Kolkata: It’s a first since 2014 that India will look to keep away from – ending a yr with out a win. The final time that occurred the senior nationwide soccer crew performed solely two matches. In 2024, they’ve performed 10, of which 4 led to attracts. Monday’s pleasant in opposition to Malaysia is India’s solely likelihood to alter that.
India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. (AIFF)
India can, in the event that they use final month’s 1-1 draw in opposition to Vietnam as a reference, stated goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. “Especially how we played in the second half. We need to take the same understanding, the same energy,” the India No.1 stated throughout a digital media interplay on Wednesday.
The attract Nam Dinh Metropolis was the primary all yr in opposition to a higher-ranked crew (Vietnam had been 116 and India 126 when the groups met). Second-best within the first half, the place Sandhu saved a penalty, India created a variety of possibilities earlier than Farukh Choudhary equalised by lobbing the Vietnam goalkeeper.
At 33, Rahul Bheke is the oldest within the squad named by head coach Manolo Marquez for the match in Hyderabad. However with 75 caps in a 13-year worldwide profession, Sandhu, 32, is essentially the most skilled. He drew on that to say that whereas the previous can’t be modified, “there was a point when we were winning games. This too happens. It is how you deal with it that is important.”
Throughout Stephen Constantine’s second stint as head coach, India had a 13-match unbeaten run from June 2016 to March 2018.
Sandhu stated what Marquez desires to instill will take time however “after every camp we feel like we are getting closer. I feel we could have won against Vietnam, and let’s not forget that we have not trained for even 30 days under coach Manolo.”
Worldwide matches can change in a flash when you lose focus, he stated. “Do that for a minute and a good team will punish you.”
Sandesh Jhingan returns to the India set-up after almost 10 months out with damage. The final time the central defender performed was in opposition to Syria within the Asian Cup. “He is an important pillar for his club and the national team,” stated Sandhu. “And someone, who along with Amrinder (Singh) is part of the old boys club.” Jhingan and Singh are 31.
Malaysia are 133rd within the FIFA rankings, eight slots under India.
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