​Anirudh Thapa Strikes as India Beat Thailand in King's Cup | Highlights

Hello and welcome to our live blog. Slightly overcast conditions in Buriram today as India take on Thailand in the third-place playoff of the King's Cup. A bit of a grudge match this one and the Thai's would be baying for revenge.

Here's how the #BlueTigers ? ?? will line-up against @Changsuek_TH ?? today! ??#THAIND #BackTheBlue ? #KingsCup ? #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/eoU5EayePh

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 8, 2019

Sandesh Jhingan, India's defensive mainstay, will be wearing the captain's arm-band for this match. 

? @SandeshJhingan will lead the #BlueTigers against @Changsuek_TH ???#THAIND #KingsCup ? #BackTheBlue ? #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/UfG1ZcIYJl

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 8, 2019

The national anthems have been played. The sides are lined up, ready for kickoff. 

5⃣ June: Debuted for ?? as substitutes ?

8⃣ June: Get their first start for the #BlueTigers ?@KiyamAmarjit ⚡
Raynier Fernandes ?#THAIND #KingsCup ? #BackTheBlue ? #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/ITIHHt73NP

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 8, 2019

Stimac is obviously making sure he uses this tournament to rotate and give enough players game time. His starting XI for this game has only three from the previous.

It’s hard not to get the sense that the starting XI picked by Igor Stimac for this game has a slightly easier task at hand. The confidence is there. They know this is a winnable proposition. Won’t be too surprised if one or two of the boys in this alternative XI makes more of an impact than anyone managed against Curacao.

It will be interesting see how Vinit Rai and Anirudh Thapa do today simply because they are playing for their spots in the XI now. Sahal and Raynier were eye catching against Curaçao.  

Stimac obviously also rates Amarjit Singh very highly. From all the social media praise he has showered on the youngster over the past few days (including calling him the game changer) it’s clear there is a big part for the former U17 World Cupper in India’s immediate future.

13' Thailand sightly more measured in their approach now. Taking their time in midfield and mostly making the moves down the left flank, where India have shown some weakness.

17' And there you go, India Draw First Blood. Anirudh Thapa strikes as India take lead for the first time in a match in the Igor Stimac Era.

Anirudh Thapa, still my top pick in the middle of the park for India, rising to the challenge presented by the likes of Brandon Fernandes and Sahal Abdul Samad. Scored his first goal for India against Thailand in the 4-1 win at the Asian Cup. Double up. Well in! Will be interesting to see how the coach tweaks things now that they have the lead.

-- Siddhanth

22’ You will notice that none of these highly patriotic professional athletes running on the pitch right now are sporting any personal messages (political, racial, religious or familial) in their person right now. That’s because football — despite not being played by gentlemen — is quite clear about what you can and cannot do on the field of play. That little spherical object rolling around… you can kick that.

22’ Thailand put the ball in the net! But it;s offside. Four of them in fact. Teerasil Dangda finished the cross brilliantly, but it won’t count.

24’ The fans behind Amrinder’s goal are bouncing. Literally bouncing. It’s great to see the stadium filled with fans even if it isn’t packed. That’s the advantage of playing the hosts. Great atmosphere. Thailand have a corner, Amrinder comes and punches it away.

25’ The players take a water break. Time to discuss women’s football then. If you didn’t catch yesterday’s Women’s World Cup opener then you missed out on  a) a superb opening ceremony featuring one of the best pop artists on the market today and b) some superb football by hosts France. Amandine Henry, their captain scored the best goal of the game. A top corner belter from outside the box. She also had an assist and was generally the conductor of the orchestra.

29’ We are back. Bheke front kicks Dangda to the ground. That’s superb technique. For Muay Thai.

31’ India’s Amarjit Singh is kneed in the head by Subashish Bose. Communication is lacking in defensive situations.

33’ Thailand have most of the ball, but keep dragging it wide and hoping to punt some crosses in. That’s a strategy, but one that isn’t getting much success right now, because of inaccurate wing work. India meanwhile are happy to man mark, not commit fully to the press and play to the ball.