India vs Vanuatu: Preview and Prediction
The Blue Tigers commenced their 2023 monsoon season in international football in style after their emphatic victory over Mongolia. The caravan of the 2023 Intercontinental Cup is now heading towards Matchday 2 where the hosts will be summoned by Vanuatu. Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium which is the solitary venue for the entire mega-event will be hosting this face-off between India and Vanuatu on Monday.
The group stage has taken an interesting move from here as the second matchday will witness two nations keen to grab the final tickets while the rest of them will be trying to keep themselves alive in the competition. Hence, there is a high chance that we may get to see the two finalists even before the final matchday.
The joint-most successful side of the Intercontinental Cup has already begun their second title hunt with a bang and climbed to the second spot in the group standings. The Blue Tigers also ended their three-match winless streak in the competition after failing to register even a single win in the previous edition. Igor Stimac will be surely eying to claim three points and advance to the final stages for the second time.
Vanuatu is indulged in a regional rivalry with the neighbouring countries Fiji and Solomon Islands and has bagged three bronze and a solitary silver medal in the Men’s football event of the continental Pacific Games.
Following the tradition of Pacific representation, Vanuatu has become the second nation from Oceania Football Confederation after New Zealand to qualify for the Intercontinental Cup. The Yellow Iguanas were drafted in the group stages of the OFC qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup however, they eventually withdrew from the tournament owing to covid-19 outbreak within the squad.
Current Form
It just took two minutes for Sahal to open the scoreline for India against Mongolia
The Blue Tigers continued their triumphant run and kick-started their campaign in the four-nation tournament with a convincing win. They registered their first-ever victory over the Asian counterpart Mongolia after emerging victorious in a final scoreline of 2-0. Two strikes from Sahal Abdul Samad (2′) and Lallianzuala (14′) inside the first 15 minutes brought the Blues into the lead which remained undisputed till the full-time whistle.
On the other hand, Vanuatu may have lost their opening fixture of the tournament but the fightback they showcased against the higher-ranked opposition was a commendable one. The defensive line of the Yellow Iguanas remained impenetrable throughout the first half and kept the scoreline 0-0 till the half-time break.
When the deadlock was broken by the Cedars in the 59th minute, Vanuatu reverted back with a befitting response just three minutes later to equalise the scoreline but eventually lost the tie by 3-1.
Head-to-Head Record
Previously known as New Hebrides, the Yellow Iguanas started bustling the continental football after their independence in 1980 with a completely new team identity. Vanuatu has faced only one Asian opponent in international football to date when Indonesia registered a crushing 6-0 triumph over them in June 2019.
Hence these two combatants have never battled out against each other as India is going to be the only third Asian outfit after Indonesia and Lebanon to face the Yellow and Greens.
Team News
Head Coach Igor Stimac is expected to make multiple changes to the starting lineup as part of his rotation policy to keep the squad intact ahead of the big games. Amrinder Singh managed to impress everyone with his sturdy performances but Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and veteran defender Pritam Kotal are speculated to be back in the starting XI.
The Vanuatuan gaffer Etienne Mermer who entrusted the 4-4-2 formation in the previous fixture is likely to continue with the same approach without making any changes after an impressive performance.
The 26-year-old central midfielder Jean Taussi who had a pivotal contribution in their solitary goal against Lebanon will be expecting an opportunity to lineup for the kickoff whistle. Meanwhile, the deadly duo of Alex Saniel and Azariah Soromon will continue to lead the forward line of the Yellow and Greens.
Predicted Starting XIs
India (4-2-3-1): Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, Akash Mishra; Lalengmawia Ralte, Anirudh Thapa; Lison Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad, Lallianzuala Chhangte; Sunil Chhetri
Vanuatu (4-4-2): Massing Kalotang; Timothy Boulet, Brian Kaltack, Jason Thomas, Lee Taiwia; John Wohale, Johnathan, Michel Coulon, Goddin Tenene; Alex Saniel, Azariah Soromon
Prediction
All eyes are on the Ni-Vanuatu skipper
Whether it’s current form or on-paper strength, each and every prediction aspect is hinting towards the possibility of the Blue Tigers emerging victorious. However, the Yellow Iguanas may aim for a goalless draw if their defensive line is able to sustain further the rocky defense of the first half of the Lebanon game to the entire play.
Despite taking a hefty early lead, India struggled to enlarge it owing to their impatience in the attacking third and in order to succeed, the skipper Brian Kaltack and his boys must counter-attack the same weakness.