Fresh from clinching the Intercontinental Cup in Bhubaneshwar, India needed to shift base instantly to Bengaluru for the SAFF Championship. With eight titles (on the time) and beginning the event because the defending champions, the Blue Tigers have been touted because the favourites on house soil. But this time, it wasn’t simply the South Asian international locations the Indians had to consider.
The West Asian international locations of Lebanon and Kuwait have been invited to compete within the SAFF Cup. It was the primary time within the competitors’s historical past {that a} nation outdoors the South Asian Football Federation would take part within the competitors.
While India had an thought about Lebanon, having confronted it twice within the Intercontinental Cup and overwhelmed it within the last, Kuwait was largely an unknown entity. The two nations final clashed in a global pleasant in 2010, the place the Blue Tigers suffered a 9-1 drubbing towards the Al-Azraqs.
Indian captain Sunil Chhetri relished the prospect of an added problem and welcomed the concept of getting Lebanon and Kuwait, saying that going through harder groups will solely assist India sharpen its expertise forward of going through heavyweights equivalent to Syria, Uzbekistan and Australia within the Asian Cup subsequent 12 months.
In the top, India reigned supreme and defended its SAFF title efficiently, beating Kuwait 5-4 on penalties within the summit conflict, however the path to victory wasn’t simple.
Tumult on the touchlines
India head coach Igor Stimac was within the highlight for all of the flawed causes and noticed two purple playing cards within the event that prevented the Croat from being on the touchlines for even one full match.
The first got here in India’s opener towards Pakistan, the place he received his marching orders for a touchline scuffle that began when Stimac impeded a Pakistan throw-in. The second got here towards Kuwait, when he noticed purple due to caustic remarks directed on the match official.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey lauded Stimac for the work he put in behind the scenes however mentioned that “two red cards in a tournament is not expected from a coach of his stature and experience.” Commenting on the coach’s extended absence, Chhetri, too, mentioned that it’s not helpful for the ‘leader’ to be absent on the sidelines, particularly throughout high-tension matches just like the semifinal and the ultimate.
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The solely optimistic that emerged from Stimac’s indiscipline was assistant coach Mahesh Gawli’s coming into the highlight. He was an lively presence on the pitch, always screaming directions at his gamers. Off the pitch, he maintained an equally reserved manner, resorting to brief one-liners when requested in regards to the workforce’s efficiency. The solely time Gawli made his voice clear was throughout his harsh criticism directed at SAFF officers for his or her “unfair” remedy in direction of Stimac, who, in line with Gawli, was a sufferer of the sub-standard refereeing.
Giant leap: India’s Sandesh Jhingan in motion in the course of the SAFF last.
| Photo Credit:
MURALI KUMAR Ok
Solid backline-stagnant midfield-poor ending
India’s greatest optimistic in current instances has been its defence. It loved clear sheets in all 4 matches within the Intercontinental Cup win, and within the SAFF Championships, the Blue Tigers conceded simply two objectives in 5 matches — each towards Kuwait within the group stage and last, respectively.
While Sandesh Jhingan and Anwar Ali have develop into a formidable duo on the coronary heart of the backline, Stimac has used attacking fullbacks in Nikhil Poojary and Akash Mishra. Starting along with his most popular 4-3-3, India has usually reworked right into a 3-5-2, the place Poojary and Mishra have operated as wingbacks and supported the wingers.
With the defence wanting in form, the Blue Tigers’ concern begins additional up the pitch. Their lack of creativity in the course of the park has been alarming, and all through the SAFF Championship, there was hardly any buildup from midfield.
India has in a position workhorses like Anirudh Thapa, Jeakson Singh and Sahal Abdul Samad in midfield. While Jeakson was a robust presence within the defensive midfield place, taking part in an important position in breaking the transitional performs of opponents, Sahal and Thapa left the gang craving for extra with their general decision-making.
The major problem within the Indian midfield boiled all the way down to holding the ball for too lengthy. Delaying the ultimate go resulted in quite a lot of strikes breaking down, together with quite a lot of counterattacks. Also, the midfield gave the impression to be overdependent on Chhetri, and the primary intuition was to go the ball to the Indian captain, even when it was not at all times essentially the most viable choice.
India’s ending within the last third additionally raised doubts about how prepared this workforce is to face higher-ranked groups sooner or later. Compared to the prospect creation, the ending was majorly missing.
Speaking on this, Chhetri mentioned, “Our conversion rate was poor in terms of other attributes of the game like defence, attacking corners, defensive corners, and time management. The final pass and the finishing were probably the poorest parts of our game in totality.”
As for Stimac, he additionally didn’t mince his phrases and mentioned that his gamers are carrying unhealthy habits from the Indian Super League (ISL). Criticising their decision-making within the last third, he identified that they have a tendency to go rather a lot when there are capturing alternatives.
Apart from its defence, India’s soccer down the flanks was one other optimistic. Lallianzuala Chhangte was a menace on the precise flank along with his capacity to tackle defenders and ship correct crosses in the course of the field. On the left, the skilled Ashique Kuruniyan wasn’t at his crossing greatest. However, his capacity to retain the ball underneath strain was an asset for the Blue Tigers.
Talking about wingers, one can not exclude Naorem Mahesh Singh, who was a revelation within the SAFF Championship. Mainly used from the bench, the teen impressed on the left each time he was placed on. Apart from his crossing capacity, Mahesh possesses glorious shut management, which is helpful in tight areas. There have been a number of events the place he seemed like he would concede possession, however his fast ft and shut management bailed him out, and earlier than his marker realised it, he was already previous him.
The group stage match towards Nepal changed into a particular evening for Mahesh, as he scored his debut aim for India and bagged an help after establishing Chhetri for his 91st worldwide aim. The efficiency earned him the ‘Man of the Match’ award.
Coach class: Igor Stimac celebrates with the trophy
| Photo Credit:
MURALI KUMAR Ok
Time and house vital for the workforce
Overall, it has been a fruitful nationwide camp for India when it comes to silverware, however the work doesn’t cease right here. With the Asian Cup on the horizon, Chhetri mentioned the workforce wants to enhance all departments, and prolonged nationwide camps are vital for the gamers to operate as a unit.
Stimac put out a direct message to the authorities, demanding longer nationwide camps.
“[The] Asian Cup is far away. The most important time for the National team of India to prepare well for the Asian Cup is December. We are looking for a minimum [of] four weeks [of] preparation. The rest doesn’t matter.”
The Croat mentioned his workforce must be given time and house to work collectively. If not, then his gamers or employees wouldn’t be liable to take duty. Senior gamers like Chhetri and Jhingan additionally backed their coach’s demand.
India’s subsequent task is the King’s Cup in Thailand, the place will probably be the second-highest-ranked workforce (100) after Iran (70). Apart from Iran, the Blue Tigers would have Lebanon and host Thailand to deal with. With the Asian Cup on the horizon, successful matches and gaining morale are paramount for India, and it’ll hope to hold its optimistic momentum into the event and add one other feather to its cap by successful it for the primary time.
