Vietnam vs India Live |  International Friendly

3:30 PM: Hello, everyone, and welcome to Khel Now’s LIVE COVERAGE of the International Friendly match between Vietnam vs India. The kick-off is just a few hours away! I am your host, Shivam, and will keep you company through what promises a fascinating evening of football. Please wait 30 seconds for the Live blog to load.

Indian men’s national football team play their first away game of the Manolo Marquez era when they face off against Vietnam in Nam Dinh on Saturday (12 October). After a grim beginning under the new manager, the Blue Tigers will look to get a compelling win to end their harrowing winless run and instil some hope about a potentially bright future under the Spanish gaffer.

The Stakes

Vietnam

Just like the Indian side, Vietnam have had a pretty forgettable 2024 on the international stage. They’ve won only two of their 11 matches played this year, with one of them being a friendly against Vietnamese club Thép Xanh Nam Định. The Golden Star Dragons realize that this could be an ideal time for them to face an Indian side who are low on confidence and still adapting to changes under a new set-up.

They’ll look to use their passionate fans’ energy to produce an electric performance and take the fight to India. Vietnam will definitely play on the front foot in this, as they look to put the visitors under intense pressure. A win can be particularly sweet for Vietnam and help them gain some valuable points in the FIFA World Rankings. But losing to this underperforming India team at home can be particularly gutting for them and sum up their issues in 2024.

Also Read: All matches & results of Indian football team in 2024

India

The Blue Tigers have now won a single match in 2024 as we move into the final three matches of the year. They don’t really have a lot of games to play in the calendar year, which imposes more importance on having to win this game. The Indian squad are yet to properly adapt to Marquez’s system and bring his vision to the pitch. But they definitely need to raise their spirit and energy levels to take the fight to Vietnam.

The Indian players have to show more quality in the final third, especially when it comes to finishing off whatever chances that can be created in the intimidating atmosphere. They also have to be cohesive as a defensive unit, to frustrate the hosts and show a bigger desire to win to end their winless run. A big win can definitely raise the confidence levels of not only the players but also the fans – but another dim draw or loss can further dampen the belief around the national team.

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