India will look for a much-needed win against Hong Kong.
The Indian football team aims to get their first win in their 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers when they face off against a sturdy Hong Kong side on Tuesday, 10 June (2025).
The Blue Tigers are heading into the game at the back of a two-game winless run and a disappointing loss to Thailand, and face a Hong Kong side that has been revitalised under the guidance of Ashley Westwood. Manolo Marquez’s men will look to revamp their style and be a clinical force to defeat Hong Kong at their yard and move up their AFC Asian Cup groups.
The Stakes
Hong Kong
Hong Kong have shown signs of improvement since Ashley Westwood came aboard, as they have won seven of their 10 matches under him so far. Westwood, for one, has a lot of information about the Indian football team because of his time coaching in India over the last decade. He will look to shape up his side to be a really stubborn menace for the Blue Tigers and completely neutralise their attacking style with their rigorous defending.
He’ll also want his players to be smart in counter-attacks and set-pieces to hurt India in their weak points. A win for Hong Kong against India could be a huge achievement and strengthen their push for a top-two place in the group. A draw won’t be the worst result, but a bad loss can undo all the good they’ve done under Westwood so far.
India
The Indian football team doesn’t really have momentum on ‘high morale’ on their side heading into this upcoming game against Hong Kong. They’ve produced some poor performances in the last two games and there are a lot of glaring issues in the attacking approach or compactness of the team. The Indian players have to step up their game and take the game by the scruff of the neck.
They need to be innovative and smart with fast-flowing attacking football and learn to take their chances clinically to get a big win under their belt. A comprehensive victory will help the Indian players regain their confidence and win back some of the fans’ faith. However, a drab draw or a loss will put even more pressure on Manolo Marquez as questions mount on the long-term status of his job.
Team & Injury News
Hong Kong should have the squad that was available for their recent 0-0 draw against Nepal before the qualifier.
India sent three players in Subhasish Bose, Hritik Tiwari and Mehtab Singh, back to the country after they failed to make an appearance against Thailand.
Head-to-Head Record
This will be the 25th meeting between India and Hong Kong. Their most recent encounter was back in 2022 when the Blue Tigers got a huge 4-0 win over Hong Kong in a 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifier clash.
Total matches played – 25
Hong Kong wins – 8
Draws – 7
India wins – 9
Predicted Lineups
Hong Kong (4-4-2):
Yapp Hung (GK), Oliver Gerbig, Leon Jones, Yue Tze Nam, Sun Ming Him, Shinichi Chan, Ngan Cheuk Pan, Fernando Pedreira, Juninho, Stefan Pereira, Michael Udebuluzor
India (4-2-3-1):
Vishal Kaith, Asish Rai, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Abhishek Singh, Lalengmawia Ralte, Suresh Singh, Brandon Fernandes, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco, Sunil Chhetri
Players to Watch
Juninho (Hong Kong)
Juninho is one of the most experienced players in the Hong Kong side and will look to use his expertize to torment the Indian players. The 34-year-old has two goals and six assists in 16 appearances for Hong Kong in his career, and will look to gain more goal contributions against the Blue Tigers. Juninho is quite the versatile player who can operate in multiple roles in the attack, but he’s excelled in the no.10 role for Westwood.
Juninho will play an important role for his side, as he’ll have to defend quite deep to help regain possession in key areas and spark counter-attacks for his side. The 34-year-old will also be tasked to send his teammates through into empty areas in the final third with his innovative passes and will be asked to be prolific with his set piece delivery too. If given too much free room to roam into, Juninho can cause mayhen in the Indian half and help his side get an edge over India.
Sunil Chhetri (India)
Even at the age of 40, Sunil Chhetri remains the go-to man for the Indian national team whenever they need goals. Chhetri has had to come back from retirement to help the Blue Tigers and will be asked to get the goods once again in a major international game. Chhetri might not have pace in his side anymore, but his energy levels and never-say-die attitude cannot be questioned at all.
Chhetri will be looking to use his experience levels to outwit the Hong Kong defenders with his clever off-the-ball movement and get into all the empty pockets in the final third. He will be looking to link up nicely to help create chances for teammates, but Chhetri will mostly be tasked with the goals front. He will need to be efficient in the final third in converting any chances he gets to inspire India to a big win.
Did you know?
- This will be India’s first match in Hong Kong in 16 years, as they last played in the country in January 2009.
- Hong Kong have only conceded one goal in their last five competitive matches, keeping four clean sheets.
- Sunil Chhetri has scored 95 goals at the international level, making him the third-highest active goalscorer in international football.
Telecast Details
The AFC Asian Cup qualifier between India and Hong Kong will take place at the Kai Tek Stadium, Kowloon on June 10 (2025). The match will kick off at 5:30 PM IST. It will be streamed on Fancode.
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