International Friendlies Archives

Sunil Chhetri brace hands India victory against Bangladesh

By Sanjay Jadhav 7 June 2021

Doha, Qatar: India rode on a Sunil Chhetri brace to beat Bangladesh 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 preliminary joint round qualification round at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha.

Courtesy the result, India moved to six points from seven matches, while Bangladesh are at two points seven matches. India next play Afghanistan in their last group league match on June 15.

Sunil broke the deadlock in the 78th minute when he headed in Ashique Kuruniyan’s cross from the left. He then sealed the result by curling in a shot from long range in added time, to win the match 2-0 for the Blue Tigers.

Stimac made three changes from the side that took on Qatar in the last match. The Blue Tigers made a cautious start, playing it amongst themselves, searching for the gaps.

In the 2nd minute, Rakib Hossain was flashed the yellow for a tackle on Brandon Fernandes. Brandon tried to be in the thick of action in his effort to essay those passes, and find someone in the clear.

India earned their first corner in the 9th minute, but the first real chance came in the 15th minute when Brandon’s through ball played between the two central defenders found Manvir Singh in the clear inside the box.

With only the rival goalkeeper Anisur Rahaman to beat, Manvir was a bit shy to have a try, and delayed it that shade too long allowing the rival defence to regroup.

In the next minute, Suresh Singh got into the box but his centre was collected by a diving Anisur.

Bangladesh’s Rahmat Mia was shown the yellow card for his foul on Suresh in the 32nd minute.

Bangladesh had a close shave in the 35th minute when Chinglensana Singh’s header off a Brandon corner was cleared on the line by Riyadul Hasan.

Changing over, Mohammed Yasir came in for Udanta Singh, and Ashique Kuruniyan replaced Bipin in the 46th minute.

In the 56th minute, Sandesh did leap more than all to head Brandon’d corner but it didn’t pose any danger, and then two minutes later, Sunil received a pass form Brandon on the edge of the box and out Yasir to pull the trigger. Yasir delayed a bit, and the rival defence were able to thwart it off.

On the hour mark, India brought in their third substitute – Liston Colaco coming in for Manvir Singh.

Almost immediately, rival captain Jamal Bhuyan was flashed the yellow after Suresh had sped past him on the right flank. Off the resultant free-kick, Brandon did manage to find an unmarked Sunil Chhetri in the box but his header was off target.

Glan’s long-range effort won India a corner in the 73rd when it deflected off a rival defender over the goal-line. But India’s agony continued as Subhashish Bose, all unmarked, failed to guide his header into the goal – it sailed past the post.

A minute later Asahique was shown the yellow card for his foul on Riyadul.

India finally was able to break the deadlock, and it was none other than Sunil Chhetri, on the 79th minute, who connected with an Ashique cross from an acute angle to send the ball back across Bangladesh goalkeeper Anisur Rahman.

Bangladesh began to throw bodies forward in search of the equaliser, but were often thwarted by the Indian defence. Jamal Bhuyian went into the referee’s books a minute after Chhetri’s goal, for a foul on Brandon Fernandes.

Stimac made a couple of tactical changes in order to hold on to the lead in added time, as Pronay Halder and Adil Khan replaced Chinglensana Singh and Brandon Fernandes, respectively.

However, captain Sunil Chhetri sealed the three points for the Blue Tigers, as he collected a pass from the left by Suresh, outside the Bangladesh area, and curled it into the back of the net.

INDIA: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Chingensana Singh (Pronay Halder — 90+1′), Sandesh Jhingan, Subhashish Bose; Udanta Singh (Mohammed Yasir – 46th), Suresh Singh, Glan Martins, Brandon Fernandes (Adil Khan — 90+1′), Bipin Singh (Ashique Kuruniyan – 46th), Sunil Chhetri, Manvir Singh (Liston Colaco – 60th).

(AIFF Media)

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International Friendlies

‘Bangladesh are a great fighting team that puts in quality work on the pitch’

By Sanjay Jadhav 6 June 2021

Doha: Indian National Team Head Coach Igor Stimac, on the eve of the Blue Tigers’ match against Bangladesh, described the opposition as a “team with great fighting spirit”, that puts in “quality work” on the pitch.

