domestic camp behind them, India conceded a two-goal loss on the road. Goals from Ben Davis and Poramet Arjivilai early in both halves handed Marquez's team yet another loss in what has been a difficult period — 8 losses, 6 draws and 1 win against Maldives, since November 2023. After a string of poor results to start his international tenure, Marquez chose a relatively young team against Thailand, who are in a similar boat as India and will face Turkmenistan in their 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Marquez didn't just change the composition of the team, but played a formation he normally doesn't choose. Thailand defeat #BlueTigers in FIFA International Friendly Check out the link for match report 🔗 ⚽️ — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 4, 2025 Sunil Chhetri and Ashique Kuruniyan started upfront for India, with Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh on the wings. Defensively too, going with Asish Rai, Anwar Ali and Abhishek Tekcham meant that India wanted pace in their backline, after their previous game against Bangladesh. But Thailand and Ben Davis had other plans. India, never really comfortable playing through the midfield, started to do just so, but were getting caught out early under Thailand's pressure. Davies opened the scoring for the home team in the eighth minute, converting a half volley right on the edge of the Indian box after a sideways pass from Korawich Tasa found him with space. India were caught slightly unawares, with a player down in the box and the Thai's choosing to continue playing. As the first half continued, India's influence in the midfield grew – but it coincided with a drop in Thailand's energy in chasing the ball. But even with that influence, came the poor decision-making in the final third, that has been the hallmark of this team. It would either be a half-hearted cross into the box to Chhetri, a player who is usually surrounded by taller centre-backs, or it would be a long shot from outside the box – attempts that came from Liston Colaco and Ashique. There would be the occasional chance – Colaco's run through the wing and then a slider into Chhetri should have come up with some dividends, but the Indian skipper got caught in the box amid too many bodies and couldn't connect with the ball well enough. Tekcham took a shot from way outside the box with his right foot that whizzed past the post. But as the half dwindled, India continued to be a goal down. That disadvantage doubled itself when Thailand scored in the 59th minute again. A few minutes earlier Chhetri had been denied a penalty and right as it seemed the away team was going to snake a goal in, Arjivirai came up with a moment of brilliance. Sliding in from the left, the Thai striker used his marker to curl a right-footed shot into Vishal Kaith's goal – a shot that curved first, dipped later and then touched the underside of the crossbar before going into goal. Two goals up and a game against Turkmenistan on the horizon, Thailand took their foot off the pedal. It led to India's strongest period in the game, and a few chances followed. But Lallianzuala Changte wasn't able to convert the simplest of one-on-ones against the Thai custodian when he was sent through on goal in the 79th minute and that missed opportunity was summed up. Marquez's team next face Hong Kong on the road, a crucial game where the Indian team needs to pick up a win to get their Asian Cup qualification on track.
India Today
2 days ago
- General
- India Today
India lose 0-2 to Thailand in football friendly before AFC Asian Cup qualifier
A lackluster India lost 0-2 against Thailand in an international football friendly in a reality check ahead of their crucial Asian Cup qualifying round match, here on Wednesday. Benjamin Davis and Poramet Arjvilai scored for Thailand in the eighth and 59th minutes, respectively, as the home side dominated the match at the Thammasat had won the last two matches between the two sides before Wednesday's defeat but Thailand, ranked 99th in the world, were clearly the better side on the day. India are currently ranked a lowly talismanic Sunil Chhetri, who had scored twice in India's 4-1 win against Thailand in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, nearly scored in the 24th minute but his glancing header was saved by a diving Thailand goalkeeper Saranon Anui.A tough day in the office for the #BlueTigers, but lessons learnt for the next one.#THAIND #IndianFootball Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 4, 2025 India have also beaten Thailand 1-0 in the Kings Cup in 2019. Thailand were technically bettered equipped and more clinical while India were left ruing missed opportunities and costly defensive lapses. The Indian midfield also lacked was the Indian team's second defeat in seven matches under head coach Manolo Marquez, the last one being 0-3 loss to Syria in the Intercontinental Cup last year in of the five remaining matches under his charge, four were drawn games while the lone win came against Maldives (3-0) in March in an international made their early dominance count. Phitiwat Sookjitthammakul found Korawich Tasa near the edge of the Indian box in the eighth minute. Tasa smartly laid it off for Ben Davis, who took a deft first touch to steady himself before unleashing a thunderous right-footed shot past Indian goalkeeper Vishal was Davis' fourth goal in seven appearances for Thailand, and the Indian backline was left exposed, reacting too late to close him gradually grew into the game, using the width of the pitch to stretch the Thailand defence. Liston Colaco, operating fluently between midfield and the left flank, was a standout performer, linking up well with Sunil Chhetri and forward