Shillong, March 24: The Indian national football team will begin their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round campaign against Bangladesh on Tuesday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.
Head coach Manolo Márquez emphasised the significance of the opening match, stating, “The first game is always important. It’s a short competition—only the top team qualifies. There are six games and we need to finish first. We want to get the maximum points possible to qualify for Saudi Arabia.”
India has been drawn into Group A alongside Bangladesh, Singapore and Hong Kong. With only the group winners securing a spot in the final tournament in Saudi Arabia.
When asked about Sunil Chhetri’s return to the squad, Márquez was full of praise for the veteran striker. “Sunil is a legend in Indian football and the top scorer of the season. We had problems scoring in my first few games, though not in creating chances. I think he is a great addition for us.”
Defender Sandesh Jhingan, who accompanied Márquez at the press conference, echoed similar sentiments. “We always expect him to score goals—he’s already got 95 of them. We are happy to have him back. With his quality, he’s a threat to every team, not just Bangladesh.”
Speaking about the upcoming match, Jhingan highlighted the intensity of India-Bangladesh encounters. “Whenever India plays Bangladesh, it’s always a game full of passion, adrenaline, and high intensity. We’re focused on getting the right result. If you’re well-prepared, you can beat any team, and if not, any team can beat you. We go into every game with a positive mindset.”
Despite the significant gap in FIFA rankings—India at 126 and Bangladesh at 185—Márquez dismissed the notion that rankings define a team strength. He also pointed out that Bangladesh will be boosted by the inclusion of Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury in midfield.
As part of their preparation, India played a friendly against the Maldives last Wednesday, securing a dominant 3-0 win. The victory marked Márquez’s first as head coach and provided a confidence boost ahead of the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera exuded confidence ahead of the match. “We are very motivated. The team has been training and working hard for 24 days already, which is a long time, honestly. We are stronger than ever and expect a tight game.”
Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan, who previously played for Mohammedan Sporting in the I-League, was excited to be back in India. “It feels good to be here. I have great memories, so of course, I’m excited for tomorrow’s match. We know it’s going to be tough, but we’ll give our best.”
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