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The life of an Indian football fan is always a battle. In a cricket-crazy nation, a die-hard Indian football fan faces the toughest debates and discussions, comparing the success of the nation’s cricket and football team. Yet no debate is lost and no Indian football fan has ever been silenced by defeat. This small group of crazy fans fights with vigour, backing the team with all their hearts. And I can proudly say, I too am an Indian football fan.
But for the first time in years, I was left searching for words during one such heated discussion. The topic was India’s elimination from the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers. The loss to a team like Myanmar was surely heartbreaking; but for those on the other side of the discussion, it was a jubilant moment. There they were thrashing me with the lack of quality and ability of the team, asking me the same question that I have been hearing for years now- “When will we get to see your team in the World Cup?” And this question even made me ask myself if we are actually as bad as people accuse us of being.
No, we are not! I am and always have been sure of it. But the AFC Challenge Cup elimination was truly disappointing. Like every tournament, like every match, I wish we won this one as well and that too with considerable ease. But that never happened. We were left depending on some other team’s fate and ultimately had to return with colossal disappointment. But all is not lost. With the news of upcoming friendlies against Costa Rica, Malta, Scotland and Luxembourg doing the rounds, we have get over the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers loss and look forward to the friendlies now. But as a fan, there are several changes that I wish happen soon. The points I am about to make may be technically incorrect and are only my personal views; but as a fan and a well-wisher of the side, I wish these changes are made soon and it helps in the team’s development.
1) A change in approach and mentality
I admit I wasn’t able to watch the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers, but from the live commentary and the many reports that I went through, I seriously felt that India was not pushing forward hard enough. We are called the Blue Tigers, yet it felt like we were reluctant to hunt. When we have a team like Guam playing against us, it is essential that we pounce upon them and go for the kill from the beginning itself. Yet we had a goalless first half before scoring 4 goals in the second. We may not be the best team in the world, but time has proven that strong movements up front can unnerve any opposition. Attack is truly the best defense. So I insist that our team takes a ‘nothing to lose’ attitude and hunts down its opposition rather than try and play it safe all the time.
2) A change in formation
I am sure quite a few would agree with me. The 4-4-1-1 doesn’t seem to be suiting India’s plans at all. The sole reason that India is not able to push forward much is because we play with a lone striker upfront. There is no doubt that Sunil Chhetri is a superb striker, but more often than not he is left alone with the ball without any support. Thus, there is no denying that India needs to field two strikers in its line-up. The best formation that I feel Wim Koevermans should try is the 5-3-2. Defence has always been an area of concern, so the backline can be tightened by adding an extra player. This will also give someone like Syed Nabi enough time and space to run in through the wings and get back to position. Mehtab Hossain in central midfield and two other midfielders on either side of him along with two forwards ready to fall back and collect the ball from the 3-man midfield seems to be the best bet for India.
3) Give non-regular players more playing time
Jeje (L) can be the perfect foil to Sunil Chhetri
Something that Indian fans have been really surprised about is the exclusion of players like Lalrindika Ralte, Jeje Lalpekhlua and Sanju Pradhan from the side. Ralte was just phenomenal in the AFC Cup matches recently and can be an asset for India. Jeje’s speed is also something that India urgently requires upfront. The Chhetri-Jeje duo can work wonders for the team if used more often. But Koevermans has been reluctant on including Jeje in the side and so it is something that should be thought of. Someone like Sanju Pradhan should be preferred in the squad over the ageing Anthony Pereira just for his versatility and pace.
4) The foreign training sessions are missing
Despite playing against 2nd and 3rd division teams, the practice sessions and friendlies in Portugal and the Middle East were the reason why India performed reasonably well in the AFC Cup in 2011 under Bob Hougthon. Such a training stint has been missing, and it’s high time that Koevermans, with all the reputation he’s got back in Netherlands, takes his boys for a tour to his homeland and arranges for a few days of serious training and valuable match experience.
If these steps are taken, I am sure that India can come out victorious against the low-ranked Malta and Luxembourg and can put up decent fights against Scotland and Costa Rica. It’s time to introduce India to the world. Let’s do it like real tigers.
