India vs. Maldives: Match Preview and Predictions Ahead of Asian Cup Qualifiers
India and Maldives will meet for an international friendly match, pivotal to their Asian Cup qualifying campaigns. India has not won in 18 months, facing challenges under coach Manolo Marquez. Maldives also seeks to improve after a dismal World Cup qualifying exit. Sunil Chhetri leads India, while Maldives looks to veteran Ali Fasir for inspiration. India is favored to win 2-0.
India and Maldives are set to collide in an international friendly at the Polo Ground in Shillong on Wednesday. This match serves as a precursor to their respective Asian Cup qualifying campaigns commencing next week. Both nations were swiftly eliminated from World Cup qualifying, setting the stage for the upcoming challenge ahead.
It has been almost 18 months since India last secured an international victory, which came against Kuwait in a pivotal World Cup qualifying match. Subsequently, India faced elimination, finishing last in their group that included Qatar and Afghanistan. The team scored only two goals across five qualifiers and endured a disappointing Asian Cup campaign, being unable to score in any of their group matches.
Under the management of Manolo Marquez, the Indian national team has struggled to break their winless streak in recent friendlies. They have recorded draws against Mauritius, Vietnam, and Malaysia, along with a defeat to Syria. Marquez is set to leave his position at FC Goa to focus on leading the national squad towards Asian Cup qualification, commencing with a match against Bangladesh next week.
Maldives enters the friendly match with a limited competitive history over the past 18 months, culminating in their exit from World Cup qualifying after a close aggregate loss to Bangladesh. New coach Ali Suzain, returning for a second term, aims to enhance the national team’s fortunes by improving their dismal record against India, where they have only recorded two victories in 16 prior encounters.
India’s roster features veteran forward Sunil Chhetri, who aims to add to his 94 international goals. However, influential players Lallianzuala Chhangte and Ashish Rai will miss the match due to injuries, alongside Sahal Abdul Samad and defenders Jay Gupta and Anwar Ali. Maldives looks to their experienced scorer Ali Fasir, who has performed well in recent friendlies.
With India likely to field their strongest lineup, Maldives will aim for a more competitive approach despite recent inactivity. Given India’s higher FIFA ranking and previous match results, they are favored to win this encounter, potentially by a score of 2-0. This match also aims to help both teams acclimatize ahead of the Asian Cup qualifiers next week.
The upcoming friendly between India and Maldives is significant for both teams as they prepare for their Asian Cup qualifying campaigns. India seeks to end a lengthy winless run while Maldives aims to capitalize on their experienced players despite limited match exposure. The match outcomes will likely reflect India’s higher rankings and recent competitive edge, anticipated to conclude with an Indian victory.
Original Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk
