Indian football team head coach Igor Stimac stated that he changed into tears after watching the pictures of his side’s defeat to Oman regardless of leading till the 82nd minute in their beginning World Cup Qualifier in 2019.
India had been showing 1-0 via a 24th-minute strike from Sunil Chhetri withinside the first match of the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers in Guwahati in September 2019, earlier than Oman scored late desires to grab the win.
“When I appeared back at earlier matches, I cried some times. That first match (in opposition to Oman) changed into crucial, that match changed into going to determine whether or not we’re going to fight for first positions in the group (and qualify for next round),” Stimac stated. “As it happened, with bad luck or inexperience (of players) in such vital games, we fell, and that changed into something I always cry about.
“I felt sorry, now no longer for myself due to the fact I even have faced similar conditions all through my career, however for the players,” he stated ahead of India’s worldwide friendly against Oman in Dubai on Thursday.
No Chhetri, but no pressure
India might be without captain Sunil Chhetri once they face Oman in their first worldwide match in more than a yr in Dubai on Thursday.
Chhetri isn’t always with the team for the two friendlies (the second is towards UAE on Monday) as he’s recovering from COVID-19. “It’s a massive miss; however, I’m certain the boys will take this as an opportunity, and we should play together as a team,” stated goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Stimac stated that following the disruption because of the pandemic, and he might now no longer expect much from the team withinside the matches.
“We aren’t obsessed with results. We had been making plans for lots of things the last year, like change in the scheduling of the season, more games, a Super Cup, etc. however, the pandemic has destroyed everything. The team additionally has to begin from scratch even though the players have performed in ISL. International matches are altogether different.
“We desired to give them the experience of playing more potent teams, on the way to provide them more self-belief and fearlessness in future. I even have advised them there must now no longer be any pressure on them.” Talking approximately Oman,
Stimac stated, “I even have seen their match in opposition to Jordan. They are, in reality, physical side, well-organized, and truly patient. We additionally have worked tough, and we assume an amazing game tomorrow.”
Oman is coming into Thursday’s match after playing out a zero-zero draw towards Jordan on March 20. Before that, their last matches had been in December 2019 withinside the Gulf Cup, in which they lost to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Defender Sandesh Jhingan stated the respect other Asian teams have for the current Indian side changed into now no longer there 10-15 years back.
“We are a strong team now. That is why nations like Oman and UAE agree to play with us in worldwide friendlies because they could learn from us additionally, similar to what we learn from them.
‘No best players in I-League’
Stimac stated that there might be no “good quality” players presently playing withinside the I-League who can be picked for the national team.
All the players within the 27-member squad are from the teams of the Indian Super League, which has to turn out to be the top-tier event within the country. “At the instant, there may be no such player (in I-League) who has the quality to be a part of the national group. There is not anything to cover about it. All the great players from I-League are supposed to be a part of ISL because they’re all observed through ISL clubs scouting.
“Venkatesh from my staff is following all of the players of the I-League. But the door is open and consistent with the feedback from the I-League scouting system, and we’re going to act,” he added. More than 1/2 of the 27 players withinside the squad are both new faces or have now no longer played for India, such as Akash Mishra, Liston Colaco, Ishan Pandita, Bipin Singh, and Lalengmawia, who had been picked following their fantastic performances withinside the ISL 2020-21 season, which concluded with Mumbai City FC defeating ATK Mohun Bagan withinside the very last to win the title.
Oman, ranked 81st, beat India in each of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers’ legs in 2019. History also favors Oman as they have got won 5 times withinside the six matches played towards India within the last decade. One game led to a draw. However, India is out of the reckoning for a 2022 World Cup berth in contention for qualification for the 2023 Asian Cup.