Even though India are ranked as low as 163rd in the latest FIFA rankings, Thursday’s 1-0 win at Vientiane in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers meant the Blue Tigers broke a 15-year old jinx of recording an away in the qualifiers.
Let us look at the success stories and achievements of the Indian football team and players in the last year or two. Do not hesitate to share your views in comments or bring up some other moments that you can think of since the year 2015 in Indian football.
Seven Wonderful moments for Indian football in recent times:
#1 India won the SAFF Championship in 2015 for the record seventh time
Sunil Chhetri scored an extra-time winner in the final as India got revenge against the defending champions Afghanistan by beating them 2-1 in Kerala. In this process, India, who are the only team win the SAFF Championship on multiple occasions, lifted the trophy for a record seventh time and after a gap of four years. Afghanistan had beaten India in the 2013 final in Kathmandu 2-0, whereas India had thrashed Afghanistan 4-0 in the 2011 SAFF Championship final in New Delhi.
Jeje equalized for India in the second half, just two minutes after Afghanistan took the lead. However, the Blue Tigers, who were underdogs for this match made sure that Afghanistan, playing for the last time in this tournament, were not getting their hands on the SAFF Championship this time around.
#2 Gurpreet Singh Sandhu became the first Indian player to play in top flight European League
India’s first choice goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu marked his name in the history books when he started for Stabaek-a first division club in Norway, thus becoming the first Indian player to play in the top European League division game. However, Gurpreet had to wait almost two years to get his name in the starting XI after having moved to Norway in 2014.
On his first team debut in the Tippeligaen, Gurpreet kept a clean sheet as Stabaek thrashed Start 5-0. Gurpreet also was named in the Stabaek side that qualified for Europa League this season and was on cloud nine over his achievements. Surely, he has made India and the Indians fans proud. Gurpreet is a big fan of former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Saar and Indian goalkeeper Subrata Pal.
#3 Sunil Chhetri becomes the first Indian player to score 50 International goals
Indian ace striker Sunil Chhetri became the first Indian to score 50 International goals when he scored against Guam in a 1-2 defeat of the second round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualification. Chhetri has also been named AIFF player of the year for a record four times in the year 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2014.
The current Indian captain has scored 50 goals in 89 international appearances, tied with the famous Dutch striker Robin Van Persie, who has scored 50 international goals in 109 international games and the best player in the world-Lionel Messi, who has netted in 50 goals in 107 caps for Argentina. Baichung Bhutia is the second highest goal scorer from India with 40 goals in 104 matches.
#4 India wins the right to host the U-17 FIFA World Cup
India will host the 17th edition of the U-17 World Cup to be held in 2017 in the months of September and October. This is the first time India will be hosting an international football competition. India edged out Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Ireland to get the rights to host the global event.
The six cities that have been selected provisionally to host matches between 24 teams advancing to the final round will be New Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkatta, Navi Mumbai, Margao, and Kochi. There will be four more Asian teams in the competition other than India. If this competition turns out to be a success, the AIFF has stated that it would also bid for the U-20 FIFA World Cup.
#5 West Ham United’s ladies team signed Indian goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan
Aditi Chauhan was a part of the women’s team and made an important contribution to India’s 2012 SAFF Championship win in Sri Lanka for women. She made history when she became the first Indian woman to sign for a top English club when West Ham United added her in their squad during pre-season.
She was also the first recipient of the Asian Footballer of the Year award in England. Although she could not have a dream start like Gurpreet, as West Ham lost 5-0 in Coventry Ladies when she started. In her post match interview said that she did not expect this scoreline.
#6 Mohun Bagan AC of Kolkata became the first Indian club to qualify for the second round of AFC Champions League Qualifier
This year Mohun Bagan AC of Kolkata became the first Indian club to qualify for the second round of the AFC Champions League Qualifier, when they defeated Tampines Rovers FC of Singapore on 27 January 2016. Previously, Dempo (2009, 2011), Churchill Brothers (2010), Pune FC (2014) and Bengaluru FC (2015) made exits in the first qualifying round when they failed to win their respective matches.
In addition, Mohun Bagan AC created another history by crushing South China AA of Hong Kong with a margin of 4 goals in the 2016 AFC Cup on 9 March 2016. This is, till date, the highest margin of victory by any Indian club side on foreign soil. Mohun Bagan won the 2014-15 season of I-League and finished runners-up in the 2015-16 season.
#7 Highs of Indian Super League and the I-League
Both the leagues saw a fitting finish to their finales with some last or late minute goals. Mohun Bagan netted an 86th-minute equalizer to get a point in their last round match against Bengaluru FC to win their first I-league title in the 2014-15 season, whereas Atletico de Kolkata won the first season of ISL in 2014 when Mohammed Rafique broke the deadlock after 90 minutes against Kerala Blasters.
In the second season of ISL in 2015, FC Goa took a 2-1 lead in the 87the minute but Chennaiyin FC came back with an equalizer due to an own goal from Kattimani and then Mendoza scored the winner just before the final whistle as Chennaiyin FC completed a remarkable and dramatic comeback to win the title.
Last season of the ISL and I-league saw a dramatic increase in attendees, television viewership and sponsorships (especially in the case of I-league). The leagues also brought out some promising young talent and attracted many foreign legendary names (in the case of ISL). Last but not the least, it increased enthusiasm and cultivated interest about the game among the Indian spectators.
