Indian football team to play Tri-Nation Friendly Tournament in Vietnam
The Indian football team will be taking part in a Tri-Nation Friendly Tournament in Vietnam in October during FIFA's window. Apart from India, the two other nations which will participate in the competition are Vietnam and Lebanon.
Notably, as per the latest FIFA rankings published on June 20, 2024, both Vietnam and Lebanon are ranked higher than India. India are currently place on the 124th spot. Vietnam meanwhile, hold the 116th position, followed by Lebanon on 117.
Last year, India took part in a Tri-Nation tournament which was held in Imphal, Manipur, with all the matches being played at the Khuman Lumpak Stadium. By securing four points from two outings against Myanmar and Kyrgyz Republic, India emerged as the champions of the competition.
Fixtures:
October 9: Vietnam vs India
October 12: India vs Lebanon
October 15: Vietnam vs Lebanon
A different India in Vietnam?
The Indian football team is currently going through a transitional phase. On June 6, 2024, they saw their skipper Sunil Chhetri retire from international football. A few days later, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) terminated the contract of head coach Igor Stimac.
Currently, the AIFF is seeking applications for the position of the head coach, with the deadline for applying set on July 3. A few days back, reports emerged stating that around 214 coaches from over the world have applied for this position.
Among the names which were out in the media, some are Trevor James Morgan, Simon Grayson, Park Hang-seo. One name was revealed by Sportskeeda - former Punjab FC coach Staikos Vergetis, who recently parted ways with the ISL outfit.
The AIFF is expected to finalize the new head coach in the upcoming days. However, apart from the new head coach, one more issue lies - that is the replacement of Sunil Chhetri in the national team.
Against Qatar, on June 11, the think tank tried to deploy Rahim Ali as the centre forward. Although Rahim showed sheer grit and determination, it seems he needs more time to adapt to the side. With that being said, the question arises, whom should the stakeholders consider apt for the role.
There are players like Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia and David Lalhlansanga, who have recently made a name for their goal-scoring prowess. The national team also has someone like Manvir Singh, who is waiting for the opportunity to pitch in as a No. 9. Nandhakumar Sekar is another option, who despite being a winger knows how to find the back of the net, at least his domestic form suggests that.