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  • Asian Games 2023: India coach Igor Stimac backs his ‘heroes’ regardless of China thrashing

    India coach Igor Stimac backed his gamers regardless of the group struggling a thrashing by the hands of China within the opening match of the Asian Games 2023 on Tuesday, September 19.

    India’s soccer group confronted a difficult match in opposition to China within the Asian Games opener. Despite a spirited efficiency, the group, led by coach Stimac, suffered a 5-1 defeat.

    The group, primarily composed of second-string gamers, was praised by Stimac for his or her efforts, at the same time as they struggled to take care of their power ranges within the second half of the sport. The group’s composition was largely because of the refusal of native golf equipment to launch key gamers, citing ongoing home and Asian competitions.

    As a outcome, an unfamiliar lineup took to the sphere underneath the management of captain Sunil Chhetri, having arrived in China simply hours earlier than the match. The recreation began off on a fair keel on the Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium, however the Indian group discovered themselves wilting underneath difficult circumstances within the second half, conceding 4 targets.

    Despite this, Stimac remained constructive, stating that had they been in a position to discipline their finest group, they’d have posed a major problem to China. Stimac expressed his admiration for the gamers, as quoted by Reuters, referring to them as his “heroes”. He highlighted the group’s grueling journey to China, which noticed them arrive simply after midnight following a 35-hour journey.

    “Still, these players are heroes to me,” Stimac added. “We came here last night at two minutes past midnight after travelling 35 hours to get here.”

    Stimac steered that the group’s exhaustion within the second half contributed to the loss in the long run. Stimac acknowledged the difficulties of assembling a group for a contest outdoors of the FIFA window, however remained optimistic in regards to the group’s prospects.

    “It was obvious that in the second half we ran out of gas, which I didn’t expect to be (any) better,” Stimac mentioned.

    “It would be a very different game with the first choice players which I had on my list, but you all know how difficult is to get players for such a competition which is out of the FIFA window.”

    He emphasised the necessity for a considerably improved efficiency of their upcoming group video games in opposition to Bangladesh and Myanmar, with the highest two groups from every group, together with 4 of the six best-placed third-place groups, set to qualify for the spherical of 16.

    Despite the preliminary setback, Stimac expressed confidence in his group’s means to compete, stating that a number of gamers had confirmed their value and deserved their place within the group. This, he mentioned, was probably the most constructive final result they might take from the match.

    “We are going to compete with our chins up,” Stimac mentioned.

    “I’ve got a few players who proved to me that they deserve to be in the team, which is by far the best thing we can get.”

    Published On:

    Sep 20, 2023

  • India’s nationwide group camp set to return to Kolkata after 15 years

    Ahead of the worldwide friendlies subsequent month, the India males’s nationwide soccer group is ready to camp in Kolkata from August 15. The Blue Tigers final camped in Kolkata again in 2006 previous to the FIFA World Cup qualifier towards Saudi Arabia.
    The coaching periods will begin from August 16, the AIFF mentioned in a press release.
    The camp will probably be carried out underneath a secured bio-bubble adhering to well being pointers in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The contingent, together with each the gamers and the workers, can even be present process common testing.
    Igor Stimac, the nationwide group head coach, has named his preliminary checklist of 23 probables, leaving out gamers from ATK Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC owing to the 2 membership’s commitments within the AFC Cup within the Maldives.
    “I am very happy to meet with my players again and get ready for the upcoming challenges forward together,” the 53-year-old Croatian mentioned.
    “We wish both the Indian clubs good luck and hope they do well in the AFC Cup. Meanwhile, we need to check on the rest of the players who will kick-off the camp with us next week, and choose the best ones until the rest of the players join us,” he added.
    The 23 gamers becoming a member of the camp on August 15 are as follows —
    Goalkeepers: Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Vishal Kaith.
    Defenders: Ashish Rai, Seriton Fernandes, Adil Khan, Chinglensana Singh, Narender, Rahul Bheke, Akash Mishra, Mandar Rao Dessai.
    Midfielders: Lalengmawia, Glan Martins, Jeakson Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Sahal Abdul Samad, Halicharan Narzary, Bipin Singh, Yasir Mohammed.
    Forwards: Rahul KP, Farukh Choudhary, Ishan Pandita, Rahim Ali.

