India takes on Singapore in the first of the two friendly games in the Hung Thinh football tournament 2022 hosted by Vietnam on Saturday at the Thong Nhat Stadium.
The Blue Tigers arrive in this contest after securing a berth in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 by topping their group back in June while Singapore failed to qualify for the tournament finishing third in their group.
IND vs SIN Match Details
Date: Saturday, 24 September 2022
Time: 15:30 (IST)
Venue: Thong Nhat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City
IND vs SIN Match Preview
India have traveled to Vietnam to play two important friendlies first against Singapore and then fighting the hosts in the tri-nation tournament as they build on to the Asian Cup next year albeit the venue for the event is still being decided initially planned to be held in China. The Blue Tigers passed the test in the final qualifiers in June with flying colors defeating the likes of Cambodia, Afghanistan and Hong Kong to finish top of the group with nine points, scoring eight goals and conceding only once. The team finally clicked with head coach Igor Stimac’s plans demonstrating some flamboyant football or better play than in the previous matches under his helm. As a case, the new technical committee of the AIFF decided to extend the Croatian’s contract until the Asian Cup with an option to renew further if India manages to reach the quarterfinals of the competition. This was welcoming news for the camp keeping the faith on their current boss rather than switching to another playing model brought by someone else in such a short period of time. Especially the unity the team showed in their top-class performances in Kolkata three months ago. Although many contributors from the qualifying campaigns have been slashed this time due to their poor club form something the coach has done for the first time in selecting in-form players only. The games against Singapore and Vietnam will give an idea of where India are placed at the moment and significantly which players will be eligible to be in the selection process although the domestic season has just started with the ISL set to begin next month. The team will be away from the comfort of their home for these games and won’t be having the enormous support in the Stadium they enjoyed in the final qualifiers. Hence, this could be the ideal scenario for the Blue Tigers are looking to prepare themselves for the Asian cup.
Ranked 159th in the FIFA rankings, India’s 104th position should not deceive them as Singapore are capable of bringing surprises to the table. Unlike India though, the Lions have not qualified for the Asian Cup after finishing behind Tajikistan and Vietnam by losing matches against them despite triumphing 6-2 over Myanmar in between. As a result, coach Matsumoto Yamaga arrives in this tournament with his side having no pressure of a big tournament hanging on the horizon. The coach, only appointed this year, uses an attacking style of play often not taking the opposition into consideration. This makes them a tricky customer to deal with for Igor Stimac’s men. The sort of challenge could be productive for the Blue Tigers expecting a similar kind of reception in the Asian Cup although their lackluster away form comes into question. Singapore will be seizing all opportunities to make this occasion an entertaining one through their football with Igor Stimac wary of the win the Lions registered over Myanmar in the qualifiers. Matsumoto Yamaga’s side has a good blend of youth and experience in their squad including their 38-year-old goalkeeper Hassan Sunny closing on 100 caps for his nation. Singapore have an impactful record over India by winning seven of the 12 meetings so far with Blue Tigers only managing to beat four times, the other being a draw. The last game between the sides was in 2012 in an international friendly where the Lions emerged 2-0 winners. India have also lost in their last three away matches and themselves have conceded six in a game against UAE last year so taking everything into consideration, Igor Stimac’s side has to start delivering on the travel from now on.
Recent Form
IND: WWWLL
SIN: LWLWL
IND vs SIN Team News
Earlier Igor Stimac seemed to hint at calling the main teams to help the national side in a cycle he has maintained since he took the hot seat three years back. Therefore, it was a surprise to see Manvir Singh and his clubmates Subhasish Bose and Pritam Kotal getting the axe along with youngsters Asish Rai and Hormipam Ruivah. It determines the Croatian’s change of plans in bringing players contributing more than the others and supposedly enjoying more minutes on the pitch. With no injury concerns to think about, Stimac will be sticking to the same starting eleven from June with some fresh faces in the ranks now.
Singapore will restore back to a full strengthened squad after fielding mostly youngsters in their first match in the tournament. 30-year-old Ikhanshi Fandi will be the attacking threat India have to keep an eye on who is in great form for his club and his nation. Center-back Irfan Fandi’s task will be to keep Sunil Chettri quiet as the Blue Tiger’s captain chase the third all-time active goal-scorer spot.
IND vs SIN Predicted Lineups
IND: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Naorem Roshan Singh, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra; Anirudh Thapa, Jeakson Singh; Lallianzuala Chhangte, Brandon Fernandes, Liston Colaco, Sunil Chhetri
SIN: Hassan Sunny (GK); Irfan Fandi, Hariss Harun (C), Amirul Adli; Nazrul Nazari, Shahdan Sulaiman, Shah Shahiran, Adam Swandi, Sahil Suhaimi, Ikhsan Fandi, Taufik Suparno.
