Published By: Ritayan Basu
Last Updated: February 04, 2024, 18:32 IST
Indian Football Team Coach Igor Stimac (Credit: Twitter)
Igor Stimac, in his report back to the AIFF, mentioned India’s efficiency within the Asian Cup, struggling three losses, was “disappointing but not unexpected”.
India soccer head coach Igor Stimac feels the nationwide workforce can’t be anticipated to shine in tournaments just like the Asian Cup till the very best golf equipment of the nation maintain shedding to sides from Bangladesh and Maldives.
In the report he submitted to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Stimac mentioned the nationwide workforce’s efficiency within the Asian Cup in Doha, the place it suffered three losses, was “disappointing but not unexpected”.
“I’m truly realistic person …and for now we should be happy and satisfied when continuously participating at the AFC Asian Cup. The reason for saying that is very simple and logical,” Stimac wrote in his report.
“…how to expect our NT (national team) to do well while our best ISL teams are losing heavily in AFC Champion League and suffering defeats in AFC Cup club competitions against teams from Bangladesh and Maldives?”
Stimac was spot on in his feedback as Indian golf equipment hardly ever make it to the knock-out rounds of the continental stage tournaments.
He additionally mentioned that India was the one nation among the many 24 individuals within the Asian Cup and not using a single participant enjoying in a significant soccer league on this planet.
“How we can expect more from our boys if we had never in our history qualified for the Asian Cup in U18/U20/U23? If we are so much behind others in under age groups than qualifying with senior NT is already huge achievement,” the skilled Croatian coach mentioned.
Stimac was additionally vital of the AIFF administration for not offering the obtainable instruments to strengthen the nationwide workforce as different nations do.
“Apart from Australia, South Korea and Japan (most of their players are playing in best European leagues), all other participating teams had average time of 27 days for preparation for the AFC Asian Cup. We had only 13 days,” Stimac rued.
“We were the only team at the tournament without GPS equipment which made our job really difficult. Apart from that it affects the players when they see that basic training equipment is missing and we can’t measure training effectiveness or neither prevent certain injuries.”
He reiterated that the workforce was additionally weakened by the absence of Ashique Kuruniyan, Jeakson Singh and Anwar Ali. Another key participant, Sahal Abdul Samad, was obtainable just for the final recreation in opposition to Syria.
“(They) were giving our team stability in all aspects of the game (physical, technical, tactical and mental). Not having them fully fit for such important tournament was irreplaceable loss.
“Most of Bengaluru and Mohun Bagan players joined us after having terrible spell with their respective clubs prior to the AFC Asian Cup. Thinking of replacing so many of them for the Asian Cup with other ISL players was never an option.”
After a gritty 0-2 defeat in opposition to Australia within the opening match, Stimac hoped for a very good present in opposition to Uzbekistan, however he was left dissatisfied with a 0-3 loss.
“Our best game was against Australia, which wasn’t (a) surprise because we prepared twice as long for that game as for the other two.
“The match against Uzbekistan was a big disappointment personally because I was expecting that good performance against Australia would boost our confidence and have more concrete effect on boys.
“Instead of raising up in our game we became vulnerable and let in cheap goals in a similar way to Qatar game. We knew that Uzbekistan is technically excellent team that mercilessly punishes mistakes.
“We did face the problem few days prior to this game with Sandesh Jinghan suffering from fever and not feeling (well) which obviously had impact on his game.”
He mentioned after the workforce conceded three first-half objectives, he needed to “choose the right words during the break in the locker room to avoid a real result disaster”.
Stimac regretted that there has not been any assembly between him and the AIFF high brass since India received the SAFF Championships in July final 12 months in Bengaluru.
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated news company feed – PTI)
Ritayan BasuRitayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been masking home and and worldwide soccer for almost a decade. Has performed and c…Read More
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