India's predicted lineup for Mauritius clash in Intercontinental Cup 2024

The Indian football team will look to start their Intercontinental Cup campaign with a win.

The Indian football team will want to start life under Manolo Marquez’s reign with a win when they play Mauritius in the Intercontinental Cup 2024 on September 3rd at the G.M.C Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad.

While the Blue Tigers are clear favorites, given their excellent record in the competition, the Dodos will look to stage an upset as underdogs. The Spanish head coach will be on familiar grounds where he has clinched silverware in the past, and he must look to field the strongest lineup possible, to sweep the ground from underneath the title-challenging Mauritius side.

After Indian legend Sunil Chhetri’s recent decision to call time on his international career, there will be heightened scrutiny regarding who is made captain and who replaces the iconic attacker as the Blue Tigers’ main striker.

Given how India’s primary focus remains excelling in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers and then carrying forward their progress into the next FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Marquez must make the most of the remaining international windows.

As the final squad is all but confirmed, we at Khel Now will be anticipating the Indian football team’s (4-2-3-1 formation) starting lineup against Mauritius.

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Goalkeeper: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will almost definitely be given the captain’s armband to lead his side in their Intercontinental Cup 2024 campaign. The towering shot-stopper’s no-nonsense saves under pressure will play a crucial role for his side against their offensively adept opponents in the competition. 

His efficiency during set-pieces is commendable and he will surely be tasked with organising his teammates in a way that stamps his aerial dominance inside his own box. His consistent performances over the years have turned him into a stalwart of the goalkeeping department and despite legitimate shouts for the selection of other prominent keepers like Vishal Kaith and Gurmeet Singh, Marquez has decided to stick with his predecessors’ preferred goalie in this competition as well.

Right Back: Ashish Rai

The Mohun Bagan Super Giant defender will be returning to the team after a year-long hiatus and can be expected to slot right back into the starting lineup under his former manager.

The tactician will be hoping to rely on the high-flying fullback’s bombing runs down the right flank. Rai’s dual threat as he dribbles past opposition players to pile pressure on the defence with crosses and direct passes, as well as his defensive adeptness on the back foot will be a pivotal asset for Marquez’s Blue Tigers.

Centre Back: Rahul Bheke

Although the fullbacks will have to man the defence and help out the attack, the center-backs always form the foundation of the squad in all of Manolo Marquez’s sides. One of these center-halves is expected to be Bengaluru FC’s hybrid defender Rahul Bheke.

Bheke’s pace on the cover is commendable but repeated outings at centre-back have also improved his aerial and physical prowess against attackers, allowing him to go toe-to-toe with the fastest attackers out there. His sizeable experience playing against top-class opponents at both Indian and Asian stages will come in handy for the Blue Tigers. 

Centre Back: Anwar Ali

While Bheke is the more defensive of the two center-halves, Anwar Ali can make a good case as the attack-minded center-back. Ali is unusually calm on the ball and an expert at regulating and maintaining possession as he helps his side play out from the back.

Needless to say, most of the Blue Tigers’ attacks will be masterminded by the East Bengal guardian from deep. He is also not afraid to go to the ground while defending, and just like his partner in the heart of the defense, can present an unconventional yet potent threat from set-pieces and long-range alike. 

Left Back: Subhasish Bose

The Mohun Bagan captain recently faced heartbreak as his side failed to complete their final step in the Durand Cup title defense. In the meantime, however, Bose demonstrated his effortless transitioning between the left-sided center-back and fullback roles while being proficient in both.

Under Manolo Marquez, his dexterity will be more useful as a left-back since his on and off-ball movement will be key for the Blue Tigers. The fact that like Rai, he can zoom forward on the overlap or underlap as well as win defensive duels, is sure to come in handy for India during transitions and counters. 

Central Defensive Midfielder: Apuia

Apuia looked a little shaky in the Durand Cup this season but has most definitely matured into a dependable number six. He can not only provide a defensive screen for his side in the middle of the park but also pull the strings for the attack while beating waves of pressure.

If he starts in the same role for Manolo Marquez’s men, Apuia can also present a good threat as a box-to-box midfielder. His recent tendency to make late runs into the box and try penetrative passes has been a welcome change compared to his earlier habit of continuously looking to make a safe pass backward or sideways.

Central Defensive Midfielder: Jeakson Singh

Unlike Apuia who will be playing in an unfamiliar role, Jeakson Singh is a proven candidate as a central defensive midfielder. The 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup goalscorer has honed his skillset as a regista-destroyer hybrid who can turnover possession to his side and control the tempo of the game.

Playing alongside Apuia might also see him function as a deep-lying playmaker aside from bursting his socks off covering the ground and winning tackles. It is important to note, however, that in this setup, both Jeakson and Apuia have to think and act fast and be adept with their first touch to avoid conceding possession in vital areas and help their side progress up the pitch.

Right Midfielder: Lallianzuala Chhangte

The fans’ beloved “Mizo Flash” and AIFF Player of the Year 2023-24 winner Lallianzuala Chhangte was recently named as the captain for Mumbai City FC ahead of the ISL 2024-25.

With additional responsibilities on his shoulders now, Chhangte will have to act more accountable as he will be one of the leading figures in India’s Intercontinental Cup games. Moreover, he has to utilize his trademark pace, finishing, and exceptional dribbling to help the Blue Tigers fill in the void left by former captain Sunil Chhetri. 

Attacking-Midfielder: Sahal Abdul Samad

Sahal Abdul Samad has turned into a proper crowd entertainer as he has become even more effective with his five-star tricks and flicks. The midfielder makes weaving in and out of defenders and finding a teammate in an obnoxious position look like a piece of cake.

His latest highlight was in the Durand Cup 2024 final, where he scored a goal in normal time. In the same game, there was one instance wherein, he collected the ball and proceeded to make the defender run rings with a perfectly executed scoop turn before relaying it to a teammate in space.

If he can emulate his prolific run in the tournament for the Blue Tigers, playing as a number 10, unlocking defences will be a walk in the park for Sahal.  

Left Midfielder: Liston Colaco

Liston Colaco has had sub-par performances after his prolific showing in the 2021-22 season when he had 21 goal contributions but he has scored for the Mariners now and then. The left winger has been an influential figure for his side despite being on the receiving end of criticism for his missed chances.

His pace, direct dribbling, and thunderous shot power can hurt any side, and playing under his former coach is bound to give him an added edge in Indian colours. Colaco can rediscover his form under Manolo Marquez, but he has to step it up if he is to nail down a permanent spot under the Spaniard.  

Striker: Manvir Singh

Although he prefers to play as a right-sided winger, Manvir Singh is not unfamiliar with playing as the target man at both club and national level. The lanky yet agile attacker has the balance required of a striker adept at hold-up play and his close control can easily get him out of sticky conditions while under pressure.

The only thing that the coach will be looking out for is how often Manvir manages to bury his chances and how often he scuffs them. Only if he does the former more often will he be able to remain a threat for his side in the competition and get fielded more regularly. 

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