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.
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