Is the Indian Men's Football Team Ready for the Challenge in Thailand?

Pathum Thani (Thailand), May 29 (NationPress) After successfully completing their training camp in Kolkata, the Indian men's national football team arrived in Thailand shortly after midnight on Thursday. The Blue Tigers are set to face the host nation in a friendly match on June 4, in preparation for the vital AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Final Round fixture against Hong Kong on June 10.

This marks the third visit of the Indian senior men's team to the Land of Smiles in the last six years. Previously, India participated in the King's Cup in 2019 and 2023, securing a bronze medal in the former by defeating Thailand 1-0 in their last encounter.

While the previous King's Cups were hosted in Buriram and Chiang Mai, the upcoming friendly will occur at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, a venue where the Blue Tigers have yet to play. However, the Blue Colts have experience at this stadium, having drawn 1-1 with Vietnam and narrowly lost 0-1 to Uzbekistan during the AFC U17 Asian Cup in 2023.

Midfielder Brandon Fernandes, who made his debut for India at the 2019 King's Cup in Buriram against Curacao, is eager to take on the challenge in Pathum Thani. Having also trained during the last pre-season with his club, Mumbai City FC, in Thailand, he is well-acquainted with the local conditions.

"Playing away from home always brings a different set of challenges. We are familiar with Thailand from our previous King's Cup experience. However, this match will be an international friendly, and the home crowd will likely be cheering for their team. We must be prepared and approach the game with a winning mindset," the 30-year-old shared with AIFF's official website.

The Indian team's accommodation is strategically located in the heart of Pathum Thani, about 50 kilometers north of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. Pathum Thani, one of Thailand's 76 provinces and part of the Bangkok metropolitan area, lies along the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

The Thammasat Stadium, situated within the Thammasat University campus, was constructed for the 1998 Asian Games, where the Indian women's team also played two group stage matches.

The current focus for the Blue Tigers is to secure qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup, and Fernandes believes that preparations for the Hong Kong match are progressing well.

"Everyone is looking fit following our camp in Kolkata. We had some practice matches as well. We are in much better shape as we transition to the Thailand segment of our training. We will conduct several more training sessions here, ensuring we are ready for the game.

"Thailand presents a perfect opportunity for us to hone our skills ahead of the Hong Kong match. We need to give our all and strive for a positive outcome. Everyone has put in the hard work, and with our training intensity, I believe we can achieve a favorable result," Fernandes concluded.