Indian Football Team Prepares for Friendly Match Against Vietnam
The Indian men’s football team, led by head coach Manolo Marquez, is gearing up for a friendly match against Vietnam on October 12. The team has gathered in Kolkata and started training sessions, with Marquez noting that the players are in better physical shape now compared to the pre-season.
New Faces in the Squad
The squad includes new players like left-back Aakash Sangwan and 21-year-old midfielder Lalrinliana Hnamte, who have received their first national team call-ups. Farukh Choudhary returns to the team after three years, having previously played 14 matches for India.
Changes in Match Plans
Originally planned as a tri-nation tournament, the match against Vietnam became a one-off friendly after Lebanon withdrew. The game will take place at Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh.
Training and Preparation
Marquez expressed that having more training sessions is beneficial for the team to understand their playing philosophy better. The team will have four to five sessions before the match, allowing them to prepare thoroughly.
Team’s Positive Attitude
Marquez praised the players’ optimistic attitude during training, noting that they are in similar conditions to Vietnam, whose league season is also underway. The match will be a test to see which team performs better.
India’s 23-Member Squad
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Coaching staff includes assistant coaches Mahesh Gawali and Benito Montalvo, goalkeeper coach Marc Gamon, and strength and conditioning coach Jose Carlos Barroso.
Doubts Revealed
Friendly Match -: A friendly match is a game played between two teams that is not part of a competition or tournament. It’s usually for practice and to improve skills.
Manolo Marquez -: Manolo Marquez is the coach of the Indian men’s football team. A coach is someone who trains and guides the players to perform better.
Aakash Sangwan -: Aakash Sangwan is a new player in the Indian football team. Players are the people who play the game on the field.
Lalrinliana Hnamte -: Lalrinliana Hnamte is another new player in the Indian football team. He is part of the squad preparing for the match against Vietnam.
Tri-nation tournament -: A tri-nation tournament is a competition where three different teams or countries play against each other. In this case, it was supposed to include India, Vietnam, and Lebanon.
Lebanon’s withdrawal -: Lebanon’s withdrawal means that the Lebanon team decided not to participate in the tournament. This changed the event from a tournament to just a single friendly match.
Farukh Choudhary -: Farukh Choudhary is a player who is returning to the Indian football team after three years. He will be part of the squad for the match against Vietnam.
