Football News: Indian national football team names likely squad for Vietnam friendlies

A 24-member Indian squad will fly to Vietnam on September 20 to partake in two international friendly matches against Singapore and Vietnam that will take place on September 24 and 27, respectively.

India's leading goal scorer and football icon Sunil Chhetri will lead the attack beside Jamshedpur FC striker Ishan Pandita. The friendlies will prepare the team for the AFC Asian Cup scheduled next year.

It will mark the first time India has qualified for consecutive Asian Cups and will expect to retain the form that helped them advance through the qualifiers.

In round three of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, the Blue Tigers defeated Cambodia, Afghanistan and Hong Kong, thanks to Sunil Chhetri, who exhibited brilliant sportsmanship by converting a fabulous free against Afghanistan.

What are these friendlies called?

The three-team friendly meet has been named the Hung Thinh Friendly Football Tournament as hosts Vietnam and Singapore prepare to battle each other in the opening match on September 21. 

As far as prize money is concerned, the champions of the round-robin meet will be rewarded with prize money of $ 30,000; the runners-up side will earn $ 20,000. The third-placed team will get prize money of $10,000.

Head coach Igor Stimac told the AIFF media team, "We are happy and grateful that we have received another opportunity to get together and check where we actually stand at the moment." 

The squad is fully prepared and is looking forward to playing the two friendly matches. "This is going to be a truly exciting tour, especially three months after our qualification for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in Kolkata in June this year," added the coach.

It was pointed out to the Indian football team coach that his side has not completed their pre-season yet, which could put them behind Singapore and Vietnam. These India's two rival sides are already playing competitive matches regularly in the domestic tournaments.

However, the coach insisted they would try their best to maintain their pace starting from the June qualifiers. Meanwhile, some players like Laxmikant Kattimani, Rahul Bheke, Prabhsukhran Gill, Suresh Singh and Rahim Ali had to be ruled out due to injuries despite being preferred by the coach.

Indian football team's 24-member squad

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem

Defenders: Roshan Singh Naorem, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Akash Mishra, Harmanjot Singh Khabra and Narender.

Midfielders: Muhammed Ashique Kuruniyan, Liston Colaco, Deepak Tangri, Anirudh Thapa, Udanta Singh Kumam, Brandon Fernandes, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Yasir Mohammad, Sahal Abdul Samad, Lallianzuala Chhangte Rahul Kannoly Praveen, and Vikram Pratap Singh.

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri and Ishan Pandita.