Why India need to keep faith in Stimac

The bare minimum, in Sunil Chhetri’s words, has been achieved. India will be at the Asian Cup and it happened in some style at a rain-swept Salt Lake stadium.

Having skipped the first two editions of the competition which began in 1956, India were runners-up in 1964 when four teams took part, losing 0-2 to champions Israel on either side of wins against South Korea and Hong Kong. It wasn’t till 1984 that India were back among the Asian elite, the wait got longer for a third finals appearance in 2011 which came after winning the AFC Challenge Cup beating Tajikistan 4-1 courtesy a Chhetri hattrick and a brilliant Bhaichung Bhutia strike. India qualified again in 2019 making this the fifth time they are at the high table of Asian football.

     

At the India-Hong Kong match (Source: Tackle From Behind / Twitter)

Staring at uncertainty

The hard work starts now but there’s uncertainty around the head coach. Igor Stimac’s contract ends in September and given that pre-seasons in Europe start in July, it is unlikely he would wait till then to decide on his future. But with the federation in a limbo, who will take that call? Stimac speaking his mind is unlikely to win him friends among those running the federation but little of what he said sounded unfair. By using six Bengaluru FC players against Hong Kong, he showed that if the club had a bad season it was possibly because some were used out of position. And information on national team players’ fitness should be the right of every international head coach especially in a league where not all teams adequately focus on pre-seasons.

As for wanting more time with his players, well, that is something Bob Houghton too would seek. If Stimac is asking for what Houghton did 16 years ago when there was no ISL, it shows that India hasn’t learnt its lesson well. Twenty-game seasons, no cup competitions and short state leagues, if at all, are proof of that. Stimac knows he won’t get players for as long as Houghton did prior to the 2011 Asian Cup finals but would it be unfair to, say, seek use of the year’s last Fifa window in September by playing two games and having a two-week training camp prior to that?

Instead of trying to maximise time ahead of a finals whose dates aren’t yet decided, India are looking at uncertainty themselves. This before a competition in which Oman needed four attempts to get out of the group. Having been to seven finals, Thailand did that in 2019 for the first time since 1972. True, we can talk of Vietnam but it would be pointless without appreciating the country’s investment in youth. And faith in the same coach since 2017.

Young and sorted

In young players, Stimac has invested. In Liston Colaco, Udanta Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, India have speedy attacking players. In Brandon Fernandes and Anirudh Thapa, players who can play a long pass and in Anwar Ali, a central defender who can do that too. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is back to being, well Gurpreet Singh Sandhu after Stimac kept the faith in him as he did with the rest of Bengaluru FC players including India skipper Chhetri who responded with four goals in three games of the qualifiers.

The pool of 30-odd looks sorted with most positions having at least two players of nearly similar ability, a rarity for the national team. “The strength of the national team is not just the strength of the first 11. It is the strength of the 24th or the 25th player,” Stimac has said. These players have been together for nearly three years now, understands what the Croat wants and Stimac has had nothing but good things to say about the attitude of most.

There is no overstating how necessary it is to have a settled core going into a major finals and India have that now. What this core needs is clarity about preparation so that each player can be at his best on the biggest stage of their careers. What they don’t need is starting over with a new coach who may not be appointed till October and possibly not get the players before April because of the Indian season.

IN OTHER NEWS

Núñez at Liverpool: Liverpool have got Benfica to agree to sell Uruguay striker Darwin Núñez for $79 million plus add-ons. Núñez scored 34 goals in 41 matches for Benfica last season. Two of them came against Liverpool in the Champions League. His impending arrival is possibly to help Liverpool ready for the sale of Sadio Mane.

Trent-Alexander Arnold welcomes his new teammate with a cheeky message on Twitter

Chennaiyin name new coach: In former German international, Thomas Brdaric, Chennaiyin FC got their fourth coach in as many seasons. A former forward Brdaric, 47, led KF Vllaznia to runners-up in Albania and has coached VFL Wolfsburg’s under-21 team having played for their senior team. He has played for VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96 and Bayer Leverkusen who were Champions League runners-up and DFB Pokal winners in 2002.

