KUALA LUMPUR: India fans are eager for revenge when the Blue Tigers host Harimau Malaya in a friendly on Nov 19.
India fans still hold bitter memories of last year's Merdeka Tournament, where their team lost 4-2 to Malaysia.
The Indian side were unsatisfied with the pitch conditions at the National Stadium and the standard of refereeing.
Harimau Malaya were thrashed 4-0 by New Zealand in a friendly in Auckland on Nov 19, while India's last game ended in a 1-1 draw away to Vietnam on Oct 12.
For the record, India are ranked No. 126 in the Fifa rankings, six places above Malaysia.
In a recent post confirming the friendly, the All India Football Federation's announcement was met with comments from fans hoping the match would be hosted in Kolkata, Bengaluru, or Chennai.
Several fans expressed their eagerness for revenge after last year's defeat.
"Time to take revenge for what happened last time," said Manojit Dey.
Bidesh Dey echoed the sentiment, stating, "Revenge time."
Despite the anticipation surrounding the match, many fans are frustrated with India's recent performances.
Since their 1-0 victory over Kuwait in a World Cup qualifier in November 2023, the team have lost seven matches and drawn four.