  • World & Asian Cup qualifiers: Litmus check for India, survival battle for coach Stimac

    There’s a touch of irony as Igor Stimac returns together with his workforce to the positioning of their greatest achievement collectively.
    In September 2019, Doha’s modest Jassim bin Hamad Stadium was the place India, in Stimac’s phrases, began to ‘dream’ huge once they stole some extent from Asian champions Qatar in a World Cup qualifier. But on the eve of their ‘return’ leg, Stimac’s dream has was a nightmare. All India Football Federation (AIFF), for all sensible functions, has handed a movement of no confidence towards the Croat after they prolonged his contract as nationwide coach by simply three months; a not-so-subtle trace that they don’t seem to be completely satisfied with the outcomes.
    Now, as qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup resumes on Thursday, India’s three matches within the subsequent 12 days towards Qatar, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will determine Stimac’s future on the helm of the nationwide workforce, which remains to be winless and positioned fourth amongst 5 groups in Group E.
    The scenario didn’t look so ominous that September night when, banking solely on goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s heroics, India eked out certainly one of their most well-known outcomes of this century. But loads has modified since then. And the pandemic is just partly chargeable for it. Stimac had inherited an Indian aspect that was on an upswing and forging an identification of its personal after years of soulless soccer. The Qatar match was the fruits of a string of eye-catching performances towards reputed Asian groups, together with China, UAE and Thailand. But within the 12 matches below Stimac, the counter-attacking Indian workforce that exploited the blistering tempo of its wingers has was a bumbling unit that appears unsettled and clueless.
    After peaking with the draw towards Qatar, India haven’t been capable of arrest the slide. It required last-minute targets from Adil Khan and Len Doungel to eke out face-saving attracts towards lower-ranked Bangladesh and Afghanistan respectively. By the time the workforce travelled to Muscat in November 2019 for the return leg towards Oman, the scenario received so unhealthy that India couldn’t even get a sight of their opponent’s objective whereas the defenders created extra scoring possibilities for Oman than the Omani gamers did for themselves.
    The pandemic, and the ensuing 16-month hole between matches, additional exasperated Stimac and his gamers, who succumbed to a morale-sapping 6-0 defeat to the UAE in a pleasant in March. Playmaker Anirudh Thapa didn’t learn an excessive amount of into that consequence, insisting that Stimac had tried 11 new gamers within the two March friendlies and has handed debuts to 19 gamers since taking cost in May 2019.
    But India’s woes started a lot earlier than the pandemic hit. India have been resolute whereas defending in most matches, however typically seemed uncertain whereas going ahead. It didn’t assist that Udanta Singh, whose tempo on the wings and telepathic understanding with Sunil Chhetri was vital to India’s counterattacks, has dramatically misplaced kind. Sahal Abdul Samad, who at one level seemed just like the workforce’s artistic outlet in midfield, too has endured a troublesome season.
    The lack of type of attacking gamers meant that India’s goal-scoring avenues dried up and Stimac has not discovered an answer for it. Under him, India has averaged lower than one objective per recreation – simply 11 in 12 matches; at occasions due to questionable choices and on some events, attributable to lack of composure proven by the attackers. In desperation, Stimac always tinkered together with his taking part in 11 and has not chosen the identical workforce for back-to-back matches. With his job on the road, he’s prone to fall again on tried and examined gamers towards Qatar on Thursday. FC Goa’s Glan Martins is the one new face among the many 28 gamers in Doha.
    A key determine in Goa’s dream-like Asian Champions League marketing campaign, Martins is ready to make his worldwide debut.
    India, and Indian groups like FC Goa, have proven an inclination to punch above their weight within the final couple of years. Three back-to-back matches beginning Thursday after two months of inaction and hard quarantine circumstances in Doha is hardly a perfect state of affairs.
    But it is not going to be so easy, as Sandhu confessed in an interview with the AIFF. “The situation was different then (September 2019). The situation is different now,” the goalkeeper, who made 11 saves throughout India’s earlier match towards Qatar, mentioned.

