India will host the Maldives in a friendly match ahead of their Asian Cup qualifying campaigns. Both teams face challenges from recent performances, especially India, who have not secured a win in 18 months. Key players’ injuries may impact their strategies, but India is favored to win due to a higher ranking and recent play. This match will help both teams prepare for the upcoming qualifiers.
India is set to play an international friendly against the Maldives at the Polo Ground in Shillong on Wednesday. This match precedes the commencement of both teams’ campaigns for the Asian Cup qualifying rounds, scheduled for next week. Both nations experienced swift exits from the World Cup qualifying phase, and they aim to commence their journey toward the 2027 Asian Cup with this friendly match.
It has been nearly 18 months since India recorded their last international win, which was a surprising 1-0 victory against Kuwait during the World Cup qualifying stage. Subsequently, India finished last in their group, which also included Qatar and Afghanistan, accumulating only two points and failing to score in their last three Asian Cup matches. The new head coach, Manolo Marquez, has yet to lead India to victory in any of his four friendly matches, facing three draws and a defeat thus far.
The Maldives are also gearing up for their Asian Cup qualifying campaign, which will start with an away match against the Philippines next week. Recently, they suffered elimination from World Cup qualifiers after losing to Bangladesh on aggregate. They have only played two friendlies since, one victory and one loss against Bangladesh. New coach Ali Suzain hopes to achieve a successful campaign, especially given their uneven record against India in previous contests.
India will rely on veteran player Sunil Chhetri, returning from retirement, as he seeks to mark his centennial goal, currently at 94. However, India will be without key players Lallianzuala Chhangte and Ashish Rai due to injuries, along with long-term absentee Sahal Abdul Samad and some defenders. In contrast, the Maldives will depend on 36-year-old Ali Fasir, their most capped and highest goal-scorer, who has been pivotal in their recent matches.
India is predicted to come out victorious against the Maldives, possibly with a score of 2-0. Despite both teams’ lack of recent form, India’s superior world ranking suggests they should overpower their opponents. The Maldives will be looking to quickly regain momentum to prepare for the Asian Cup qualifiers, making this friendly an essential match for both teams.
In conclusion, the upcoming friendly match between India and the Maldives serves as a crucial preparation for their Asian Cup qualifying campaigns. India, despite recent struggles, fields a stronger team led by Chhetri, while Maldives faces challenges due to limited recent play. With both teams aiming to improve their standings, the match offers an important opportunity for development ahead of competitive fixtures.
Original Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk
