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With India playing Oman in the first game of their World Cup qualifying group match, there is a lot of excitement among the football fans in the country.
National team coach Stephen Constantine has dropped many big names for the qualifiers such as Nirmal Chettri and Gouramangi Singh, and opted for youth. His methods worked in India’s previous qualification knockout round encounter against Nepal, as they overcame their neighbours 2-0 over the course of two legs.
What are the chances of the Indian team winning the match against Oman, and eventually qualifying for the World Cup? Here, we look at the five players who can make a difference in the qualifiers for India:
Sunil Chhetri
Age: 30Position: StrikerI-League: Bengaluru FCISL: Did not play in the first seasonInternational caps: 77International goals: 45
Sunil Chhetri is by far the most recognizable and most talented Indian football player of his generation. The 30-year-old is the highest goal scorer in the country, having overtaken the legendary Baichung Bhutia; his current tally is 45 goals at a rate of 0.58 goals per game. He has scored at least one goal in a calendar year since 2007.
Chhetri has played for a host of clubs in the I-League (and the now defunct National Football League) including Mohun Bagan, JCT, East Bengal, Dempo, Chirag United, Churchill Brothers and Bengaluru FC. He has also played for MLS club Kansas City Wizards and Portuguese side Sporting Clube de Portugal B.
The Arjuna Award winner has won three league titles with three different clubs as well as a Federation Cup in his illustrious club career. For the national team, he has won three Nehru Cups, one AFC Challenge Cup and a SAFF Championship. On a personal level, Chhetri has won the AIFF Player of the Year award four times.
He stands at only 1.70m but is more than match for any team he plays against. A willing runner with an appetite for goals would be the best description for this 30-year-old.
Even though Chhetri might already be the greatest Indian player of all time, he always looks to achieve even more. He now chases legendary status in his efforts to lead an Indian team to the World Cup Finals.
Tickets for the India vs Oman match in Bengaluru on 11th June are available at www.kyazoonga.com/indianfootball.
Subrata Pal
Age: 28Position: GoalkeeperI-League: Salgaocar (on loan)ISL: Mumbai City FCInternational caps: 60
‘Spiderman’, as he is called by fans, is a nickname well earned by this shot stopper from Kolkata. At 28, Pal has already amassed 60 caps and could well play over 100 matches for India before he decides to hang up his gloves for good. He is the captain of the team and always leads by example, keeping India in games even when the opponent is going all guns blazing.
Pal has played on both sides of the Kolkata derby along with stints at Prayag United, Rangdajied United and Salgaocar. He was an important player in Pune FC’s brilliant performance in the 2009-10 I-League season where they finished third in the league.
In the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, Pal made 35 saves in three games, for which he received praise from far and wide. A Seoul newspaper released the headline stating, “Indian team GK, 16 times super-save! Who is this guy?” for his extraordinary performance against the South Koreans.
Sandesh Jhingan
Age: 21Position: DefenderI-League: Sporting Clube de GoaISL: Kerala BlastersInternational caps: 2 International goals: 0
Sandesh Jhingan is one of the finest young defenders around. Standing at 1.88m tall, he is one of the best aerially equipped players in the country. He was handed his first cap by Stephen Constantine in the first leg against Nepal in the previous round.
Jhingan can play in all four defensive positions, but is most effective in a central position.
He started his career with Sikkim side United Sikkim, which is co-owned by former Indian Captain Baichung Bhutia. The youngster helped the club gain promotion to the I-League, after which he moved to Mumbai in 2013 for a year.
In the first edition of the ISL, Jhingan was purchased by Kerala Blasters with whom he had a stellar campaign. He completed a double scoop at the awards, winning the Emerging Player of the Year award at both the the ISL and the I-league.
Known as a no-nonsense defender, Jhingan does not shy away from physical contact. He goes hard into tackles, winning a majority of them. If India are to qualify from the difficult group they have been placed in, Jhingan and his defensive partner will have to play their hearts out.
Based on Jhingan’s previous performances, there is no doubt he is up for the challenge.
Tickets for the India vs Oman match in Bengaluru on 11th June are available at www.kyazoonga.com/indianfootball.
Arnab Mondal
Age: 25Position: DefenderI-League: East BengalISL: Atletico de KolkataInternational caps: 12 International goals: 1
Arnab Mondal is the most experienced defender in Stephen Constantine’s side. He made his debut in 2013 and has looked very comfortable no matter how big the stage. He has played for the national team 12 times, scoring one goal. However, the goal he scored was the winning goal in the 2013 SAFF Championship semi-final against Nepal.
Mondal joined Prayag United from Mohammedan Sporting in 2010, before moving to East Bengal in 2012. He was loaned out to Atletico de Kolkata where, as an integral part of the team, he made 16 appearances in the title-winning campaign.
Mondal is a player who does not fear going into a tackle. Blessed with good pace, he can read the game very well, which is a very handy weapon for a central defender. Indian fans would be hoping that Mondal and Jhingan are able to create a strong defensive partnership that can last a few years.
Eugeneson Lyngdoh
Age: 27Position: MidfielderI-League: BengaluruISL: did not play in ISLInternational caps: 2 International goals: 0
Eugeneson Lyngdoh is one of the most sought after players in the league right now. A player who can play centrally and on the wing with great efficiency, he was handed his first cap by Stephen Constantine against Nepal.
Lyngdoh came onto the international stage at the age 27 and the way he is performing right now, he seems destined to become one of the most important players in the team.
Lyngdoh played for Shillong Lajong sandwiched between two spells with Rangdajied United. He arrived at the big time when he signed a contract with I-League Champions Bengaluru FC. In his first season with Bengaluru, he scored 9 goals in his 33 appearances for the club.
At the end of the season Lyngdoh walked away with three individual awards – the Bengaluru FC Fan's Player of the Year 2014-15, Bengaluru FC Player's Player of the Year 2014-15 and the I-League Midfielder of the Year 2014-15. With the team, he won the 2015 Federation Cup.
Lyngdoh is a very technically gifted player who likes to keep the possession of the ball with his team. A really good passer of the ball, he always looks to move the ball forward, maintaining the tempo of the game for the team.
Although he is a late bloomer in terms of getting noticed for his performances, Lyngdoh might just be the person for these big games.
Tickets for the India vs Oman match in Bengaluru on 11th June are available at www.kyazoonga.com/indianfootball.
