'Marquez is trying to instil his philosophy, and that's going to take time. In every camp, we're getting closer to what he wants from us as a team. With time, training, and the level of coaching he has, I have no doubt we'll be a strong team in the qualifiers.'
'I had a great ride all these 19 years. I will go as a fan and support the team wherever the team goes.'
Gurpreet named India captain for World Cup qualifying match against Qatar
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.
The national football team is currently ranked 18th in Asia and the sports ministry's rule states that in team sport, only those in top-eight will get the nod.
Defenders Konsam Chinglensana Singh and Lalchungnunga did not accompany the Indian football team that left the country on Sunday for the Asian Games in China.
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'Indian football needs to work together and move in the same direction.' 'Only then will the competition in India improve, and the Indian national team will improve.'
Sunil Chhetri was once again the man of the moment as he struck a brace to inspire India to a 2-0 win over Cambodia in the third round of qualifying for next year's Asian Cup.
India lost all their three matches and without scoring any goal in the Asian Cup.
A formidable Saudi Arabia didn't bring their 'A' game to the fore, but were strong enough to ward off a gutsy challenge from India winning their pre-quarterfinal match 2-0 in the men's football competition in Hangzhou on Thursday.
This will be the second time India will face Kuwait in the tournament. They had played out a 1-1 draw in an acrimonious Group A match last week.
It also showed that a side placed 102nd in the FIFA World Rankings can thwart a team placed 77 places above them. And India did keep the mighty Aussies out for 50 minutes before a fatal error saw the Blue Tigers punished after all the good work.
India now need to beat Bangladesh and Myanmar in their remaining two games to qualify for the second round. Myanmar beat Bangladesh 4-2 in the other group game earlier.
A video uploaded on ATK Mohun Bagan's Instagram page, which has since been deleted, captured the 28-year-old defender as saying, "Aurato ke saath match khel aaya hoon, aurato ke saath" (I have played a match with women, with women), as he made his way back to the dressing room, at Vasco in Goa, on Saturday.
Hosts India clinched the SAFF Championships title for the ninth time after beating Kuwait 5-4 in a tense penalty shootout.
Indian football team loses 0-2 to Australia in Asian Cup
We need players with confidence in front of goal: Stimac after India's Asian Cup exit
Chhetri has played for India 142 times and has scored 92 goals, the most by an Indian. He is also currently the third most prolific scorer in international football among active players, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
India head coach Igor Stimac feels this may be the final season of talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri's career.
Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri scored a hattrick as India handed Pakistan a 4-0 loss in their SAFF Championship match in Bengaluru.
India look to ward off Nepal threat and move closer to semifinals
India will face Pakistan in their opening outing at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday
India football team head coach Igor Stimac, on Sunday, lashed out at the Indian Super League (ISL) organisers Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL)
Brought on in the 82nd minute, Chhetri received a perfect delivery from Anirudh Thapa but the India captain could not find the back of the net.
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According to Jhingan, not being able to play in the ISL or international matches would have been more frustrating for him.
'Every game is important, every win is important, especially clean sheets, so I am very happy. But I can tell you that I was not at all happy at half time. We played well in the first 10 minutes, and then we disappeared.'
The national federation, which was able to stitch together the team just three days before its departure for China, still thanked the Indian Super League clubs and the FSDL "for coordinating with it for the release of players".
India face tough Iraq test sans Chhetri
Sandesh Jhingan will become the first India international footballer to play in the Croatian top-tier league Prva HNL after completing a move from ATK Mohun Bagan to HNK Sibenik.
India were able to stitch a rag-tag final squad only on Friday and the team left for China on Sunday, leaving no time for the players to even have a training session together.
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At a time when #StayHomeStaySafe echoes the sentiment of not just 1.3 billion people but the entire world, India football player Sandesh Jhingan, a born optimist, feels "it's not long before smiles will be back." Currently, in Chandigarh with his family, Jhingan stated the day is not far when he foresees "football reuniting the entire world."
Here are some of the controversies, which cast a shadow on Indian sport as the athletes prepared for the Asian Games.
With Chhetri and Stimac at helm, AIFF hoping for strong show in Asian Games
Nandhakumar ends East Bengal's 1658-day wait to beat Mohun Bagan
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