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India's 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification campaign began on a disappointing note as the Blue Tigers got pipped by Oman at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati. Sunil Chhetri scored his 72nd international goal in 112th appearance in the 24th minute to give India the lead after Brandon Fernandes teed him up from a free-kick taken just outside the box.
India were resilient to hold on to the lead until the 82nd minute but a brace by Rabia Said Al Alawi Al Mandhar in the final ten minutes of the game snatched the victory from jaws of defeat for Oman.
India take on the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts Qatar on Tuesday away from home and the Blue Tigers certainly have a lot of ground to cover if they want to pose a threat to the Asian champions.
#5 Igor Stimac yet to find a stable starting XI?
As for any new head coach, Igor Stimac required some time to know the strengths and weaknesses of Indian players. As a result, chances were given to 23 different players to start for India in the playing XI.
During the pre-match press conference of the India vs Oman clash, he mentioned that he and the players were very clear of the starting XI they were going to put out against the Middle East nation. But, it looks as if Stimac still needs to work on it.
A lot of people were shocked to see Sahal Abdul Samad's name being omitted from the starting eleven. But then, India were playing so wonderfully in the first half that very few were left complaining.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu looks set to be India's last line of defence after he produced magnificent saves in the contest. But, the same can't be said about the back four.
Rahul Bheke was the guilty party in conceding both the goals as he allowed Al-Mandhar to brush past him in the first and then, committed to a challenge way too early in the second, allowing him to dash to the left-wing and smother the ball into the back of the net.
Adil Khan does not share the same level of understanding as Anas Edathodika enjoyed with Sandesh Jhingan. The latter also conceded a couple of silly fouls and got a yellow card for a needless challenge. Subhasish Bose was slow to react in a couple of occasions.
In the midfield, Rowllin Borges was fantastic in the first half, winning the second ball and thwarting Oman's attacks. But, he produced an utterly opposite performance when the teams changed sides.
Brandon Fernandes was substituted at the hour mark to make way for Lallianzuala Chhangte to inject pace into the game. Anirudh Thapa, meanwhile, got tired late in the second half and almost scored an own goal.
Udanta Singh was brilliant on the right-wing and even hit the underside of the crossbar when the scoreline was level in the first half. In the left-wing, Ashique Kuruniyan was menacing and even won the foul which ultimately led to India's first and only goal.
Sunil Chhetri used all of his wit and experience in the crucial encounter, but it wasn't enough for India.
To sum it up, apart from the Bengaluru FC trio of Sunil Chhetri, Udanta Singh, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, none of the positions in the starting XI fixed for India and Igor Stimac. Even Ashique's spot in the starting XI is not stable as Chhangte can give him tough competition, which is a good thing.
But, with the below-par performance of several players, it is unlikely Stimac will find a steady and well-balanced playing XI anytime soon.
#4 India rues their missed chances in first half
India had control of the game right from the referee's whistle and deservedly took the lead in the 24th minute of the game. The Oman defenders couldn't control the trickery of Ashique Kuruniyan on the left-wing and their right-back Abdulaziz Al-Gheilani got tempted to make a challenge just outside the box.
He got a yellow card and Brandon Fernandes teed up the free-kick to an unmarked Sunil Chhetri who rocketed the ball into the back of the net.
Early in the game, they pressed the Oman team high on the pitch, which the Middle-East nation hadn't seen coming. Their plan to exploit the wings backfired as Subhasish Bose and Rahul Bheke were sturdy.
In the fifteenth minute of the game, Sunil Chhetri squared the ball into Udanta Singh's path, who beat his marker with his first touch and took a shot with his second. The goalkeeper was beaten but the ball hit the underside of the crossbar.
Four minutes later, Adil Khan got a free header inside the penalty box to connect an Anirudh Thapa-corner kick. But, he couldn't keep his header low and as a defender, he must be distraught with it.
After India scored the goal, rather than continuing with the plan which was working, they decided to sit back and allow Oman to dictate the possession. Apart from a chance in the 43rd minute when Oman's captain Ahmed Kano got to the end of a swinging diagonal cross and Gurpreet palmed it away to safety from a close distance.
The affair got even more cagey and India won free-kicks in their own half as Oman got frustrated. However, looking back India must be wondering what if Udanta Singh and Adil Khan had converted those chances.
India controlled the first half by the scruff of the neck but couldn't do much. The game was progressing at their will but they could manage only a single goal which haunted them later.
#3 Shades of predecessor Stephen Constantine visible in Igor Stimac's gameplay
India's head coach Igor Stimac said in a media address before that the fans weren't happy with the approach taken by his predecessor Stephen Constantine as the team played an ultra-defensive game in most of the occasions.
He said that he will try to change it and the results might suffer. While we got a glimpse of it in the Kings Cup and the Hero Intercontinental Cup where India had a good share of possessions and passed the ball along the ground rather than taking the route one approach, the results indeed suffered.
Stimac had said that it will be all about results in the World Cup Qualifiers. Many fans wondered if that meant observing the game by the lens with which Stephen Constantine looked. Stimac copy-pasted that style and the shades of India under Constantine were indeed present.
Once India got the lead, rather than going out to score another, they were more focused on not letting in one. The team went full-throttle in the back and allowed Oman more possession and shots, looking to hit on the counter.
Lallianzuala Chhangte was brought in place of Brandon Fernandes so that the former can hurt Oman with his pace and swiftness in the counter. However, his fresh legs couldn't make much impact.
#2 Oman leave it late to spoil the party
One major disadvantage of the style adopted by Stephen Constantine was that the midfielders got tired as the full-time whistle neared. It is understandable as they have to help their defenders and at the same time watch out for space on the counter.
In the game against Oman, Rowllin Borges and Anirudh Thapa's legs gave up after the hour mark as they failed to withstand the intensity for the entirety of the match. Oman capitalized on that and it always looked as if the equalizer was coming.
Just like the AFC Asian Cup game against Bahrain, the ball was always in India's half as Oman showed no mercy while attacking. They were slightly wasteful in the final third and India can consider themselves lucky to not concede any till the 80th minute.
In the 82nd minute, India got finally punished as Al Mandhar lobbed the ball above Gurpreet's reach after meeting out a through ball that set him free. In the final minute of regulation time, he completed his brace when he slammed the ball after making a dash on the left-wing.
While India knows the mistakes which cost them the game and should work on it, they leave us with a bigger question.
#1 Are India ready for Qatar test?
If India were placed in any other group of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, they would have faced Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal, Cambodia, Mongolia, Guam, or Sri Lanka.
But, Qatar's request to swap their fixture with the team from the fifth pot once the groups are decided to ensure they get enough time to prepare for the 2020 Copa America meant the dreaded game against the Asian champions came before many ISL teams are yet to start their pre-season.
All the Indian players can give a better showing than the one against Oman. But, it might still not be enough. Qatar thrashed Afghanistan 6-0 on the same day as India lost to Oman and went three goals up in the first thirteen minutes of the game. Their star striker Almoez Ali scored a hat-trick once again.
In the Asian Cup, they were ruthless both in attack and defence, scoring 19 goals and conceding only one.
Sandesh Jhingan and Adil Khan, or the centre-back defensive pairing Igor Stimac decides to field against Qatar, should not depend on Gurpreet to bail them out every time as Qatar will have more chances. The full-backs too will find it tough to contain their wingers, who have more pace and their crosses are much deadlier.
The midfielders and forwards will have to press much harder and up their intensity. Similarly, India should not either expect Qatar would give them much time to build on the counter.
Igor Stimac mentioned that India would play a different brand of football against Qatar than Oman. If it means sitting further deep, one wonders if it will work. Let's see what cards Stimac has rolled up in his sleeves for this clash.
