India vs Mauritius Highlights, Intercontinental Cup 2024: Manolo Marquez era begins with a goalless draw

After a lengthy injury gap, he is back in the national team setup and is raring to rekindle his partnership with Manolo for the first time since their Hyderabad FC days.

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After India’s draw against Mauritius, Manolo Marquez did not forget to mention the positives and praised the centre-back pairing of Chinglensana Singh and Rahul Bheke, saying the duo played an important role in keeping a clean sheet against the Mauritians.

When the national football team returns to your city for a match after 16 years, the natural expectation is to spread the news as much as possible and resort to fierce advertising to reach as many people as possible and urge them to attend the match.

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A football match is for everyone but using children just to fill stands and mask the authorities’ poor management is one of the many things that is wrong with the footballing culture in India.

One would assume that it was not the perfect evening for Manolo Marquez after he termed his managerial debut for India as a “boring game”, saying that the team practically created no chances throughout the 90 minutes.

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Manolo Marquez terms India managerial debut as ‘a boring game’ but praises players for giving 100 per cent

It was not the perfect evening for Manolo Marquez after he termed his managerial debut for India as a “boring game”, saying that the team created no chances throughout the 90 minutes.

And that’s that. The Manolo Marquez era for India begins with a goalless draw against Mauritius in the Intercontinental Cup in Hyderabad.

Just a few more minutes to go. India has the ball now, trying to get that one decisive move.

Streaks of blue can be seen going up the field but getting stopped in its tracks with blots of red on the field. Time is running our for both sides to score a winner. Mauritius has been resolute in its defence.

Nikhil Poojary gets some minutes in on his birthday as Asish Rai comes off.

Alex Ferre and Louis Rita come on for Mauritius. Aristide and Villeneuve come off.

Jay Gupta’s minutes come to an end in this match as Subasish Bose comes on.

Botlar’s cross into the box doesn’t face any impediment as it easily finds Mathieu who goes for a first-time shot, but skies it over the crossbar.

Apuia off for Suresh in the midfield.

Second half has seen a much more pro-active Mauritian side, which has won a number of set pieces and even forced Amrinder to make saves and spring to action. India, as of now, with its back to the wall.

Adrien and Lalsingh come off for Botlar and Mathieu.

Kiyan Nassiri and Subasish Bose are seen warming up on the sidelines. We can expect more changes from Manolo soon.

Right at the off in the second half, India looks to score the first goal at the earliest as Chhangte runs down the right flank and flicks it inside the box but the Mauritian goalkeeper gets a big glove to it.

With some fresh legs on the pitch, India gets the second half going against Mauritius at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in the Intercontinental Cup in Hyderabad.

Thapa and Liston will make way for Sahal Abdul Samad and Nandhakumar Sekar respectively.

That was a lukewarm start from Manolo Marquez’s first starting XI as India and Mauritius go into the break without scoring.

Liston does go for glory but only finds the wall with his attempt. Just over five minutes to go in the first half.

Liston Colaco is pulled down a few paces outside the box. Colaco is standing on top of the dead ball. Will he go for glory?

Great vision from Anirudh Thapa who puts Manvir Singh through on goal with a defence-splitting pass. The forward then tries his luck from a tight angle, forcing Kevin Obrian to a save.

India still with more of the ball and trying to find avenues to disturb Mauritius’s goalie, but the ball is mostly being passed around in the middle of the park.

It started with Bheke moving forward, finding Chhangte, who plays a delightful flick to find a racing Asish Rai, who bombs down the right flank to cross in a ball, but wins a corner. Smoothly done by Manolo’s men.

As Liston Colaco tries to put in those flat balls into the box, Jean Aristide drops his shoulders on the other side, leaving Indian defenders in his wake as he tries to enter the opposition box and create some problems.

While India has more than 50 per cent of the ball possession, Mauritius is sneaking in an attack or two from time to time. This time the winger on the right flank put in a ball inside the box. Amrinder seemed to be the one to collect the ball but skipper Rahul Bheke swooped in to clear the lines. Signs of miscommunication at the back?

Thapa floats in the ball from the corner kick, finds a blue shirt who bops it towards the back post as Sana Singh runs it to get a head to it, but just misses the bus. Great chance for India goes begging.

After an initial scare from the players clad in red in the opening seconds when Mauritius attacked the Indian box, the host has now had most of the ball, slowly trying to stitch together passes.

Mauritius gets the ball rolling against India in the Intercontinental Cup at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesaday.

As sparklers light up the pathway towards the field, India and Mauritius players make their way out as the kickoff is minutes away.

Conceding goals at crucial stages and succumbing from a winning position was synonymous with India, which preceded the Stimac era. What should excite Indian fans is that Manolo does not compromise defence for his attacking style of football.

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Attack, but not at the cost of defence: Intercontinental Cup 2024, a good opportunity for India coach Manolo to experiment

With the Intercontinental Cup, the Indian men’s football team enters into a new era and Manolo Marquez has the luxury of starting his journey in Hyderabad, the city where it all began for him.

The Indian men’s national football team ushers in a new era with the familiar face of Manolo Marquez at the helm. After almost a three-month-long hiatus, the Blue Tigers spring back into action as they gear up to face Mauritius in the 2024 Intercontinental Cup at the G. M. C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium here on Tuesday.

This will be India’s first competitive outing since the 1-2 defeat against Qatar in the 2026 FIFA World Cup second-round qualifier, which saw the side finish in third place in its four-team group. Only the top two advanced to the third round of qualification.

After Igor Stimac’s exit as India’s head coach, the Blue Tigers aim to move beyond the pain of the past and look forward with an experienced Manolo steering the ship.

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Intercontinental Cup: Manolo Marquez hopes for happy homecoming as India kicks off campaign against underdog Mauritius

After Igor Stimac’s exit as India’s head coach, the Blue Tigers aim to move beyond the pain of the past and look forward with an experienced Manolo steering the ship.

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India vs Mauritius, Intercontinental Cup LIVE stream info: Where to watch Manolo Marquez’s first match as the Blue Tigers head coach?

Here’s everything you need to know about the LIVE telecast and stream information about where to watch India vs Mauritius, Manolo Marquez’s first game in-charge of the Blue Tigers.