  • Igor Stimac’s tenure as India head coach prolonged until September this yr

    National soccer group coach Igor Stimac’s tenure was on Friday prolonged until September by All India Football Federation’s technical committee, which appointed Savio Medeira as interim technical director instead of the outgoing Isac Doru.
    While Croatian World Cupper Stimac acquired an extension, Doru didn’t get one after his contract expired across the identical time because the Indian senior group head coach.
    “… The committee unanimously decided to extend national team head coach Igor Stimac’s contract till September 2021,” the AIFF stated in a launch after its technical committee’s digital assembly.
    One of probably the most high-profile coaches to handle the Indian males’s nationwide soccer group, Stimac was appointed to the highest put up in May 2019 for a two-year time period.
    “…Meanwhile, Savio Medeira will take charge as AIFF’s interim technical director as approved by the committee,” the apex physique stated.
    When contacted with a question about Doru, a federation supply stated his contract has not been prolonged.
    Stimac is in command of the nationwide group’s preparation in Doha for India’s forthcoming matches within the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. The matches are slated to be performed from June 3 onwards.
    The contract of Stimac, who had coached Croatia to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, was legitimate until May 15.
    Already out of rivalry for a World Cup berth, India will face Asian champions Qatar on June 3 earlier than taking up Bangladesh (June 7) and Afghanistan (June 15) of their remaining group E matches, with an goal to qualify for the 2023 Asian Cup in China.
    The playoffs of the Asian Cup Qualifiers are scheduled to be held in September.
    AIFF common secretary Kushal Das “intimated the committee about the roadmap and status” of the group’s preparation for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will probably be held in India from October 11-30 subsequent yr.
    The AFC Women’s Asian Cup can be slated to be held within the nation from January 20 to February 6, 2022.
    “The committee reflected and mentioned about the current pandemic situation which prohibits any footballing activities to be held in India, and all future camps will kick off as and when the condition in India improves,” it added within the launch.
    Technical committee chairman Shyam Thapa, a former India worldwide, couldn’t be part of his colleagues owing to sickness, leaving his deputy Henry Menezes to chair the assembly.
    Menezes lauded the AIFF’s effort to liaise with the Qatar Football Association to waive off a 10-day quarantine interval in Doha, permitting the Indian gamers to begin their observe classes early.
    Present within the assembly had been Das, AIFF’s deputy common secretary Abhishek Yadav and Menezes amongst others.The committee will meet once more in September to debate the way in which ahead.
    Thapa was apprised in regards to the selections taken within the assembly and he individually spoke to members over the cellphone.

  • Igor Stimac expresses want to incorporate abroad residents in India’s nationwide group

    Beleaguered coach Igor Stimac has dropped sufficient hints about his inclination to incorporate Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) within the nationwide soccer group that stands shaken after certainly one of its largest defeats in years.
    An inexperienced India had been humiliated 0-6 by UAE in a world pleasant in Dubai not too long ago.
    “Sometimes I get the impression that we have too much opinion of ourselves when it comes to opponents like Afghanistan or Bangladesh,” Stimac was quoted as saying the AIFF.
    A member of the Croatian group that made the semifinals of the 1998 FIFA World Cup, he added, “Let me remind you that Afghanistan has allowed abroad citizen gamers to play for the nationwide group. They now have 13 gamers coming from European leagues.
    “They are competing in Germany, Poland, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden. They also have two players playing in Australian clubs, and one player in the USA top division. Bangladesh has introduced a 3+1 policy, and their league is extremely competitive too.”
    The Blue Tigers have gained only one match, towards Thailand, since May 2019 regardless that they did handle to push fancied opponents reminiscent of Qatar and Oman.
    The inclusion of OCI and PIO (Players of Indian Origin) has been a subject of debate in Indian soccer ever since Stephen Constantine spoke in regards to the want for India to go down that route.

