Manolo Marquez Eyes First Win as Indian Football Coach Ahead of Vietnam Friendly | Final 23 Members Squad Reveled

 The Indian National Football Team, with the newly appointed Manolo Marquez as the head coach, is preparing for the international friendly against Vietnam. It will take place in Vietnam and will be very important for the Blue Tigers who are yet to win under the recent Spanish coach.

The beginning hasn’t been smooth for Marquez. With buoyant expectations after a hard-fought goalless draw with Mauritius followed by a crushing loss to Syria, the coach is under pressure to produce wins. The next friendly against Vietnam ranked 116th is a good shaking off opportunity and also helps in boosting morale before other competitions.

India vs Vietnam: A Key Challenge

Presently positioned at the 126th spot in the FIFA World Rankings, India is set to meet a higher-ranked opponent in Vietnam who is currently ranked 116. The Vietnamese will be hoping to perform to their full potential while at the same time playing on home turf. As for Marquez, this is not just another game in the schedule. Nonetheless, this is a crucial clash for him in showcasing his strategical expertize and inspiring the team to have a winning mentality.

As the match is taking place in Vietnam, the Indian team will have to adjust to the foreign conditions and atmosphere so as to remain in contention for the entire time.

Picture credit - AIFF

When Marquez assumed control of the national team, it was evident from the outset that his intention was to create a team that plays beautiful, attacking football. Yet, following two disappointing results in succession, the attention now turns to providing efficient and goal-oriented football.

The player selection of Marquez for the friend match against Vietnam indicates that he is also mindful of the players' form, fitness and hunger for the game. The coach has selected players who are in prime shape physically and have shown effective performance through the national competitions. It is intriguing that Rahim Ali, Anirudh Thapa, and Nandhakumar Sekar have all been omitted from the 23-man final squad even though they were part of the probables earlier. This clearly indicates that Marquez is willing to use the best and most competitive team which is available.

India’s Forward Line Post-Sunil Chhetri

It is safe to claim that the most daunting task that the Indian team will face is the absence of the inspirational figure and talisman Sunil Chhetri, who called time on his competitive international career earlier this year. Chhetri’s absence means also that a huge chunk of the attacking third goes missing. This means that Vikram Partap Singh, Farukh Chaudhary, Manvir Singh, and players of their caliber will have to step up and fill the vacuum.

Such young forwards will not only have to take the lead at the helm but will also have to ensure that they create a legacy for themselves in the post-Chhetri phase. There will be a lot of interest among fans and experts on how ‘these’ attackers respond to Marquez as well. A lot hinges upon their display in this friendly and more so on the attacking outlook that they will take going forward.

India’s 23-man Squad for Vietnam Friendly

• Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Vishal Kaith
• Defenders: Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Anwar Ali, Aakash Sangwan, Subhasish Bose, Asish Rai, Mehtab Singh, Roshan Singh Naorem
• Midfielders: Suresh Singh Wangjam, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco, Lalengmawia, Lallianzuala Chhangte
• Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Farukh Chaudhary, Manvir Singh, Vikram Partap Singh

What’s at Stake for Marquez?

The Vietnam friendly is more than just a game for Manolo Marquez. It’s a test of his ability to turn the tide for Indian football and get the team back to winning ways. Marquez will be aware that while a win is important, so too is the style of play. Indian fans have high hopes for this team, and they expect a cohesive, attack-minded unit that can compete with higher-ranked teams on a consistent basis.

This friendly will also provide a glimpse of how Marquez plans to evolve the squad post-Sunil Chhetri, as younger players are given more responsibility. A positive result in Vietnam could mark the beginning of a new chapter for Indian football under Marquez, while another loss could heap further pressure on the Spanish tactician.