Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023: Vanuatu vs India Live Updates

6:30 PM: Hello everyone and welcome to Khel Now’s LIVE COVERAGE of the Vanuatu vs India match in the Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023. The kick-off is just one hour away! I’m your host Aishwarya Chakraborty, and I’ll be keeping you company through what promises a fascinating evening of football. Please wait for 30 Seconds for the Live blog to load.

Also Read:

• Rival Watch: Vanuatu
• Looking back at when India met Vanuatu at U-19 level
• Who is Vanuatu’s captain courageous Brian Kaltack?
• Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023: Three key battles that can decide India-Vanuatu tie
• Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023: India square off against Vanuatu
• Vanuatu are a physical side, we need to get ready, says Igor Stimac
• Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023: Vanuatu vs India: Where and how to watch in India?

Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023: Vanuatu vs India - Build-up

India face Vanuatu in their next Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023 fixture. The game takes place at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on 12 June 2023. Igor Stimac’s men won their first outing of the tournament against Mongolia by a 2-0 scoreline, thanks to goals from Sahal Abdul Samad and Lallianzuala Chhangte.

India are heavy favourites to replicate their excellent performance and win against Vanuatu. It does not help their opponents who lost their opening game of the tournament against Lebanon by a 3-1 scoreline.

As the fixture nears and the excitement of the fans rises, here is what one can expect from the Vanuatu vs India clash at the Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023:

The Stakes

Vanuatu

Vanuatu were on the receiving end of a defeat against Lebanon on 9 June 2023 – their first game of the Hero Intercontinental Cup. The 164th-ranked team in FIFA Rankings gave a good account of themselves against a team which is ranked 99th. It took a strong second-half performance by the Cedars to defeat Vanuatu.

While they are the underdogs against India, who are playing in their own backyard, Vanuatu will back themselves to cause an upset and at least hold the Blue Tigers to a draw.

India

A win will confirm a place in the Hero Intercontinental Cup 2023 final for India. Their win against Mongolia did not come as a surprise due to the massive gap in the quality between the teams. Similarly, the Blue Tigers are stronger on paper and will look to secure a comfortable win against Vanuatu to set up an exciting game against Lebanon.

Igor Stimac would want his players to get into a comfortable lead early on and give some of the squad players game-time while resting key players for the remaining matches.

Injury & Team News

Vanuatu and India have full-strength squads available for selection ahead of the fixture.

Head-to-Head

This is the first competitive meeting between the senior teams of Vanuatu and India. In an U-19 clash in the past, India defeated Vanuatu by a 1-0 scoreline. The game took place in 2019 as part of the OFC Developmental Tournament.

Predicted Line-ups

Vanuatu (4-5-1)

Massing Kalotang (GK), Brian Kaltak, Jason Thomas, Raoul Coulon, Timothy Loic, John Wohale, Jonathan Spokey, Godin Tenene, Lee Taiwia, Jordy Tasip, Azariah Soromon.

India (4-2-3-1)

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Nikhil Poojary, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Jeakson Singh, Lalengmawia Ralte, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Sahal Abdul Samad, Liston Colaco, Sunil Chhetri.