    Stimac says he doesn’t just like the phrase experiment, a time period that has been typically related to him. He has handed out debuts to 10 gamers of their pleasant towards Oman, which occurred 4 days earlier than the UAE recreation.
    “Experimenting is while you play gamers in positions they’ve by no means performed or while you change to a recreation system that you just didn’t apply in coaching. Personally, I don’t just like the phrase experimentation and it doesn’t match with what we do.
    “We didn’t carry a single participant to Dubai who didn’t deserve it together with his performances within the Hero Indian Super League. However, as a consequence of sickness, harm or poor kind we couldn’t depend on Rahul Bheke, Seriton Fernandes, Ashish Rai, Brandon Fernandes, Abdul Sahal, Udanta Singh and Sunil Chhetri.
    “We gave everyone a chance to play in their natural positions — in the same game system but against far stronger opponents than those they have in the Hero ISL. This was our only chance to see the new boys and work with them before the decisive qualifiers,” he stated.
    The former participant added, “We came to Dubai with just one goal, to get an answer to the question of how much the new guys can provide against two tough opponents and whether we will get a few new names for the remaining qualifying matches due in June.”
    To enhance, he stated the group must take the “difficult” and “painful” route as an alternative of enjoying towards straightforward opponents. He additionally believes that the aspect has acquired higher outcomes underneath him than his predecessor.
    “In the earlier 2018 WCQ India completed final within the group with seven defeats, one victory, with a complete of three factors and GD of -13 (minus 13). The Blue Tigers had suffered 5 losses within the first 5 video games.
    “Now, after five games played, with many new players in the team, we have three points and a very solid goal difference, and are on course to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023,” Stimac stated.
    “Not to neglect that we held Qatar in Qatar, and that set of gamers are to play the World Cup subsequent yr. The Oman match was shut (within the qualifiers), a match which we should always have killed. But inexperience value us.
    “And among the many two not too long ago performed matches, my younger set of boys fought gallantly to carry Oman 1-1.
    “If you want to compare the recent friendly matches, then you need to take a closer look at teams India has played against before, and with whom since I have been in charge. One heavy defeat will certainly not make us give up and return to the pleasure of defeating opponents who do not pose any obstacle in Asian football.”

  • India vs UAE: Experiments to proceed as Igor Stimac seems to be to make probabilities rely

    Against Oman final week, Igor Stimac handed debuts to 10 gamers. On Monday, when India tackle the United Arab Emirates in one other pleasant, the nationwide group coach is about to proceed along with his experiments with the squad.
    From the time he took over, Stimac is but to choose his first-choice taking part in 11. In the earlier recreation, which resulted in a 1-1 draw, some debutants struggled whereas others shone.
    Suresh Singh and Jeakson Singh didn’t have memorable begins to their India careers and obtained subbed off. Chinglensana Singh did some last-ditch defending however his mistake led to an personal purpose. Defender Ashutosh Mehta was good in patches however made quite a lot of misplaced passes. And within the absence of a longtime striker, the group lacked a goal man upfront.

    India’s 🇮🇳 second International Friendly in opposition to the UAE 🇦🇪 on the Zabeel Stadium in Dubai on Monday (March 29), will kick off at 8.30 pm IST (7 pm native time).#BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ #INDUAE ⚔️ #AgainTheBlue 💙 pic.twitter.com/mjmHKtrguJ
    — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 28, 2021
    Reason for optimism
    India couldn’t match Oman’s pace and talent and had been fortunate to not concede multiple purpose by half time. But Stimac will hope his group builds on the respectable battle they put up within the second interval.
    Bipin Singh, contemporary from a breakthrough home season with Indian Super League champions Mumbai City, carried his good kind into the India jersey. He supplied some width, held the ball nicely and dashed ahead utilizing his tempo, and performed a pinpoint cross that landed proper on the pinnacle of ahead Manvir Singh, who scored the equaliser.
    That purpose was India’s first from open play after 614 minutes – the final one got here in opposition to North Korea in 2019. It was ironic that the doubtful streak was damaged when Sunil Chhetri, India’s sole supply for objectives, isn’t within the group. Chhetri, who was down with Covid-19, introduced on Sunday hehas recovered from the an infection.
    Manvir loved a good season with ATK Mohun Bagan, ceaselessly rising to the event when known as upon. But he obtained only a few alternatives to play as an out-and-out ahead as Roy Krishna, one in all ISL’s prolific goal-scorers, excelled in that function.
    But within the few probabilities Manvir obtained, he didn’t disappoint. He confirmed glimpses of his potential final week, scoring from the one clear-cut probability India created. That, for Stimac, shall be one of many large takeaways.