Stimac was speaking at the official pre-match press conference for India’s match against Bangladesh in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 preliminary joint round qualification round scheduled to be played at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha tomorrow (Monday, June 7).

“In the football world, I would say they are very annoying team who disturb the opposition with so much defensive work, quality work – with blocks – quite similar to what we did against Qatar,” Stimac averred.

“In football at times, you need to do everything possible to irritate the rival team, to annoy them, to cut their passing. Bangladesh are fighting it for every point in the group, and whatever they do, they do it as a team,” the Head Coach averred.

The kick-off is at IST 7.30 pm (local Doha time 5 pm) and the match will be telecast live on Star Sports Network and Disney + Hotstar.

Defender Sandesh Jhingan stressed that the team aims to carry forward the “character” displayed in the match against Qatar into the match against Bangladesh.

“The match against Qatar was not easy. But we displayed a certain character and arrogance in the 90 minutes against the Asian champions. We aim to do great in our second game. We will give our best with our desire, commitment and try to make everyone proud,” Jhingan maintained.

Stimac added: “The match against Bangladesh is a big game for our fans and the team. We are going to approach the game to win it without meaning any disrespect to our opponents. Our aim has stayed the same since the beginning – to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023.”

The last time the two teams met at the YBK in Kolkata back in October 2019, the match ended 1-1.

“We are going to try to show some composure different from that of the Qatar or Oman match. It’s up to us whether we can handle the match better in regards to ball possession, ball movement, speed and accuracy of passing and the eventual execution,” Stimac expressed.

Sandesh, who was conferred with the Arjuna Award last season highlighted that football often comes up with many surprises.

“In football you can get surprised and get bad results any day. The main job is the preparation – both physically and mentally,” he explained. “As players we need to stick to the game plan and show the right desire and commitment which the gaffer wants and expects from us,” he added.

“The matches against Qatar and Bangladesh are so different – from one extreme to another. In the first game we played the best team in Asia who were so superior and have been training every day in comparison to us having just eight days of training prior to the start of the competition. In fact, without the help of the Qatar FA and Qatari government, we wouldn’t have even begun our training,” Stimac opined.

“Bangladesh were also in a similar situation to us as far as preparation is concerned. But they have the advantage of their players being much more competitively fit as their season ended in the second week of May in comparison to most of our players not having any competitive football since February.”

(AIFF Media)

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International Friendlies

Dubai results won’t have any impact in Doha, Blue Tigers echo in unison

By Sanjay Jadhav 23 May 2021

New Delhi: With the Indian Men’s Senior National Team having kicked-off their preparatory camp in Doha, the Blue Tigers in unison maintained that the result of the International Friendlies in Dubai in March won’t have any impact on forthcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers slated to be played from June 3 onwards.

Star goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu feels that it’s a matter of having three clean slates for the remaining matches in the World Cup Qualifiers, and that it is up to the boys to script their own fates.

“The less we think about it, the better. It’s past. But it’s significant to remember what happened as it drives us to understand the part we need to work upon. We have three clean slates in front of us. It’s up to us as to what we need to write upon them,” he averred.

The Senior National Team has already had a camp earlier this year in Dubai, after the completion of the domestic season, following which, they participated in two FIFA International Friendlies against Oman and UAE.

Defender Pritam Kotal highlighted that the perspectives are entirely different from one another.

“The perspective of Dubai and Doha are entirely different. In Dubai, we played two different teams in the two matches. That was our return to International Football after almost 16 months. The two matches enabled us to slap all the negatives. June will surely be better,” he opined.

India are scheduled to play Asian Champions Qatar on June 3, Bangladesh on June 7, and Afghanistan on June 15 with all three matches to be played at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha.

Manvir Singh insisted that the “mixed bag in Dubai” was of huge help.

“Friendly matches always present a chance to set an aim to improve yourself. Dubai was different, Doha will be entirely different. But yeah, Dubai helped us a lot in many aspects. In that sense, the mixed bag in Dubai has been extremely helpful,” he quipped.

