The Indian senior men’s football team, under the guidance of head coach Manolo Marquez, has announced a 26-member squad for the upcoming FIFA International Friendly against Malaysia. The match will be held on November 18 at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad.
The Blue Tigers, as the Indian team is known, will assemble in Hyderabad on November 11 for a training camp. Their last friendly match was against Vietnam in October, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Farukh Choudhary scored the lone goal for India in that match.
India has been struggling for form in recent times, failing to win in their last 11 matches. Their last victory came against Kuwait in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on November 16, 2023.
Coach Marquez has named three experienced goalkeepers in the squad: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and Vishal Kaith. Defenders Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, and Rahul Bheke have been included to strengthen the backline.
Midfielders Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, and Jithin MS have also been named in the squad. Lallianzuala Chhangte will lead the attack force against Malaysia.
The Blue Tigers will be hoping to end their winless streak and secure a victory in the upcoming match. They will face a Malaysia team that is ranked 148th in the FIFA World Rankings, while India is ranked 106th.