Ashique first opportunity to level the score in the first half came in the 24th minute. Colaco delivered a teasing free-kick from the left which Chhetri met with a clever header, timing his run perfectly to get ahead of his marker. However, Thailand goalkeeper Saranon Anuin dived to his left to pull off a sharp continued to pose threat on the Indian citadel, with long-range efforts from Korawich Tasa and Arjvilai narrowly missing the momentum began to shift slightly in India's favour as the half wore on. Abhishek came close with a driven shot from distance that missed the horizontal by inches in the 40th the golden opportunity arrived in first-half stoppage time. Chhetri played a sublime through ball from midfield to find Colaco's run, splitting the Thai defence. Colaco brought the ball under control but couldn't finish the one-on-one chance as Anuin narrowed the angle to eventually thwart the danger with a timely the 59th minute, a miss pass in the midfield gifted Thailand ball possession. The ball was quickly fed to Arjvilai on the left flank. Spotting Vishal Kaith slightly off his line after sidestepping Ashish Rai, Arjvilai curled a magnificent effort into the top-right corner to double Thailand's lead and deflate Indian Lallianzuala Chhangte got a fine chance in the 80th minute but his left footer went just wide of the Changsuek, meanwhile, looked to exploit the spaces India left behind and could have added a third if not for a crucial intervention by Anwar Ali, who threw himself in front of a goal-bound shot in the dying match was part of preparation for India's crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifying round match against Hong Kong on June 10 in same was also the case for Thailand as they face Turkmenistan in their AFC Asian Cup final round qualifier.
India Today
02-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Mohun Bagan's Subhasish Bose crowned Indian Men's Footballer of the year
Mohun Bagan Super Giant captain and India defender Subhasish Bose was named the AIFF Men's Player of the Year on May 2 in Bhubaneswar, edging out stalwarts like Sunil Chhetri — a recognition that marks a noticeable shift in the dynamics of Indian football. Subhasish became only the second defender in the last 11 years to claim the honour, following Sandesh Jhingan's win in the 2020–21 All India Football Federation (AIFF) also awarded Mohun Bagan's goalkeeper Vishal Kaith the Men's Goalkeeper of the Year title, underlining the defensive strength that defined the Mariners' triumphant Indian Super League (ISL) campaign. Subhasish's contributions extended far beyond just clean sheets — he was instrumental at both ends of the pitch, netting six crucial goals across the season.#BlueTigers defender and @mohunbagansg captain is the Men's Player of the Year! #AIFFAwards2025 #IndianFootball Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) May 2, 2025While Indian football has traditionally seen strikers dominate such accolades, Subhasish's win highlighted the vital role defenders played in this year's ISL. Mohun Bagan's 15 clean sheets were a testament to their defensive solidity, a key factor in their title-winning run. His recognition not only rewards personal excellence but also signals a broader appreciation for backline brilliance in Indian the Men's Goalkeeper of the Year!The record clean-sheet taker in #ISL history #AIFFAwards2025 #IndianFootball Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) May 2, 2025 Among other winners, Jamshedpur FC head coach Khalid Jamil was named Men's Coach of the Year, while East Bengal FC's Soumya Guguloth claimed the Women's Player of the Year title. FC Goa midfielder Brison Fernandes was awarded the Most Promising Men's Player of the Year.
New York Times
07-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Sunil Chhetri, India's record goalscorer, comes out of international retirement at 40
Sunil Chhetri, fourth on the all-time list of international goalscorers, has returned to the India national team. The 40-year-old striker had announced his retirement from international football last year, having scored 94 goals for India, but has now returned to the India squad for March's matches against Maldives and Bangladesh. Chhetri, whose senior career began in 2002 and who first played at international level in 2005, has made 151 appearances for India — a national record. 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐋 𝐂𝐇𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐈 𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊. 🇮🇳 The captain, leader, legend will return to the Indian national team for the FIFA International Window in March.#IndianFootball ⚽ — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 6, 2025 Chhetri is behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Ali Daei on the list of record international scorers, and he is just six goals away from becoming football's fourth international centurion scorer. While India has never won a major international tournament nor appeared at a World Cup finals, Chhetri has won 11 trophies with the nation including four South Asian Football Federation Championships. Advertisement His club career has included spells at MLS side Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City) where he made one appearance in 2010, while he briefly spent time at the B side of Portuguese club Sporting CP. Chhetri currently plays for Indian Super League club Bengaluru, for whom he has scored over 100 goals since joining 2016. India, coached by Manolo Marquez, play Maldives in a friendly on March 19 before beginning their Asian Cup qualification campaign at home to Bangladesh six days later, in a group that also contains Singapore and Hong Kong. ()