The Blue Tigers landed in Doha on May 19, and were in quarantine at the team hotel till they received the results of the RTPCR tests conducted upon arrival.

Meanwhile, Anirudh Thapa expressed that the goalless draw against Oman in March in Dubai was a “huge result for Indian Football.”

“We made a huge positive impact against Oman – that too with 10 debutants. I always look at the positives, and that to me was a huge result for Indian Football. In the Qualifiers, we will have a full squad at our disposal. The Dubai results will have absolutely no impact in Doha,” he said in one breath.

The Qualifiers are being played in Doha in view of the COVID pandemic situation which doesn’t allow the original format of home and away matches. India are currently on 3 points from 3 matches in Group E.

Midfielder Suresh Singh, one among the ten debutants in the match against Oman in Dubai, felt past results never affect professional players.

“Dubai is past. As professional players, the past never affects us. Players are professional enough and understand how to react on the pitch. In Doha, we are the underdogs. Let’s not forget, that in Dubai, we never had our full strength at our disposal,” he stated.

(AIFF Media)

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Women's Football

Indian Women’s Team concede late to lose to Uzbekistan

By Sanjay Jadhav 6 April 2021

New Delhi: India lost by the faintest of margins in their first friendly in Uzbekistan, as the hosts grabbed victory with a late goal at the AGMK Stadium, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Monday (April 5, 2021).

While both sides created ample scoring opportunities, Uzbekistan found the back of the net with a late free-kick by Maftuna Shoyimova on the 87th minute, to win by a narrow margin.

As the Uzbeks started off on a higher tempo in near-freezing conditions, that are mostly unfamiliar to the away side, India keeper Aditi Chauhan was called into action early on, as she did well to get down and grab a low cross from point-blank range.

India looked to hit the hosts on the counter in the early exchanges, with defender Ranjana Chanu combining with midfielder Sangita Basfore to create an opportunity down the left, but the danger was eventually averted by the Uzbek defence.

The Indian defence staved off the early Uzbek attacks, inspired by Sweety Devi, who did well to deal with the continuous aerial threat by the hosts.

India soon began to warm-up to the game, as Manisha found some space in the Uzbekistan half in the 24th minute, and unleashed a ferocious left-footer that whizzed over the crossbar.

A few minutes later, Soumya Guguloth made her way into some space in the Uzbekistan box from the right. She turned and tried to curl it with her left foot, but it was blocked.

In the dying minutes of the first half, Uzbekistan launched another attack that saw Nilufar Kudratova hit the crossbar, before the ball was cleared from inside a melee of legs, as the referee soon brought an end to proceedings.

Daya Devi, who replaced Pyari Xaxa in the first half, looked lively in the opening exchanges of the second, as she pressed high up on the pitch, to force an error from the Uzbekistan defence, with the help of Soumya Guguloth. The former looked to play it into the path of an onrushing Dangmei Grace, but it was intercepted.

Around 10 minutes into the second half, Manisha combined well with Ranjana Chanu to work the ball up the pitch down the left flank. The young attacker found a channel to Daya, who turned her marker inside the box and crossed it in. However, the ball evaded all the attackers and defenders, and the danger was soon averted.

Uzbekistan had a clear chance to take the lead when midfielder Maftuna Shoyimova nodded a corner towards goal, but Anju Tamang cleared it off the line.

On the 65th minute, India broke on the counter as Sangita Basfore won the ball in India’s defensive third. Under pressure, she managed to poke it onto the path of Dangmei Grace, who carried it into the attacking half, and curled an aerial through ball into the path of Manisha, who slipped through between two defenders. The attacker queued up her shot, but it lacked power and the opposition keeper managed to gather the ball.

Soon after, a cross by Anju Tamang was not cleared properly, as it fell kindly to Soumya Guguloth, who instantly had a try at goal from inside the six-yard box. However, it was cleared off the line.

The hosts found the back of the net with just three minutes of regulation time left on the clock, when Maftuna Shoyimova slotted a free-kick from around 25 yards out, into the top corner.

