In a disappointing start to the Inter-Continental Cup 2024, the Indian men's football team played to a goalless draw against Mauritius in Hyderabad. This was the team's first match under new coach Manolo Marquez. Despite playing in the Telangana capital for the first time in 16 years, the team failed to deliver a compelling performance, with Marquez himself admitting that it couldn't have been worse. Up next for India is a match against Syria in six days.
India Draws with Mauritius in Inter-Continental Cup Opener
The Indian men's football team kicked off their Inter-Continental Cup 2024 campaign with a disappointing goalless draw against Mauritius in Hyderabad on Thursday. The match marked the debut of new coach Manolo Marquez, who expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance.
Match Summary
Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, India failed to find the net against Mauritius, a team ranked 166th in the FIFA rankings. The hosts had several opportunities to score in the first half but were unable to capitalize on their dominance. In the second half, Mauritius showed more attacking intent and had several chances of their own but were also unable to score.
Coach's Reaction
After the match, Marquez admitted that India's performance could not have been worse. "We had a lot of possession, but we created very few chances. We were very predictable," he said. "We need to improve our decision-making and our finishing."
Next Match
India's next match in the Inter-Continental Cup is against Syria on Wednesday, July 12. Syria is a much tougher opponent than Mauritius, ranked 101st in the FIFA rankings. India will need to improve their performance significantly if they want to earn a win.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
Manolo Marquez is a Spanish football coach who replaced Igor Stimac as coach of the Indian men's team in May 2023. He previously coached Barcelona B and UD Las Palmas.
The match was played at the Gachibowli Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad. It was the first time the Indian team had played in Hyderabad in 16 years.
Marquez attributed the poor performance to several factors, including lack of creativity, poor decision-making, and ineffective finishing.
India's chances of winning the tournament are slim, considering the strength of the other teams involved. However, a good performance against Syria could boost their confidence.
India's next opponent in the Inter-Continental Cup is Syria. The match will be played on Wednesday, July 12, at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Harry Brook, who made his Test debut in 2022, equalled a 96-year-old record during England's first Test against New Zealand. By crossing the 69-run mark, he became the joint-fastest England batter to score 2000 runs in the longest format of the game. He achieved this feat in his 22nd Test, equaling Herbert Sutcliffe's record set in 1928. Kevin Pietersen also completed 2000 runs in 22 Tests for England, but Brook's achievement is more impressive as he reached the milestone in just 36 innings.
The Kansas City Chiefs are out for revenge as they face their bitter AFC West rival, the Las Vegas Raiders, on Friday. Last year, the Raiders managed to pull off an upset on Christmas Day against the Chiefs, and the smell of their victory cigars still lingers in the stadium. But with key players returning from injuries, such as running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu, the Chiefs are ready to dominate the field and make a statement for their push towards the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is also looking forward to building chemistry with his healthier teammates and continuing to improve throughout the rest of the season.
As Aston Villa prepares to take on Chelsea this weekend, they will have to wait to see if their key players will be fit enough to play. Christopher Nkunku, who has been a standout player, recently became the first Chelsea player to score in his first four major European appearances. But with injuries to Pedro Neto and Malo Gusto, and Reece James currently sidelined, former Aston Villa academy player Omari Kellyman may have his chance to make his senior debut for Chelsea.
Chelsea is keeping a close eye on Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson as they continue their search for a center-forward. The 20-year-old Irishman, who has been a target for the Blues for some time, impressed last season with 10 goals and even scored a hat-trick in the Premier League. Despite some injury setbacks, Ferguson is still highly regarded by Chelsea, who are looking to add him to their squad alongside recent recruits from Brighton such as Marc Cucurella and Robert Sanchez. The club's previous attempts to sign Victor Osimhen and Samu Aghehowa fell through, and it remains to be seen if they will be successful in bringing in Ferguson.
After recording two back-to-back victories against Real Betis and Parla Escuela, Valencia is looking to continue their winning streak against Mallorca in their upcoming La Liga match. Mallorca, on the other hand, is coming off a 3-2 win over Las Palmas and will be determined to maintain their unbeaten record against Valencia. With both teams in good form, it promises to be an exciting clash between the eighth-placed Mallorca and the struggling Valencia.
This Friday, Lensois.com will provide live coverage of the highly anticipated football match between Reims and RC Lens for the 13th round of Ligue 1. Starting at 20h45 at the Auguste-Delaune stadium, the game can be watched in full on DAZN. Fans can also tune in to Lensois.com for live updates, player lineups, and post-match reactions. Make sure to visit the site from 19h45 to get the team compositions. Other games to watch this weekend include Rennes vs Saint-Etienne, Brest vs Strasbourg, PSG vs Nantes, Montpellier vs Lille, Lyon vs Nice, Le Havre vs Angers, and Toulouse vs Auxerre on various channels. Don't miss a minute of the action!
In a thrilling Premier League match, Mohamed Salah scored twice to secure a 3-2 comeback win for Liverpool over Southampton. The victory extended their lead to eight points over second-placed Manchester City. The game was marked by controversy as Southampton's penalty claim was denied early on, but Liverpool eventually took control and secured their victory.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given Pakistan an ultimatum to either accept a hybrid model for the upcoming Champions Trophy or risk losing out on hosting India's games. This comes after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) rejected any plans for the Indian team to travel to Pakistan citing security concerns. The emergency meeting on Friday remained inconclusive, with further discussions scheduled for Saturday. This decision could have major financial implications for Pakistan, as they would lose out on hosting fees and gate receipts, as well as a significant portion of their annual revenue.
Mallorca will host Valencia in a highly anticipated LaLiga match, with both teams hungry for a win. Mallorca are in 8th position with an impressive record of 6 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses so far in the season. Meanwhile, Valencia are struggling in 18th place with only 2 wins in their 12 games. With a strong history of 11 wins in the last 40 meetings, Valencia will be looking to dominate the pitch once again. Keep an eye out for Mallorca's Dani RodrÃguez, who has been in top form this season with 3 goals and 3 assists under his belt. This match is sure to be a thrilling showdown between two determined teams.
The 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League heats up as Al Qadsiah and Al Khaleej, two top-four teams, face off on Friday. Nassr, determined to bounce back from their previous loss, will take on Al Wehda with a former manager returning to lead the team to a turnaround. The highly anticipated matches will take place at the Prince Mohammed Bin Fahd Stadium in Dammam, with a kickoff at 17:25.