The War Elephants triumphed in a 2-0 win over the Blue Tigers.
India senior men’s football team paid heavily for scuppering scoring opportunities as they lost 2-0 to Thailand on Wednesday. A clash that the Blue Tigers entered looking to win and prepare for AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, however, the result will give Manolo Marquez and his men plenty to ponder and reflect in the coming days.
Goals from Benjamin Davis and Poramet were enough for the War Elephants to walk away comfortable winners against a wasteful team India. A game where the Blue Tigers had many opportunities to convert into goals, the attack just lacked the cutting edge in the decisive moment.
While the friendly served as a useful testing ground ahead of India’s crucial qualifier against Hong Kong, it also exposed several familiar flaws, particularly in attack and tactical structure. Here are the key talking points from the defeat:
Wasteful finishing and passing haunts India
One of the most glaring issues from the match was India’s persistent inability to convert chances. Despite creating several promising openings, the Blue Tigers were let down by their finishing. While Sunil Chhetri tried to create chances and latched on with hope on some crosses, Liston Colaco and Manvir Singh squandered key chances which could have led to a different result throughout the game.
Despite getting into good positions, the lack of composure and decision-making in the final third proved costly for Manolo Marquez and his men. The inefficiency in front of goal has become a worrying pattern under the current setup and needs urgent fixing ahead of the Hong Kong encounter.
The passing from Apuia and Ayush Dev Chhetri also left a lot to be desired for Marquez in the game. While India maintained an 82 per cent accuracy in the game, they only maintained a 69 per cent accuracy in the opposition half, underlining their struggles. A lack of build-up and loss of possession time and again hurt the Blue Tigers and their chances of winning.
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Thailand’s composure and clinical finishing helped win the game
The War Elephants were clinical, composed, and tactically assured, controlling large periods of possession and dictating the tempo from midfield. Their opening goal came after a swift build-up that saw Benjamin Davis finish a flowing move with precision, while Poramet’s goal in the second half was the result of smart positional play and a screamer past a helpless Vishal Kaith in goal.
Thailand’s midfield trio made their touches on the ball count, making it difficult for India to string passes or apply consistent pressure. Their ability to switch play and exploit wide areas was key in stretching India’s backline. The composure and technical discipline they displayed were a stark contrast to India’s frantic and reactive approach.
Should Manolo Marquez rethink his 4-4-2 tactical setup?
Since taking over, Manolo Marquez has remained loyal to a 4-4-2 formation, a system he used with considerable success in the ISL. However, at the national level, the same structure has looked increasingly rigid and predictable.
In his seven matches in charge, Marquez has won once, drawn four, and lost twice, a record that fails to inspire confidence heading into the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.The current 4-4-2 formation often leaves India outnumbered in midfield, limiting creativity and reducing control in transitions.
Against Thailand, the midfield duo of Apuia and Ayush Dev Chhetri struggled to cope with overloads, and India’s wingers were forced to track back deeply, compromising attacking width. A switch to a more compact 4-2-3-1 or even a flexible 3-4-2-1 could offer better midfield balance, allowing Chhetri to play off a lone striker or in a false nine role, and unlock new possibilities.
India’s defeat to Thailand exposed a mix of old problems and new tactical dilemmas. With finishing issues persisting and the current formation under scrutiny, Manolo Marquez has little time to fix key issues before facing Hong Kong.
While the friendly served its purpose in highlighting areas to improve, it also raised serious questions about India and their credentials to compete with Asia’s very best.
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