Thus, India’s first friendly match in Uzbekistan this year, ended in a narrow defeat to the hosts.

(AIFF Media)

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International Friendlies

We are a very difficult team to beat, says Constantine

By Staff Reporter 13 October 2018

Suzhou, China: Indian National Team Head Coach Stephen Constantine maintained his team has become “very difficult one to beat.”

Speaking at the official post-match press conference Constantine said: “We have shown in the last four years that we are a very difficult team to beat. We may not have the quality which some of the other teams in Asia have. But I stand for my team physically and competitively against any team in Asia. The boys were outstanding today.”

“It was a very exciting match. Both teams tried to score. Of course, China had more possession and opportunities and we had expected this.”

“We came here to give a good performance and the main thing for us was to get used to the standard of football which we would face in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019,” he added.

“Congratulations to all the players. Five of them who ended the game are U-23 players and two who started were U-23 players as well. That’s my policy – to develop young players and give them more opportunities,” he maintained.

“I feel Gurpreet (Singh Sandhu) is an outstanding talent. He was three years in Norway and definitely played his role today in keeping a clean sheet for us,” Constantine certified.

“Sandesh Jhingan is a fighter. He puts his body on the line and gave everything on the pitch as all the other boys do too. Playing for India is the best possible situation and we appreciate that,” the coach quipped.

Referring to India’s game plan, informed that the plan was to keep it “tight.”

“Our shape was very compact. The distance between the defenders and the midfielders was tight. We didn’t allow much space to our rivals,” he said.

(AIFF Media)

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International Friendlies

Gritty India hold Lippi’s China to a goalless draw in an International Friendly

By Staff Reporter 13 October 2018

Suzhou, China: In what was India’s first-ever official International Friendly on Chinese soil, a gritty India played a 0-0 draw against PR China at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium

The Blue Tigers, ranked 97 in the world in FIFA rankings held firm against their 76th-ranked opponents, defending with strength and heart. They even created opportunities at regular intervals, including a last-minute one, which if converted by substitute Farukh Choudhary would have India’s first win over China in 18 matches.

The match began as expected with the hosts piling on the early pressure. The first chance came in the 7th minute in the form of a cross from the left side by the Chinese winger which forced Indian captain Sandesh Jhingan into a sliding clearance.

The Kerala Blasters man was again called into action some four minutes later as he diverted away a low cross from the right flank for a corner.

Having absorbed the initial pressure, India came out of their shell. In the 13th minute, India entered the penalty box for the first time and after a neat set of passes, Anirudh Thapa played in for Pritam Kotal who was overlapping down the right flank. Kotal’s shot was hit hard and low on target and forced the Chinese keeper into a sharp save.

Sandhu, who grew in confidence with every save and punch was on the spot yet again as Gao Lin found space for a free header from a corner. But his effort went straight into the arms of the Bengaluru FC man in the 15th minute.

Just two minutes later, India had a great chance to take the lead. Chhetri earned a free-kick down the left after nutmegging his marker. Thapa’s resulting free-kick was a precise one which flew over the defenders for Chhetri to come in on the far post. However, his volley from close range flew over the cross-bar.

At the other end, Sandhu was forced into a fine save after Lin found space in the box after being played through down the left in the 24th minute. He aimed for the far right corner, but Sandhu stood tall and blocked the shot with his feet.

As the match looked headed for a stalemate at the break, Jeje Lalpekhlua had half a chance in the 42nd minute as Chhetri showed great presence of mind to take a quick throw-in. But even with the rival Goalkeeper out his line, the Mizo sniper’s snap-shot from a tight angle was off target.

Marcelo Lippi, Head Coach of China who had won the FIFA World Cup as the Italian Coach in 2006 responded with four substitutions on the resumption of the second half.

Five minutes after the restart, Lin struck the upright of Sandhu’s goalpost after connecting with a grounded cross from the right flank. The forward’s first-time strike was a sweet one but rattled the post, much to his, and the crowd’s despair.

