India became the first team to crash out of the AFC Asian Cup after their 1-0 defeat to Bahrain on Monday.
The Blue Tigers initially showed promise after a thumping 4-1 win over Thailand. Against UAE, India put up a valiant fight and made the hosts work extremely hard for their win.
However, a disastrous performance against Bahrain means India will have to wait another four years before getting a crack at their first taste of the Asian Cup knockouts.
We take a look at some of the talking points from India’s campaign.
THE SLEEPING GIANTS WAKE UP AND HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON
Defending their lines.
If you had told an Indian football fan prior to the tournament that his team would gather three points and register a non-negative goal difference, he would gladly take it. But who would have thought that these figures would not be enough to qualify for the knockouts, despite four slots open for the best third placed team in the six groups?
India did exceed expectations, considering they were just four minutes away from finishing in second place. Long described as the ‘sleeping giants’, the Blue Tigers did wake up in this tournament, but hit the snooze button to resume with the deep slumber.
The show against Thailand and UAE was promising but a spineless performance against Bahrain rendered the initial efforts useless.
India were on the backfoot from the word go on Monday and never looked like they wanted take initiative.
No departed head coach Stephen Constantine might claim otherwise, but there is no denying India played for a draw in their last game, as it would have been good enough. You never, ever play for a draw in football and Constantine paid the price.
This tournament will always be remembered as the one that could have been.
DEFENCE STANDS TALL
India defenders Sandesh Jhingan (r) celebrates with India’s defender Anas Edathodika
The goal conceded against Bahrain came from a penalty. The goals conceded to UAE came from the two occasions the UAE managed to get the ball behind the India defence. It’s safe to say that the backline emerges as the standout department for India in their Asian Cup campaign.
Tactically, it was a negative move to play for a draw. But the Indian defence deserves massive credit for holding Bahrain for 90 minutes. There was a hole in India’s midfield and Bahrain were allowed to threaten India’s box without being offered any resistance in midfield.
Yet, the defence – led by Sandesh Jhingan – stood tall and nodded away any danger that came their way. Jhingan had a massive game and was arguably the best player on the pitch for India in that game and the tournament as a whole.
With his partner at the heart, Anas Edathodika taken off early on due to an injury, it was never going to be easy for Jhingan to keep a cleansheet. Yet, the cenre-half fought till the last drop of sweat and ensured that India did not go back without a fight.
Pritam Kotal, Subhasish Boseand Anas had a good tournament too, as they set up a defensive line which was very hard to break.
After a couple of blunders against UAE, keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu redeemed himself against Bahrain with a wonderful game sans failure to save the penalty.
The custodian – who is great with his feet – almost always found Udanta Singh on the wing with his accurate long passes, and played a huge role in creating chances in quick counters.
The defence as a whole and Jhingan in particular can pat themselves on the back for a brave show in the UAE.
THE PROGRESS IS SLOW BUT THE DIRECTION IS RIGHT?
India midfielder Anirudh Thapa (l) marks United Arab Emirates’ midfielder Ismail Al Hamadi
We have already established that India exceeded expectations with their performance at the Asian Cup. The first two games serve as evidence to the fact that India were in fact brave enough to execute a mid-block instead of defending deep.
India compromised experience for youth and to an extent it did work out, as quite a few youngsters showed promise of a bright future with some appreciable performances.
Udanta Singh was a constant threat on the right-wing and proved a menace for the Thailand and UAE defence. Pace, decision-making, good reading of the game, the 22-year-old had it all.
Sunil Chhetri’s striking partner Asique Kuruniyan would be another pick of the bunch. The striker can be branded as a top three player for India in this tournament. The 21-year-old was great at holding the ball, pressing the opposition and latching on to the 50-50 balls. A workhorse that he is, Kuruniyan justified his surprising inclusion in the starting line-up.
Midfield maestro Anirudh Thapa deserves his share of credit for putting on an impressive performance in the first two games against Thailand and UAE. Thapa – who turns 21 today – was key in controlling the midfield and creating quality chances, for the forwards to miss. Playing Rowllin Borges over the youngster in the crucial tie against Bahrain was a massive blunder and it showed.
That youngsters are given a chance and that they are doing well is evidence to the fact that the progress – although slow – is in the right direction for Indian football.
Overall, the campaign was bittersweet for India. A lot of positives can be churned, but this tournament will always be about the what-ifs.
