Searching for some much-needed consistency, the Indian football team enters their World Cup qualifier against Afghanistan this Thursday in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, desperate for a win. Their second-round campaign began with a narrow 1-2 defeat to a higher-seeded Oman, though they managed a memorable scoreless draw against Qatar, the reigning Asian champions, in September.
The strength shown in those opening two games sparked optimism about reaching the third round, but that momentum hit a wall on October 15 with a 1-1 draw against Bangladesh in Kolkata. The crowd at Salt Lake Stadium was saved from total disappointment only by a late 88th-minute header from Khan, which rescued a point for Stimac's men.
Because a second-place finish in this five-team group provides no guarantees for the next round, India must secure a result against Afghanistan. On paper, India holds the advantage with a FIFA ranking of 106th compared to Afghanistan's 149th, though the Afghans currently hold third place in the standings with one win and two losses.
Coach Stimac recognizes the precarious nature of their position and knows they cannot let this opportunity slip. The Croatian manager noted that success won't just happen; they must be proactive and seize the win through their own performance. Adding to the challenge, Afghanistan has designated Dushanbe as their home ground, meaning the game will be played on artificial grass in freezing weather.
These harsh conditions present a new set of problems for Stimac and his squad, who aren't accustomed to such an environment. The coach pointed out that temperatures are plummeting toward sub-zero levels and expressed concern over the artificial turf, suggesting that Afghanistan chose this venue specifically to make things difficult for their opponents. Team leader Sunil Chhetri acknowledged the struggle, stating that while they have been creating chances, they failed to capitalize against Bangladesh. He stressed the need to be more clinical in front of goal and more disciplined in defense. To make matters worse, the team suffered a personal blow as defender Anas Edathodika had to return to Dubai following the passing of his mother.
“The players will have to change the probability they get, something that they couldn’t do beside Bangladesh and we are creating chances,” talismanic Sunil Chhetri said. He added “But that’s not enough. We have to try our best to convert them and try to be a tougher unit while defending. India also endured a jolt after central defender Anas Edathodika had to go back to Dubai, where the player had a visit on way to Dushanbe, due to the death of his mother.