The Indian men’s football team, led by head coach Manolo Marquez, is ready to kick off the Intercontinental Cup 2024 with a match against Mauritius at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday. While India’s hopes of qualifying for the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 have faded, the team is focused on sharpening its game for the third round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027. To achieve this, they will be facing off against Mauritius and Syria in upcoming friendlies.
Marquez has injected some fresh talent into the squad, calling up players like Kiyan Nassiri Giri, Edmund Lalrindika, and Lalthathanga Khawlhring for these crucial matches. Chinglensana Singh, who clinched the Indian Super League with Marquez at Hyderabad FC in 2022, is also back in the fold and expected to make his mark with mainstay center-back Sandesh Jhingan ruled out due to injury. Yasir Mohammed, another ISL winner with Hyderabad, will be missing the matches due to injury.
Marquez, known for his 4-2-3-1 formation during his time with Hyderabad and Goa, is likely to stick with the same strategy against Mauritius. While Amrinder Singh and Prabhsukhan Singh Gill are on the roster, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, with his experience and Marquez’s focus on winning the opening game, could be the goalkeeper for the match.
Nikhil Poojary and Jay Gupta, both veterans of Marquez’s club football teams, are the most likely candidates to start the game alongside Anwar Ali and Rahul Bheke as center-backs. A double-pivot midfield combination of Jeakson Singh and Lalengmawia Ralte, with Anirudh Thapa as the No. 10, is expected to provide flexibility, allowing the team to shift to a 4-3-2-1 formation when defending. Sahal Abdul Samad and Lallianzuala Chhangte are set to man the flanks.
The biggest challenge for Marquez lies in finding a suitable replacement for Sunil Chhetri, India’s all-time leading scorer, who has been a constant presence in the striker position for the past decade. Manvir Singh, who has primarily played on the right flank for his club, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, could be the answer, or perhaps Chhangte and Manvir could swap roles. With this lineup, the potential starting eleven could be: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in goal, backed by Nikhil Poojary, Anwar Ali, Rahul Bheke, and Jay Gupta in defense. The midfield would feature Lalengmawia Ralte, Jeakson Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Anirudh Thapa, and Lallianzuala Chhangte, with Manvir Singh leading the attack.
