Indian national team rivals’ watch: Tajikistan

Sportskeeda builds up for Wednesday’s international friendly between Tajikistan and India by analysing the Central Asians.

History

The Tajikistan national football team is placed 114th in the current FIFA Rankings and 15th in Asia. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan played their first official match in 1992 and became a member of FIFA two years later.

Tajikistan have been appearing in the World Cup qualifiers since the 1998 edition but have never come close to qualifying. Their best showing came in the 2014 edition of the qualifiers as they reached the third round despite losing their second round two-legged tie against Syria, who were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. The Central Asians have never qualified for the Asian Cup also and narrowly missed out on the 2011 edition as they lost 4-1 to India in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup final.

Nicknamed as ‘The Crown’, Tajikistan like India have been placed among the emerging nations of Asia and thus have regularly competed in the AFC Challenge Cup. Tajikistan were the winners of the inaugural edition in 2006 in Bangladesh, where they scored 18 goals in six matches on their way to the title. Following the runners-up finish in 2008 which was held in India, Tajikistan finished third in 2010 but failed to get past the group stage in 2012.

Tajikistan have faced India three times in their history with all the meetings taking place in the AFC Challenge Cup. Following a draw and a defeat in the 2008 edition, Tajikistan won the last encounter 2-0 in the 2012 edition in Nepal.

Tajikistan were thrashed 4-1 by India in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup final

Current Team

Although they achieved their best-ever FIFA Ranking of 106 in July 2013, the Tajikistan national football team has been on the decline in the last 18 months. It started with the disappointment of getting knocked out from the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup group stage. Tajikistan had at least reached the semi-finals in each of the previous three editions but despite starting the 2012 tournament with a win against India, the Central Asians crashed out following defeats to North Korea and the Philippines.

Victory over higher-ranked Qatar in an international friendly in September 2012 gave some renewed hope but a 6-1 thrashing against Iran in another friendly in November was a reality check for Tajikistan. Then in March 2013, Tajikistan suffered the embarrassment of failing to qualify for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup. They finished second behind lower-ranked and hosts Kyrgyzstan and thus like India, are now sure of missing out on the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia.

Lack of stability has perhaps been one of the main reasons for their recent failures as newly-appointed Mukhsin Mukhamadiev will be their fourth different permanent coach in two years and the game against India will be his first as Tajikistan coach.

For a country with only 21 years of experience at international football, Tajikistan have done quite well and at club level also they are improving as their clubs’ participation in the continent was upgraded from the AFC President’s Cup to the AFC Cup this year.

Following an appearance in the 2007 U-17 World Cup there was hope in the country that the majority of that U-17 World Cup squad will become the nucleus of the senior national team in the future but that transition is yet to be completed.

Tajikistan were found wanting in the third round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers

In truth, their progression to the third round of 2014 World Cup qualifiers at the expense of Syria probably came a little too early as they faced the likes of Japan, Uzbekistan and North Korea. They finished bottom of the group, conceding 18 goals in six matches.

Former Russian international and Rubin Kazan director of sports Mukhamadiev has picked several players who played in the 3-2 friendly win over Afghanistan in June under interim coach Mubin Ergashev. The squad for the India match only has home-based players and it will be interesting to see their match fitness as the domestic league hasn’t been in action since the middle of June due to the summer and Ramadan break.

The friendly against Afghanistan saw a new-look squad, as six home-based players from the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers squad were left out including record goal scorer Yusuf Rabiev. It looks like Mukhamadiev is sticking to this new group and the nation would be hoping for a revival under the 46-year-old.

Tajikistan’s record goal scorer Yusuf Rabiev has been left out

India coach Wim Koevermans isn’t sure about Tajikistan’s style of play as they have a new coach at the helm but in the game against Afghanistan, they started with just one striker in Kamil Saidov with Akhtam Khamroqulov replacing him in the second half. The highly rated striker Davronjon Tukhtasunov was introduced to partner Khamroqulov in the final 15 minutes when Tajikistan were looking for a winner.

Tajikistan’s midfield is their strength with Dilshod Vasiev playing as the attacking midfielder just behind Saidov in the Afghanistan game while the experienced Khurshed Mahmudov, who is also the captain, and Jamshed Ismailov are key central midfielders.

The defence has a good mix of youth and experience and it will be interesting to see which of the two veteran goalkeepers – Alisher Tuychiev and Rustam Rizoev – gets the nod in the starting eleven with Tuychiev having more caps and Rizoev starting against Afghanistan.

Key Players

Sokhib Suvonkulov

The 24-year-old central defender made his international debut in India during the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup and has developed into one of the most important players in the national team. He recently scored in the win over Afghanistan but also got sent off and thus will have to work on his discipline.

Khurshed Makhmudov

Khurshed Makhmudov (in red)

The 30-year central midfielder has bags of international experience having made his debut eight years ago. Besides pulling the strings from midfield, Makhmudov also has the ability to score important goals and he crucially did that in a 1-0 win over Pakistan earlier this year to save Tajikistan’s blushes.

Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev

A member of the 2007 U-17 World Cup, Fatkhuloev is technically one of the most gifted players in the Tajikistan team. The 23-year-old wide midfielder is capable of operating on both flanks and his first international goal was that superb long-range strike against India in the 2008 Challenge Cup final.

Akhtam Khamroqulov

The 25-year-old striker faces tough competition for a starting place but he has been one of the better players for Tajikistan in the last 18 months. Khamroqulov notably scored Tajikistan’s only goal in the third round World Cup qualifiers against North Korea and also got on the scoresheet in their last meeting with India.