    Gearing up for tomorrow’s UAE problem! 🇦🇪💪#BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ #INDUAE ⚔️ #AgainTheBlue 💙 pic.twitter.com/uHg29q8eUx
    — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 28, 2021
    Pressure on the ball
    India have nonetheless not reached a stage the place they will management possession and create a number of probabilities in opposition to opponents ranked larger than them. But they began taking part in higher once they started to press Oman in their very own half.
    An instance of this was debutant Mehta’s effort, which led to India’s purpose. India misplaced the ball on the precise flank in Oman’s half, however as a substitute of retreating – like they did within the first interval – they choked the opponents for house. Mehta closed down passing choices and compelled a mistake that led to a turnover in possession which resulted in a purpose.
    The fixed urgent and assaults from the wings have develop into India’s fashion for the reason that begin of 2019, when – below Stephen Constantine – they shocked many with their talents in the course of the Asian Cup. Even UAE, their opponents on Monday, appeared a bit shocked by India’s newfound pace-and-pressing fashion in a group-stage match.
    In that recreation, India had the higher probabilities within the first half however UAE regrouped within the second and eked out a hard-fought win.

    Formidable foes
    Unlike India, who performed after greater than 400 days once they took on Oman final Thursday, UAE have managed to get some matches below their belt, taking part in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Bahrain and Iraq. They misplaced two, gained one and drew a type of matches.
    Against India, UAE have been dominant having misplaced simply as soon as for the reason that flip of the century. But Stimac’s facet will take coronary heart from the Asian Cup encounter.
    India have gamers who can repeat such a efficiency, but it surely’ll be a mighty activity to repeat it in opposition to the facet coached by former Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk. Key UAE midfielders Abdullah al-Naqbi and Caio Canedo have been dominated out of the match due to accidents whereas goalkeeper Adel al Hosani has been dropped.
    But in Ali Mabkhout, who scored one of many objectives within the 2-0 win over India within the Asian Cup, UAE have a potent menace upfront. The nation’s all-time highest scorer, with 60 worldwide objectives, he has netted six instances within the ongoing qualifiers and could be a handful in opposition to an inexperienced Indian defence, which shall be marshalled by goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
    India vs UAE: Live on Eurosport, 8.30 PM

  • India share honours with Oman in first worldwide pleasant after lockdown

    The Indian soccer crew made a high-quality comeback within the second half to carry fancied Oman 1-1 in its first worldwide match in additional than a 12 months although the Gulf facet dominated the pleasant right here on Thursday.
    India conceded a aim within the forty second minute with Chinglensana Singh’s clearance crossing the goal-line after hitting goalkeeper Amrinder Singh who began the match as an alternative of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
    Manvir Singh scored the equaliser within the fifty fifth minute to assist India pull off a uncommon draw towards Oman within the first worldwide outing after the COVID-19 lockdown.
    India head coach Igor Stimac gave debuts to as many 10 gamers. He had stated earlier than the match that he would give probabilities to most variety of gamers for them to realize the expertise of taking part in in huge matches.
    The first half was all about Oman attacking in waves with India not getting a single shot on course.
    Oman, who’ve gained each the two-legged matches of the 2022 World Cup qualifying towards India, performed a excessive line of defense with extra males on assault. India had been content material defending their citadel with extra gamers in their very own half and only one man upfront more often than not.

    The Indians misplaced possession too simply on most events as Oman didn’t allow them to maintain on to the ball for lengthy.
    Oman squandered a penalty within the twenty seventh minute after Rowlin Borges dedicated a foul on Abdul Aziz Al Gheilani contained in the field. Aziz himself took the spot kick however shot straight to Amarinder Singh.
    But Oman had been to not be denied a aim within the first half. Al Aghbari obtained the ball on the left wing and despatched a low cross on the face of the aim. Amrinder couldn’t gather the ball cleanly and it hit Chinglensana Singh and went previous the aim line.
    Stimac made two modifications firstly of second session with Lalengmawia and Raynier Fernandes changing Jeakson Singh and Rowllin Borges.
    The Indians dished out a a lot improved present within the second half, holding the ball much more than the primary 45 minutes and taking part in a extra attacking sport.
    India equalised 5 minutes earlier than the hour mark. Bipin Singh despatched in a scrumptious cross from the suitable flank which was headed house by Manvir.
    Oman, ranked 81st as in comparison with India’s 104th within the FIFA charts, then pressed arduous for the successful aim however Amrinder was spectacular behind the bar as he made two high-quality saves within the 63rd and sixty fifth minutes.
    India play their second worldwide pleasant towards the UAE right here on Monday. The friendlies are part of preparations for the joint qualifying spherical matches of the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup to be performed in June.