India’s Intercontinental Cup Exit: Coach Manolo Marquez Criticizes Team’s Lack of Bravery Against Syria
India’s journey in the Intercontinental Cup came to an abrupt end on Monday, as the Blue Tigers suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat against Syria in their final league match. With this result, India, a two-time winner of the Cup in 2018 and 2023, was eliminated from the tournament. The loss was a significant setback for the team and for head coach Manolo Marquez, who had only recently taken over after Igor Stimac parted ways with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in July.
Syria’s victory was led by goals from Mahmoud Al Aswad and Dahelo Mohsen, who took full advantage of India’s defensive frailties. Marquez, visibly frustrated, minced no words in criticizing his team’s performance, especially in the first half. The defeat was particularly disappointing given India’s past success in the competition, and Marquez made it clear that the team’s lack of courage in the opening 45 minutes was unacceptable.
India came under immense pressure right from the start, with Syria’s early dominance paying off when Mahmoud Al Aswad scored in just the 7th minute. India appeared rattled by the early goal, and their panic only grew as Syria continued to press forward. Alaa Aldin Yasin Dali almost doubled the lead with a powerful shot that struck the crossbar. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, India’s goalkeeper, was forced into making crucial saves, including a critical stop in the 35th minute that kept India in the game. Despite Sandhu’s efforts, the first half was a difficult one for India, with the team struggling to match Syria’s intensity and precision.
After the match, Marquez expressed his frustration with the team’s lack of bravery, particularly in the first half. “I am angry with the first half. I don’t like teams that are scared. In the first half, we were not brave,” Marquez said, clearly unhappy with the way his players handled the pressure.
However, India showed a marked improvement in the second half. The team came out with renewed energy and determination, creating several promising chances. Tactical changes at halftime allowed India to push forward more aggressively, with Sahal Abdul Samad and Lallianzuala Chhangte combining effectively on the left wing. The pair created several opportunities, but India’s finishing let them down, and Syria’s goalkeeper made a series of impressive saves to keep the Blue Tigers at bay.
Despite India’s improved performance, Syria capitalized on a counter-attack in the 77th minute to double their lead, effectively ending India’s hopes of a comeback. A late goal from Syria sealed their 3-0 victory, ensuring India’s elimination from the tournament. The final scoreline did not fully reflect the fight India put up in the second half, as they created chances but were unable to find the back of the net.
Marquez acknowledged the team’s effort in the second half, even though the result was disappointing. “I am satisfied with the second half. The score isn’t a real reflection of the game. We at least deserved to score. The players’ attitude and positioning was better after the break. We were braver and at least created chances. Syria have very good players. They killed us on the counter. They had many chances throughout the game,” the head coach said in his post-match comments.
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