An Intense Showdown: India vs. Vietnam Football Rivalry Revisited

India and Vietnam's football rivalry, dating back to the 1950s, reignites as they face off in a friendly match. Both teams, currently rebuilding under new coaches, seek victory after disappointing World Cup qualifiers. Vietnam holds a slight edge in rankings and past encounters, setting the stage for a thrilling contest.

In a long-standing football rivalry that dates back to the 1950s, India and Vietnam have crossed paths in competitive matches with mixed results. These encounters have mostly been tight, with recent years seeing scarce interactions between the two teams. On Saturday, they will meet for only the fourth time in senior internationals, with all previous meetings concluding as friendlies.

Vietnam holds a competitive edge, having won two of the past three encounters, while India secured a win in 2010 powered by a Sunil Chhetri hat-trick. Both teams are undergoing a transition with new head coaches following an unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign. This underlines the significance of this friendly in Nam Dinh.

Vietnam, ranked 116th, ten places above India, is led by head coach Kim Sang-sik. Their recent form is shaky, with losses against Russia and Thailand in the LPBank Cup. Meanwhile, India's coach Manolo Marquez is keen on using this contest to gain rhythm and fitness as both teams eye redemption from their recent poor performances.

(With inputs from agencies.)