With Fatorda buzzing and continental football back where it belongs, the Gaurs will hope to make a statement and prove they belong among Asia's elite.
The senior India squad began its preparatory camp in Bengaluru on August 15 ahead of next month's CAFA Nations Cup, but 13 players, including seven from Mohun Bagan, have skipped the camp.
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Indian centre-back Sandesh Jhingan feels he will be "tested to the limit" while enhancing his game outside his comfort zone at Croatian league Prva HNL.
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.
It will take FC Goa nothing short of a miracle to pull off a win against the Omanis, and a victory will be a the perfect Independence Day present for Indian football fans.
India are placed in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Final Round qualifiers along with Bangladesh, Hong Kong, China and Singapore. The matches will be being played on a home-and-away round-robin format.
India, who made it to two successive Asian Cups for the first time in 2023, are aiming to extend the streak. Hong Kong also qualified for the previous tournament, but with only one available berth, either side is bound to miss out.
Kalyan Chaubey alluded to lack of goals from the Indian strikers, which he said could be one of the reasons for the poor show by the team under Manolo Marquez.
Acting on the Sports Ministry's directive to send nominations for this year's sports awards, the AIFF did not have much trouble in finalising the names.
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Hosts Bengaluru FC gained the upper hand against FC Goa with a commanding 2-0 win in their first-leg semifinal of the Indian Super League on Wednesday.
Sunil Chhetri returns to the national team,
The Gaurs looked to set the tone of this game from the onset, with Boris Singh hammering a shot from distance way too high to the target in the seventh minute.
Marquez also confirmed Chhetri's involvement in the friendly match that will mark his 152nd cap for India.
'Obesity, especially central obesity and increased visceral fat due to physical inactivity, along with the consumption of high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sugar diets, are major contributing factors.'
Tuesday's match holds importance for India as any slip-up could be disastrous in their bid to make it to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
While the players did the job on the field, the man quietly working behind the scenes was former India centre-back Mahesh Gawali.
FC Goa secured a 2-1 victory over Odisha FC in the Indian Super League, climbing to second place in the standings.
Brison Fernandes bagged his second successive brace as visitors FC Goa notched a 4-2 victory over Odisha FC.
The Gaurs were relentless in their attack post the 30-minute mark and their persistence eventually bore fruit when Sahil Tavora found Boris on the right flank with acres of space.
National coach Manolo Marquez coached FC Goa handed Bengaluru FC a comprehensive 3-0 defeat in an Indian Super League match in Goa on Saturday.
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.'
Both teams showed urgency to find the winner but were denied, with Malaysia coming close just before the final whistle.
Veteran striker Sunil Chhetri will be spearheading the Indian challenge and besides his longtime teammate Sandeep Jhingan, he will also be able to avail the services of Chinglensana Singh and Lalchungnunga.
'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.'
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.
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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.
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'I had a great ride all these 19 years. I will go as a fan and support the team wherever the team goes.'
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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.
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.
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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'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.'
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.
