Friday, Sep 5, 2025
English News
  • Hyderabad
  • Telangana
  • AP News
  • India
  • World
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Science and Tech
  • Business
  • Rewind
  • ...
    • NRI
    • View Point
    • cartoon
    • My Space
    • Olympics
    • Education Today
    • Reviews
    • Property
    • Lifestyle
E-Paper
  • NRI
  • View Point
  • cartoon
  • My Space
  • Reviews
  • Education Today
  • Property
  • Lifestyle
Home | Football | India Vs Malaysia Can Manolos Team End Their Winless Run

India vs Malaysia: Can Manolo’s team end their winless run?

India, currently ranked 125th in the FIFA rankings, are eager to secure its first win under head coach Manolo Marquez.

By Biswajit Talukdar
Published Date - 17 November 2024, 11:33 PM
India vs Malaysia: Can Manolo’s team end their winless run?
India forward Edmund Lalrindika (left), head coach Manolo Márquez (2nd left), Malaysia head coach Pau Martí and defender Dion Cools in Hyderabad on Sunday.
whatsapp facebook twitter telegram

Hyderabad: International football returns to Hyderabad as India take on Malaysia in a FIFA International friendly at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Gachibowli, on Monday. The match holds significant importance for both teams as they gear up for the Asian Cup qualifiers in March 2025.

India, currently ranked 125th in the FIFA rankings, are eager to secure its first win under head coach Manolo Marquez. The Spaniard has overseen two draws and one loss since taking charge, and the team’s recent form has been a cause for concern. Speaking ahead of the match, Manolo emphasised the need to break their winless streak.

Also Read

  • Football skating — Where speed meets precision

“This is a friendly game, but it’s an opportunity to assess our players and demonstrate the improvement we’ve been working on in training,” he said. “We want to end the winless run and show positive progress on the pitch.”

The Blue Tigers are enduring a slump, with their last victory dating back a year—a 1-0 win against Kuwait on November 16, 2023. Since then, the team has played 11 matches, losing seven and drawing four. Under Manolo, India drew 0-0 with Mauritius and lost 3-0 to Syria during the Intercontinental Cup in September, also held at Gachibowli.

Their most recent match, a 1-1 draw with Vietnam on October 12 in Nam Dinh, showcased glimpses of improvement, but a win has eluded them. A failure to secure a positive result on Monday would see India end the year winless, a scenario Manolo is determined to avoid. “Football is about attacking, defending, transitions, and set-pieces. We are focusing on improving every aspect and minimising mistakes, as it’s often the team with fewer errors that comes out on top,” Manolo added.

Malaysia, ranked 133rd, are also in transition under new head coach Pau Marti Vicente, who took charge in August. Marti, a former assistant coach at Barcelona B, brings a modern football philosophy to the team. Interestingly, both Marti and Marquez hail from Spain and share a mutual respect. “They’ve been playing good football under Pau. I know him personally, and I expect a tough contest for both teams,” Manolo noted.

The head-to-head record between the two sides is evenly poised, with 12 wins apiece and eight draws. However, Malaysia hold a psychological advantage, having defeated India 4-2 in their last encounter during the Merdeka tournament semifinal.

‘Jhinghan is irreplaceable’

India’s defence, meanwhile, received a significant boost with the return of veteran centre-back Sandesh Jhingan. The 31-year-old, sidelined earlier this year due to a knee injury sustained against Syria in the Asian Cup, is now fully fit and expected to lead the backline.

“Sandesh Jhingan is irreplaceable—not because he’s Messi, but because of his leadership and performance on and off the field. He brings character, and players feel more comfortable with him in the team. He’s a very important figure for us,” Manolo praised.

 

 

 

  • Follow Us :
  • Tags
  • FIFA friendly
  • Hyderabad
  • India
  • Malaysia

Related News

  • GHMC tests robotic machines to clean stormwater drains and reduce flooding

    GHMC tests robotic machines to clean stormwater drains and reduce flooding

  • Hyderabad: Two arrested for stabbing man to death in Attapur

    Hyderabad: Two arrested for stabbing man to death in Attapur

  • Milad-un-Nabi celebrations in Hyderabad with social, religious events

    Milad-un-Nabi celebrations in Hyderabad with social, religious events

  • BRS slams State, Centre over denial of BC reservations in national law universities

    BRS slams State, Centre over denial of BC reservations in national law universities

Latest News

  • Hyderabad Pickleball League: Saina joins Keerthi Warriors as co-owner

    4 hours ago
  • Hyderabad sports roundup: Snehit, Sreeja for Asian Table Tennis

    4 hours ago
  • Doubles shuttler Jwala Gutta distributes kit to Telangana fencing squad members

    4 hours ago
  • Mahadev crushes Mayura as Preethesh hits unbeaten 148 in HCA C-Division championship

    5 hours ago
  • Yuvraj launches innovative multi-city Indian Golf Premier League

    5 hours ago
  • The Gambits, a documentary on Global Chess League

    5 hours ago
  • Traffic curbs in Hyderabad for Ganesh idol immersion on Saturday

    5 hours ago
  • 10 indian boxers get bye in first round of World Boxing Championships

    5 hours ago

company

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

business

  • Subscribe

telangana today

  • Telangana
  • Hyderabad
  • Latest News
  • Entertainment
  • World
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Science & Tech
  • Sport

follow us

  • Telangana Today Telangana Today
Telangana Today Telangana Today

© Copyrights 2024 TELANGANA PUBLICATIONS PVT. LTD. All rights reserved. Powered by Veegam