In the 53rd minute, Gao was played in behind the Indian defence with a lifted pass but the Indian custodian was alert again and did well to close down the angle and clear the danger.

After riding the initial waves, the Blue Tigers pushed for an opener and in the 56th minute, Halicharan Narzary dispossessed his Chinese counterpart at the half-way line as he through the centre of the pitch. He laid the ball off to Udanta Singh down the right, whose shot flew over the crossbar.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and opted to bombard the Indian defence with aerial balls. A couple of free headers missed the target and forward Xiao Zhi also found the side netting in the 69th minute.

Just a minute later, Lippi’s boys were denied by the woodwork yet again as Wu Lei’s half-volley from eight yards out thundered against the crossbar.

In the 75th minute, Sandhu added another save to his tally as he flung himself across to his left and diverted a header away from goal.

Anas Edathodika who came in as a substitute made a timely block off the next attack to deny the Chinese forwards. And after a goalmouth melee from yet another corner, Sandhu and Jhingan produced some effective last-ditch defending on their own goal-line to get the ball away from danger.

Jhingan was in action on the other end of the pitch as well as he leapt highest to head the ball from a corner kick but his effort flew over in the 79th minute.

India could have stolen the win in the final minute but even as Farukh Choudhary sneaked in between the two Central defenders, his shot was managed to be kept off by the goalkeeper.

(AIFF Media)

The Team

India: Gurpreet Singh Singh (GK), Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan (C), Narayan Das (Anas Edathodika 63’), Subhasish Bose, Halicharan Narzary, Pranoy Halder (vinit Rai 84’), Anirudh Thapa (Rowllin Borges 90+1’), Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpekhlua (Faruk Choudhary 79’), Udanta Singh (Nikhil Poojary 63’)

Final Score: China 0 drew with India 0

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International Friendlies

India set for a litmus test in China

By Staff Reporter 12 October 2018

Suzhou, China: When India takes to the field at the Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Suzhou, China, to take on Marcello Lippi’s charges, it will be a momentous occasion for more reasons than one.

The fixture marks Blue Tigers’ first-ever tussle against China on Chinese soil. But more importantly, it will be a test of India’s progress and standing in the game.

India, placed 97th in the world, will be playing away from home against a team which is 21 spots higher in the rankings.

But Stephen Constantine’s boys will go into the game with a positive mindset. A chance to play a team of China’s strength, just three months prior to the Asian Cup, doesn’t come everyday and is viewed as a huge opportunity.

Constantine, who is expected to field a full-strength side, will get to know how his team reacts to the pressure of playing a big opponent, the likes of which they are likely to encounter in UAE next January.

“China are obviously a good side, they play some good football, they like to play possession football but they also like to press high. So, it’s going to be a difficult game for us, but these are the games that we have to play under pressure,” the English coach said.

“These boys want to go to the Asian Cup. They are going to play for that position. We are not going there to lose. We will try to win the game. Okay, it is very difficult but our objective as always when we step on the pitch is to try to win. If we don’t win, we will take the positives out of the game and we take it from there,” he said.

India have risen from the 171 position in the FIFA rankings back in 2015 to where they are now. But in order to be counted among the best in the continent, India has to spar with the best. A fighting display in China will go a long way in affirming the notion that India have made giant strides in the game.

Leading India in that particular quest will be star striker Sunil Chhetri who will have a partner in Chennaiyin FC striker Jeje Lalpekhlua.

Sandesh Jhingan and Anas Edathodika, as always, will be entrusted with the task of holding off the Chinese forwards who have not been among the goals lately.

China did not have the best of international breaks in September where they lost to Qatar (1-0) and were held goalless by Bahrain, who incidentally are in India’s group at the Asian Cup.

Yu Dabao, Gao Lin and Wu Lei are expected to lead China’s attack on Saturday. Chi Zhongguo will be the midfield anchor while coach Marcelo Lippi will not tinker with a settled defence.

There is no doubt that India have a tough task ahead of them in Suzhou but whatever the result, Saturday should be looked at as a learning chapter for the Indian boys.

(ISL Media Team)

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