Maldives go with a rotation for Marquez and Co before Bangladesh

Shillong (Meghalaya) [India]March 18 (Ani): The Indian Senior Männern team will compete against Mälzes on Wednesday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong in a FIFA International Friendly, according to the AIFF medient team

While it is a preparatory game for Manolo Marquez 'page before the most important qualification game for AFC Asian Cup 2027 against Bangladesh on March 25th, it marks a historic moment because the Blue Tigers will play for the first time in Shillong, Meghalaya. It will also be India's first goal scorer Sunil Chhri's first game since returning to international football.

At the press conference before the game on Tuesday, Marquez said: “It is the first time we play here, but I worked with many coaches and players from here. I knew it was a very nice place. I remember when I saw the Durand Cup in Shillong last year, I said:” Wow, the floor, the crowd, everything is nice. “I'm not joking, I said it would be great if one day the national team could play here,” as quoted from the AIFF media team

Defender Mehtab Singh agreed to the Spaniard.

He said: “We feel great to be in Shillong. It is the first time that our national team will play here. The northeast is known for its football fan fan.

For Marquez, his first competitive game has been a week since the India's head coach in July 2024 and the friendly opportunity to optimize his team before the decisive game.

“It is a friendly game to prepare for the Asian Cup qualification game. Obviously we would like to win. We knew that the goal during the previous FIFA windows should arrive in the best possible condition for the first competition game against Bangladesh next Tuesday,” he said.

“I don't think we will play with the same team against Bangladesh that will play tomorrow. Obviously, they cannot change all 11. Some will repeat on Tuesday. I am confident in all my players. It has to be a good game and a good preparation for Bangladesh,” he added.

Marquez also confirmed Chhri's participation in the friendly match, which will mark his 152nd cap for India.

“Sunil will certainly play a few minutes. I don't know if we can use six substitutions from the bank as a starter or from the bank, so 17 players can play, and I think Sunil will be one of them,” he noted.

“He is the Indian player with the most goals this season. It doesn't matter whether a player is 20, 40 or my grandfather at the age of 87. If he is in a better form, you will be here. The national team is not about developing players. Developed players have to arrive here.

Mehtab, who helped the Backline of the Blue Tigers to keep six clean sheets in 10 games for India so far, said: “We practiced very well for both games – our main focus is on the friendship against Maldives and then the qualification game against Bangladesh.

The Maldives are in the world, 36 places under India, in 162 and will also use the friendly game against the Asian Cup qualifier against Filipines next Tuesday.

The Maldives head coach Ali Suzain said: “Thank you for the hospitality here. We play on the 25th Philippines, so it's a preparatory game for us. But it is important because India and Maldives are two strong sides in this region. I hope it will be a good fight.

“Although we haven't played much on an international level these days, I have been with these players for a long time. I know them very well and I know their strengths and weaknesses and how to work on them. The players also have confidence in me. Maldives are a football country. Every island has football spots. We will do our best for the people of the Maldives,” he added. (Ani)

(The story comes from a syndicated feed and was not edited by the Tribune employees.)