India National Football Team Player Ratings vs Mauritius- Intercontinental Cup Opener 2024

Casting their beams on the Intercontinental Cup, India national football team started their campaign with a chilling goal-less draw against the Island nation Mauritius at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad. When Manolo Marquez took charge of the Tigers, the new team showed a well-structured defense but had a problem in scoring goals. The two teams got their fair for the opportunities but none could convert hence the draw.

match was characterized by attempts to build the play from the back line, the dominance of the ball possession, and searching for gaps in the Mauritian defense line. Although the Indian team dominated more possession of the ball and came up with few decent opportunities, the attacking force in the side was blunt. Mauritius in the other hand was disciplined in defense and they occasionally pressed more infrequently but they looked menacing while at it.

The match provided some early signs of India’s new tactical formation under Marquez; who, despite his preference for more possession based football, is keen on having a compact defence, but without sacrificing the attacking impetus. Nonetheless, what became clearly evident was the fail to put the nail on the coffin in the last quarter of an hour or thirty minutes as India would be lacking in the subsequent matches.

Here are the player ratings for India in this hard-fought encounter:

India National Football Team Player Ratings vs Mauritius:

• Amrinder Singh (GK): 7 – He made crucial saves many times, showed fast reflexes and good positioning in critical moments.
• Rahul Bheke (captain): 6. 5 – He coordinated the defense effectively but at times the players could not understand each other well thus causing minor defensive mistakes.
• Jay Gupta: 6 – Provided with some much-needed defensive moments and a few crucial clearance but otherwise, lacking in the attacking play.
• Anirudh Thapa: 6. 5 – did a good job in creating some good channels for pass but failed to create clear cut opportunities.
• Manvir Singh: 6 – He also showed good mobility and drive and sometimes he lacked the finishing touch.
• Liston Colaco: 6 – They exhibited some skill and creativity and therefore had several opportunities to score but they wasted all of them.
• Lalengmawia Ralte: 6. 5 – Performed well in the control of match tempo but struggled with penetrating the opposition’s backline.
• Asish Rai: 6 – A dependable man in defense, though did not too much in terms of goal and assist making.
• Jeakson Singh: 6. 5 – defensive prowess and excelled both in tackles and heights but lack forward impetus.
• Lallianzuala Chhangte: 6.5 – Flashy & frequently bypassed defenders with his pace specially in the wing still lacked accuracy in his crossing skills.
• Chinglensana Singh: 6 – Particularly sound in defence, he was only occasionally forward, but always with discipline.

Through its goalless stalemate against Mauritius, India demonstrated that the team is well-drilled but at the same time, poor realization in the final phase continues to remain a chink in the armour. The Blue Tigers dominated the game with better possession and had several chances to score but the Mauritian team proved to be a tough nut to crack. In future matches, in Intercontinental Cup India will have to improve their ability to convert chances to clinch the match.

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