Marcelo wants more: Marcelo left Real Madrid as the club’s most decorated player but is not quitting. After 15 years at Real where he won 25 trophies including five Champions League, six La Liga and two Copa del Rey titles, he has said he would be looking for a new adventure.

Chiellini in USA: Also beginning a new adventure is Giorgio Chiellini, 37, who will move to Los Angeles FC. “I can move to a growing league where I can also grow myself,” the former Italy captain and centre-back who played 18 seasons with Juventus told Radio Anch'io Sport.

Ecuador stay: Chile’s complaint has been rejected meaning Ecuador will keep their place in the final 32 of the World Cup. Fifa’s disciplinary committee dismissed claims that Ecuador defender Byron Castillo, who played in eight qualifying games, was ineligible. Chile had claimed Castillo is Colombian. Ecuador risked forfeiting all eight games as 3-0 losses and dropping from fourth place in the South American qualifying group that ended in March. Chile would have risen to fourth in the standings.

“After analyzing the submissions of all parties concerned and considering all elements brought before it, the FIFA disciplinary committee has decided to close the proceedings initiated against the (Ecuador soccer federation),” a Fifa statement said.

Naorem, Rebello stay: India right-back Roshan Naorem will stay at Bengaluru FC following a new three-year deal. He was the ISL’s Emerging Player of the Year. Also staying is FC Goa midfielder Princeton Rebello. He signed a new two-year deal. Edu Bedia too is staying at FC Goa, having agreed to a new one-year deal at the club he joined in 2017.

Salah, Kerr best: Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was voted as men's player of the year by his fellow professionals in England for the second time, while Chelsea striker Sam Kerr won the women's award, says AP. Salah became only the seventh man to win the Professional Footballers' Association award more than once after a season in which he scored 23 goals in the Premier League — tied for first with Tottenham's Son Heung-min — and had a league-leading 14 assists.

Salah and Kerr were voted the PFA Players of the year by their fellow professionals

“I have my room with trophies in a cabinet,” Salah said, “and I made sure that I had another space for one more. I always keep space and just try to imagine that the trophies are going to come.” “When you get older,” he added, “you feel like you're more stable and you know exactly what you want from football so I'm just trying to really chill and help the team.

Kerr was the top scorer in the Women's Super League with 20 goals to help Chelsea to the title, with the team also winning the FA Cup. She is the first Australian player, male or female, to win the award. Harry Kewell won the Young Player of the Year honour in 2000. “It's a massive honour, I think, whenever you're voted by your peers,” Kerr said. “I think that's the highest honour as a player so it's an amazing feeling.”

La Liga complaint: Still smarting from Kylian Mbappe’s rejection, La Liga has filed a complaint to UEFA against Paris Saint-Germain. The Spanish league has claimed that PSG broke financial fair play rules when it gave Mbappé a new contract. Last April, La Liga had said the same of Manchester City.

India in Bhubaneswar: The final of the under-17 World Cup will be in Navi Mumbai on October 30, the semi-finals in Goa. Bhubaneswar will host India’s three group stage matches beginning on October 11. The draw will take place on June 24.

Tent accommodation: There will be 1000 “traditional” tents in Qatar where fans visiting during the World Cup can stay. “This is one of the options that will go live in the next two weeks,” said Omar al-Jaber, an official responsible for accommodation at the supreme committee organising the tournament. There will be no air-conditioning though.

A Bedouin-style tent (Source: Inside World Football)

Dani departure: Dani Alves is leaving Barcelona again. Got back last term because his former teammate-turned-coach Xavi wanted Alves, the player has said he would not be seeking an extension. He has played 408 games for Barcelona, 391 of which came during his first spell from 2008-16 during which he won six La Liga trophies and the Champions League thrice. Alves, 39, is still in the fray for a berth in Brazil’s World Cup squad.

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They said it

I was born in England. I have been a City fan my whole life. I know a lot about the club.

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Note: Kick Off will take a break next week and return on July 1. Stay safe.

     

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