INDIA
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MALAYSIA
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Match 1: Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium,
Guwahati -13th Nov ’11, Kick-off 5:45 PM
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Match 2: Yuvabharati Krirangan, Kolkata – 16th Nov ’11, Kick-off 5:45 PM
-Even though the I-League club owners and the coaches are unhappy about this international break just before a few crucial top of the table League encounters, including the eagerly anticipated Kolkata derby, common Indian football fans are appreciating AIFF’s effort to leave no stone unturned in providing the national players much-needed international exposure. Indian national football team is all set to lock horns against their Malaysian counterparts in two friendly matches scheduled to be played on 13th and 16th November at Guwahati and Kolkata respectively.
Malaysia national football team is ranked 151st worldwide, 9 places above their Indian rivals, who dropped to 160th position in the latest FIFA rankings. This will be the very first assignment for the newly-appointed India coach Savio Medeira and he reckons that facing Malaysia will be a tough test but his boys have the capability to notch up winning results if they are able to perform to their true potential. Incidentally Medeira’s Malaysian counterpart, K. Rajagopal, is of Indian origin, although he played professional football in Malaysia and after successfully managing their U-23 national team, he has been promoted to manage the senior squad for last couple of years.
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Team News and Tactical Brief
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India
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Savio Medeira has named a tried and tested 25 member squad, which formed the
core team during Armando Colaco’s tenure as well, except for goalkeeper Subrata
Paul and midfield maestro Mehtab Hossain – both of whom are nursing injuries. In
his first pre-match media release, Medeira stated, -
“Though the boys have arrived at a very short notice but they all are raring to go and are looking forward to play the match against Malaysian team. The absence of Subrata (Paul) and Mehtab (Hossain) will surely be felt, but this is an excellent chance for the youngsters like Gurpreet (Sandhu) and Jewel (Raja) to prove their mettle”.Team India is expected to line-up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation and continue their experiment of getting accustomed to short passing game, which Armando Colaco initiated during his regime. In the absence of Subrata Paul, experienced Salgaocar ‘keeper Karanjit Singh is expected to guard the Indian citadel, while Dempo’s Subhashish Roy Chowdhury and East Bengal’s Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will serve as Karanjit’s deputies.
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The goal-machine - Sunil Chhetri
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The four defenders pick themselves up for a place in the starting line-up. Mahesh Gawli and Gourmangi Singh are expected to take up the responsibility of managing central defense, while Samir Naik and Syed Rahim Nabi will most probably start as the right and left wing backs. Debabrata Roy, Anwar Ali and Jashpal Singh will be the reserve defenders and can be used if required.
Climax Lawrence will most definitely feature in central midfield, but Mehtab Hossain’s unavailability would mean that either of the two youngsters, Rocus Lamare or Sheikh Jewel Raja will get a chance to showcase their potential. If Medeira wants to employ a safety first approach, then either Baldip Singh or Mehrajuddin Wadoo might get in to the starting line-up as a defensive screen. Steven Dias is expected to resume his duties on the right wing, while Anthony Periera will most probably partner him on the left flank. Young Lalrindika Ralte, who was impressive in last couple of matches for India playing as a replacement for Dias, will also be used, but mostly as a second-half substitute.
Star striker Sunil Chhetri and young Jeje Lalpekhlua, who has scored 5 goals in 8 matches donning the national colors, will form a two-pronged Indian attacking line-up. Joaquim Abrahanches, Baljit Singh Sahni and Sushil Singh are the other three strikers in Savio Medeira’s armor.
Probable Starting Line-up: Karanjit (GK), Samir, Mahesh, Gourmangi, Nabi, Steven, Climax, Rocus, Anthony, Sunil, Jeje.
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Malaysia
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Under the guidance of K Rajagopal, Malaysia is steadily progressing to
become a force to reckon with at the continental level. The morale of the team
got a major boost when they won the prestigious AFF Suzuki Cup crown
for the first time in the history in 2010. In their bid to qualify for 2012
London Olympic Games, Rajagopal insisted Malaysian Football Association to
arrange for at least one practice match every month and that has proved to be
one of the major ingredients of their recent success at the Asian continental
level. In their last three international friendly matches, Malaysia outclassed
Hong Kong by 2-0 margin before narrowly losing to Thailand by 1-2 and then
bounced back to beat Singapore by 2-0 margin.
For this tour to India, Malaysia is travelling with a full strength 24 member squad. Attacking midfielder Mohd Safiq Rahim, who plays for defending League Champions Selangor, will be wearing the captain’s armband. Rahim came to limelight by scoring a spectacular goal from free-kick against Liverpool in the English Giants’ pre-season tour match against Malaysia XI in July 2011 and he will be a player to watch out for. Besides, veteran defender Zamani Misbah, and Pelita Jaya FC‘s star striker Mohd Safee Mohd Sali have loads of experience playing for the national team and they will be more than a match for the Indian players.
Rajagopal is expected to deploy a 4-4-2 strategy, quite similar to India’s tactics. Negeri Sembilian FA goalkeeper Mohd Farizal Marlias is expected to get the nod under the woodwork. Zamani Misbah and Abdul Radzak, who have played more than 100 games for Malaysia together, will be their first choice central defense combination. Mohd Azmi Muslim and Aziz Ismail will be used as the side-backs.
Captain Safiq Rahim will be the creative force behind Malaysian attacks and he will be supported by S Kunanlan at the heart of the midfield. Muhymeen Zambri and Amar Rohidan, both from Kedah FA Club, will have the responsibility of spreading the game wide on the wings. Malaysia will look forward to Mohd Sali and Abdul Hadi Yahya for finding the back of Indian net. Joseph Kalang Tie, another very talented prospect, who had a two month stint with English Championship side Hartlepool United, will look to cement his place in the national side if provided with enough playing time in this tour of India.
Probable Starting Line-up: Marlias (GK), Zamani, Radzak, Muslim, Ismail, Kunanlan, Safiq, Zambri, Rohidan, Mohd Sali, Abdul Hadi
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TheHardTackle’s Players To Watch Out For
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Sunil Chhetri (India): Chhetri is in red-hot form in the
domestic League and has been on target for Mohun Bagan in their last couple of
matches. After the retirement of Baichung Bhutia, it’s time for him to take up
more responsibilities and lead from the front. So far he has scored 24 goals for
India in 52 FIFA approved international matches and Savio Medeira will expect
him to keep up the good work when team India will take on Malaysia in Guwahati
on 13th Nov.
Safiq Rahim (Malaysia): Rahim is an exceptionally talented and creative player. He will be used by Rajagopal as an attacking midfielder playing behind the two strikers in a flexible 4-3-1-2 formation which can be moulded in to a 4-4-2 if required. He is a set-piece specialist as well and can prove lethal if he gets a chance to unleash his venomous deliveries from the edge of the box.
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Safiq Rahim - the Malaysian creative force
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TheHardTackle’s Predictions
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At Guwahati : India 1-1 MalaysiaAt Kolkata : India 2-1 Malaysia
It will be a battle of equals and the team which utilizes the opportunities on a given day will come out victorious. However playing on the familiar home territory, along with the support of football crazy North East crowd gives Indian team a slight edge over the visiting side. Also the astro-turf at Salt Lake Stadium, where the second match is scheduled, may prove to be difficult to adapt to for the Malaysian brigade.