A late header from new signing Koldo Obieta helped Kerala Blasters FC begin their Super Cup campaign with a hard-earned 1-0 win against a 10-man Rajasthan United FC, in Bambolim, Goa, on Thursday.
The injury to the 32-year-old stalwart is a big blow to India as they take on a strong Afghanistan side in their third and final Group B match on Thursday.
The camp is aimed at helping the Blue Tigers prepare for their two 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers final round in Group C, where they will play two back-to-back matches against Singapore on October 9 at the National Stadium and on October 14 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa.
'Khalid will have to begin with consistency and with new players and good strikers from U-23 because he has to build for the future.'
The match simmered, waiting for a spark, until Al Zawraa found it on the cusp of half-time. Hassan Abdulkareem's clever ball found Kadhim Raad, who cut back for Reziq Banihani. A messy deflection, a ricochet off Nim Dorjee Tamang, and the ball nestled cruelly into Goa's net.
Indian men's football team drops six places to 133rd in FIFA rankings, worst in nine years
Sunil Chhetri returns to the national team,
Marquez also confirmed Chhetri's involvement in the friendly match that will mark his 152nd cap for India.
Delhi FC secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Shillong Lajong in round six of the I-League 2024-25 at Mahilpur on Thursday.
In their first I-League clash in over a decade, Churchill Brothers defeated their Goan rivals Dempo Sports Club 2-0 at the Raia Stadium on Wednesday.
Kerala continued their perfect run in Group B with a 2-0 win over Odisha, cementing their position at the top of the Group B table with nine points from three matches in the final round of the Santosh Trophy here on Thursday.
Bala Devi becomes first Indian woman to score 50 international goals
India can break into the top-50 in the FIFA rankings in the next 10 years, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.
Pointing out the "several acts of contract breach" by the AIFF side in the past, Stimac charged AIFF chief Kalyan Chaubey with "changing my public statement given to AIFF media".
The AIFF sacked Stimac in June, terminating his contract exactly a year before it was to expire in the wake of the side's ouster from the second round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers despite getting a relatively easy draw.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) strongly refuted allegations made by former head coach Igor Stimac, calling them a deliberate attempt to tarnish the federation's reputation.
Stimac, whose contract was terminated on Monday, coached India for five years.
Chhetri had made his 150th appearance for India in March and scored on the occasion against Afghanistan in Guwahati. India, though, lost that game 1-2.
India and Afghanistan settled for a 0-0 draw
Chhetri has been the face of Indian soccer for nearly a decade-and-half and his 94 international goals make him the third-highest active international scorer after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Following a virtual meeting on June 16th, 2024, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced a change in leadership for the Senior Men's National Team.
Stimac has prioritised qualification to the third round and secure a direct entry into the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
We need players with confidence in front of goal: Stimac after India's Asian Cup exit
While the players did the job on the field, the man quietly working behind the scenes was former India centre-back Mahesh Gawali.
Chhetri's record against the neighbours is quite impressive, scoring four goals in eight matches including a spectacular strike from a free kick in Kolkata in 2022.
At 39, he is, understandably, a different footballer but the hunger for goals remains.
Sandesh Jhingan, upon his arrival at the airport in Doha, said, 'No group in the Asian Cup is easy. Of course, we've got Australia, and they need no introduction. But what we have learned in the last few years is that we must never fear any opposition.'
India coach Igor Stimac wants his players to stay compact and not concede set pieces to Australia
Chhetri rested as Stimac names 23-member squad for King's Cup
Asian Cup rivals Australia, Uzbekistan notches above us but can test against them: Chhetri
Former captain and star striker Bala Devi returned to the Indian women's football team after a hiatus of four years as the 22-member national squad for the upcoming Asian Games 2023 was announced in New Delhi on Friday.
Indian football team loses 0-2 to Australia in Asian Cup
Assistant coach Mahesh Gawli will have to take his place.
India sweep past 10-man Nepal to win SAFF U-17 title
The Indian men's team currently occupies the 18th spot among countries under the Asian Football Confederation, while the women's side is ranked 11th.
India open FIFA women's U-17 WC campaign against USA with hope to get at least a point
Second half goals by Unesh Budathoki (49th) and Subash Bam (68th) sealed the issue for Nepal in the second-half.
To lend his support, Former Indian footballer Mehtab joined Mamata Banerjee's march for the protesting wrestler's.
The country is scheduled to host the FIFA tournament from October 11-30.
With seven points from eight matches, India finished third in Group E behind toppers Qatar and Oman, and ahead of Afghanistan (4th in group with six points from eight matches).
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