India’s Head Coach Manolo Márquez Announces 26-Member Probable Squad for Intercontinental Cup

The Indian national football team’s head coach, Manolo Márquez, on Wednesday, August 21, announced a 26-member list of probables for the upcoming Intercontinental Cup. The tournament is set to be held in Hyderabad during the FIFA international window from September 3 to September 9, 2024. 

The three-nation tournament will see India, currently ranked 124th in the FIFA rankings, face off against Syria (ranked 93rd) and Mauritius (ranked 179th).

The Indian team will begin its preparatory camp in Hyderabad on August 31, under the guidance of Márquez, who recently took over as the national team’s head coach. The Spanish tactician expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming camp and emphasized the importance of the preparatory phase for the players and coaching staff.

“We are very excited about our first preparatory camp, and I know it will be the same for the players,” Márquez said in his official statement. 

He downplayed the significance of FIFA rankings in this tournament, noting, “We face two different teams, and the rankings are not very important. We need to work all together in the same direction to find the correct group of players, and their predisposition will be very good, something I am completely sure about.”

Márquez, who is known for his strategic acumen and experience in Indian football, further highlighted the honor and responsibility that comes with wearing the national team jersey. “I know all of us are in pre-season with nice challenges in front of us. It is a big honor to wear the jersey of the National Team, and we need to show it for all our fans,” he added.

List of Probables

Goalkeepers:

– Gurpreet Singh  

– Amrinder Singh  

– Prabhsukhan Singh Gill

Defenders: 

– Nikhil Poojary  

– Rahul Bheke  

– Chinglensana Singh Konsham  

– Roshan Singh Naorem  

– Anwar Ali  

– Jay Gupta  

– Ashish Rai  

– Subhasish Bose  

– Mehtab Singh

Midfielders: 

– Suresh Singh Wangjam  

– Jeakson Singh  

– Nandhakumar Sekar  

– Naorem Mahesh Singh  

– Yasir Mohammad  

– Lalengmawia Ralte  

– Anirudh Thapa  

– Sahal Abdul Samad  

– Lallianzuala Chhangte  

– Lalthathanga Khawlhring

Forwards:  

– Kiyan Nassiri Giri  

– Edmund Lalrindika  

– Manvir Singh  

– Liston Colaco

Tournament Fixtures

The tournament promises to be an exciting affair with all matches scheduled to kick off at 7:30 pm IST. The schedule is as follows:

September 3: India vs Mauritius  

September 6: Syria vs Mauritius  

September 9: India vs Syria

This tournament will serve as a crucial test for Márquez and his squad as they prepare to face teams with varying styles of play and tactical approaches. Syria, the highest-ranked team in the competition, will provide a stern challenge, while Mauritius, although lower-ranked, should not be underestimated.

The Intercontinental Cup will also be an opportunity for several young and emerging players in the Indian squad to make their mark on the international stage. Players like Lalengmawia Ralte, popularly known as Apuia, and forwards like Kiyan Nassiri Giri will be looking to impress in the national colors.

As India prepares to host this tournament, fans across the country will be eagerly watching to see how the team performs under the new leadership of Manolo Márquez. The matches will not only offer competitive action but will also serve as an essential part of India’s build-up to future international competitions.