India will face the Maldives in an international friendly in Shillong as both teams prepare for the Asian Cup qualifiers. India seeks to end an 18-month winless streak while Maldives aims to improve its disappointing record. Key players will be missing from both squads, with India expected to leverage its higher world ranking to secure victory.
India and the Maldives will engage in an international friendly at the Polo Ground in Shillong on Wednesday, marking their preparations for the upcoming Asian Cup qualifying campaigns. Both teams faced early elimination from World Cup qualifying, leading to this crucial encounter to kickstart their journey toward the 2027 Asian Cup.
India has not celebrated a victory at the international level for 18 months, with their last win against Kuwait—a surprising 1-0 victory. Subsequently, India finished last in their qualifying group, which included Qatar and Afghanistan, while Kuwait advanced, maintaining their chances for next summer’s finals. India’s disappointing performance included only two goals in five qualifiers, resulting in their early exit.
Under the stewardship of Coach Manolo Marquez, India has not experienced success in four recent friendlies, drawing against Mauritius, Vietnam, and Malaysia, along with a defeat to Syria. Marquez, who will soon focus entirely on the national team after leaving FC Goa, aims to revitalize India’s aspirations for the Asian Cup, kicking off against Bangladesh next week.
Maldives also initiates their campaign against the Philippines after a limited schedule over the past 18 months. Eliminated at the World Cup qualifiers’ first stage by Bangladesh, Maldives has played just two friendlies since then, achieving one win and one loss against the same opponents. New coach Ali Suzain, returning for his second tenure, is tasked with boosting their performance and securing a surprise qualification for the Asian Cup.
In their historic encounters, Maldives has only defeated India twice in 16 matches, with their last meeting resulting in a 3-1 victory for India. Maldives will look to 36-year-old Ali Fasir, who has been a key player and scorer against Bangladesh, to lead the team in this match.
India’s squad will feature the return of Sunil Chhetri, who aims to reach 100 international goals, albeit without Lallianzuala Chhangte and Ashish Rai due to injuries. Sahal Abdul Samad, alongside defenders Jay Gupta and Anwar Ali, will also miss the match. On the other hand, Maldives has called up nine uncapped players, providing an opportunity for debutants in this encounter.
The anticipated starting lineup for India may include A Singh, Bheke, Jhingan, Bose, N R Singh, Wangjam, Apuia, Fernandes, Yadwad, S Chhetri, and Choudhary. Maldives could field Shareef, Samooh, Sifaau, H Hassan, Shifaz, H Mohamed, Mahudhee, Nihan, Irufaan, N Hassan, and Fasir.
The upcoming friendly between India and the Maldives serves as a vital preparation for both teams ahead of their Asian Cup qualifying matches. With India’s historical strength and improved rankings, they are favored to win, despite their recent struggles. Meanwhile, Maldives enters the match with fewer competitive experiences, emphasizing the importance of this encounter for both squads.
Original Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk
