India vs Bangladesh: 5 Talking Points as Adil Khan's goal spares Blue Tigers' blushes in 1-1 draw | 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

Sunil Chhetri-led side managed only a draw in a game they were hailed as favourites.
Sunil Chhetri-led side managed only a draw in a game they were hailed as favourites.

#3 India get their tactics all wrong

India was forced to play long ball football for most of the time in the first half
India was forced to play long ball football for most of the time in the first half

Sunil Chhetri joked in the pre-match press conference that he would be happy if four defenders marked him as a 10v6 situation would occur, allowing others like Sahal Abdul Samad, Ashique Kuruniyan, Udanta Singh, and Manvir Singh to pounce. But, Bangladesh maintained their shape and didn't mark him heavily. They simply cut the supply line.

Chhetri did get at the end of a couple of headers but then they were from extremely tight angles to score. The forwards simply failed to connect amongst each other.

India were too slow while attacking, which allowed Bangladesh to get back on their shape. Sahal Abdul Samad should have been found more in the attacking third as Bangladesh defenders had a hard time reading his moves.

Manvir Singh won fouls in dangerous positions a couple of times but India failed to make the most of the free-kicks. Anirudh Thapa had a bad game as he failed to stop Bangladesh's counter-attacks.

Overall, it was a sub-standard performance from India both in the attacking and defensive front. The Blue Tigers know this is nowhere near their best performance and have to up their game massively ahead of their next encounters.

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