Published on: Oct 15, 2025 02:44 pm IST

Loss to Singapore means India don’t make it to the match for the primary time because it turned a 24-team affair

Margao: Khalid Jamil inherited a qualifying marketing campaign gone awry and couldn’t restore it in two matches towards Singapore. On the steadiness of play dwelling and away, Singapore deserved the outcomes (1-1; 2-1). It meant India couldn’t obtain the “naked minimal” – which is what qualification to the Asian Cup finals has been outlined by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan. For the primary time because it turned a 24-team competitors in 2019, India weren’t adequate for a seat at continental soccer’s excessive desk.

File image of Indian striker Sunil Chhetri forward of the FIFA World Cup Asia qualifier match towards Kuwait at Kolkata in June final 12 months. (AFP)

Not having the ability to make it to Saudi Arabia in 2027 is a low that’s on a par with being blanked out of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, the sequence defeat to Pakistan and the tour of Fiji the place India performed 4 and misplaced 4 each in 2005. But taken along with absolutely the lack of ambiance in a house match (2,036 was the official attendance determine), the uncertainty excessive league, Chhetri’s future and arguments about soccer being extra frequent within the Supreme Court than at Salt Lake stadium, this feels worse.

To be certain, international locations with extra pedigree have didn’t qualify for majors. Four-time world champions Italy haven’t performed a World Cup since 2014. Thrice England have didn’t qualify and the USA didn’t in 2018. Between 1998 and 2010, Iran performed in solely two iterations of the World Cup.

But whilst that occurred, there have been issues to look ahead to. Such as Italy successful the European championship, Inter Milan enjoying Champions League finals, the rising attract of the Premier League and their golf equipment bossing Europe, Major League Soccer coming of age, girls being allowed at Teheran’s imposing Azadi Stadium and Iranian footballers making it to the highest leagues in Europe. Club or nation, none of that’s relevant to India.

The males’s sport has Indian Super League (ISL) double winners enjoying as many matches in Asia as they’ve pulled out of. Mohun Bagan Super Giant not travelling to Iran might result in India’s berths in Asian Champions League 2 decreased. Unless, in fact, FC Goa carry out miracles. After two matches and earlier than they tackle Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, FC Goa haven’t any factors and no objectives.

To be honest, as coach Manolo Marquez has identified, qualification for Asia was FC Goa’s main purpose once they gained the Super Cup beating Jamil’s Jamshedpur FC 3-0. They did that beating Al-Seeb of Oman.

Winning the Super Cup and the qualifier gave FC Goa one thing to look ahead to. You couldn’t say that for many groups after a Supreme Court commentary paused negotiations between All India Football Federation and its business companions. It meant nobody knew when the highest league will begin, nobody nonetheless does. Ditto the completely different tiers of I-League.

After the 1-2 defeat, India’s second within the marketing campaign this 12 months to a lower-ranked workforce, Jamil was requested why Brandon Fernandes, a Goan identified for his means to unlock defences, was not used earlier than the eighty fifth minute. “Because he has not performed for months,” he stated.

Did the shortage of matches, absence of pre-season coaching at golf equipment, contribute to India being unable to make their domination rely right here on Tuesday? Did it result in focus ranges slipping resulting in Singapore’s objectives? Players not getting sufficient video games was an issue, stated Jamil. “And then, there have been these, the golf equipment didn’t launch gamers.”

Brought down with a thud from the excessive of a CAFA Nations Cup bronze, Jamil should rebuild. It might begin subsequent month when India journey to Bangladesh however earlier than that there could also be a Chhetri-sized downside to cope with. After getting one of the best farewell an India footballer has had, Marquez persuaded Chhetri to return out of his retirement. His logic: a qualification marketing campaign just isn’t the time to experiment and with 16 purpose contributions, Chhetri had had his greatest ISL season since 2017-18. One purpose in a pleasant in six matches since is proof that the gamble didn’t work.

Will Jamil look previous Chhetri now? Will he attempt to ease in 18-year-old Pramveer Singh and construct a central defensive partnership for the long run with Anwar Ali? Will the 19-year-old ahead Muhammad Suhail get sport time? Consistency is an issue with Indian gamers and Jamil will must be cautious with rising expertise however these are questions for him to unravel.

The query for AIFF to unravel is making certain matches for Jamil’s males. Beyond last-minute invites, organising significant competitors for a workforce outdoors Asia’s high 24 generally is a problem. The AIFF high brass is in Saudi Arabia this week for conferences and the awards evening of the Asian Football Confederation. It might be a great time to begin conversations for worldwide home windows from June to November subsequent 12 months.

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Stay up to date with the most recent sports activities information, together with newest headlines and updates from the Durand Cup Final Live. Catch all of the motion from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, observe your favorite soccer groups and gamers with the most recent match outcomes, and get the most recent on worldwide hockey tournaments and sequence.

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