Again in 2019, when Stephen Constantine was the nationwide soccer coach, India beat Thailand 4-0 on the AFC Asian Cup.
Seven video games into his tenure, coach Manolo Marquez selected a younger Indian crew for a pleasant towards Thailand on Wednesday, forward of the nation’s try and return again to that very competitors.
Regardless of a vital Asian Cup qualifier towards Hong Kong on the street looming, and a prolonged home camp behind them, India conceded a two-goal loss on the street. Targets from Ben Davis and Poramet Arjivilai early in each halves handed Marquez’s crew one more loss in what has been a troublesome interval — 8 losses, 6 attracts and 1 win towards Maldives, since November 2023.
After a string of poor outcomes to begin his worldwide tenure, Marquez selected a comparatively younger crew towards Thailand, who’re in an analogous boat as India and can face Turkmenistan of their 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Marquez didn’t simply change the composition of the crew, however performed a formation he usually doesn’t select.
Thailand defeat #BlueTigers in FIFA Worldwide Pleasant
Try the hyperlink for match report 🔗https://t.co/gzMqdASxLO#IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/nBWTLWE2L0
— Indian Soccer Staff (@IndianFootball) June 4, 2025
Sunil Chhetri and Ashique Kuruniyan began upfront for India, with Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh on the wings. Defensively too, going with Asish Rai, Anwar Ali and Abhishek Tekcham meant that India wished tempo of their backline, after their earlier recreation towards Bangladesh.
However Thailand and Ben Davis had different plans. India, by no means actually comfy enjoying by the midfield, began to do exactly so, however had been getting caught out early beneath Thailand’s stress. Davies opened the scoring for the house crew within the eighth minute, changing a half volley proper on the sting of the Indian field after a sideways move from Korawich Tasa discovered him with area. India had been caught barely unawares, with a participant down within the field and the Thai’s selecting to proceed enjoying.
As the primary half continued, India’s affect within the midfield grew – but it surely coincided with a drop in Thailand’s power in chasing the ball. However even with that affect, got here the poor decision-making within the remaining third, that has been the hallmark of this crew.
It might both be a half-hearted cross into the field to Chhetri, a participant who’s often surrounded by taller centre-backs, or it could be an extended shot from exterior the field – makes an attempt that got here from Liston Colaco and Ashique. There can be the occasional likelihood – Colaco’s run by the wing after which a slider into Chhetri ought to have provide you with some dividends, however the Indian skipper received caught within the field amid too many our bodies and couldn’t join with the ball properly sufficient. Tekcham took a shot from approach exterior the field together with his proper foot that whizzed previous the submit. However because the half dwindled, India continued to be a purpose down.
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That drawback doubled itself when Thailand scored within the 59th minute once more. A couple of minutes earlier Chhetri had been denied a penalty and proper because it appeared the away crew was going to snake a purpose in, Arjivirai got here up with a second of brilliance. Sliding in from the left, the Thai striker used his marker to twist a right-footed shot into Vishal Kaith’s purpose – a shot that curved first, dipped later after which touched the underside of the crossbar earlier than going into purpose.
Two objectives up and a recreation towards Turkmenistan on the horizon, Thailand took their foot off the pedal. It led to India’s strongest interval within the recreation, and some possibilities adopted. However Lallianzuala Changte wasn’t in a position to convert the best of one-on-ones towards the Thai custodian when he was despatched by on purpose within the 79th minute and that missed alternative was summed up.
Marquez’s crew subsequent face Hong Kong on the street, a vital recreation the place the Indian crew wants to select up a win to get their Asian Cup qualification on monitor.