India also-ran against Iran

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Eventually, it wasn’t a rout that many had predicted. Iran beat India ‘only’ 3-0. Crucially, though, the result condemns India to bottom position in Group D of the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup joint qualifier and severely jeopardizes the country’s Asian Cup hopes.

The manner in which India played the opening half against Iran gives Constantine hope that his team will just about cross the line for the continental championships. The coach claimed India ‘laid down the rules’ by starting aggressively and taking Iran by surprise. Though his counterpart Queiroz admitted that they were ‘surprised and confused’ by India’s approach, Constantine was stretching it.

India did start positively and refused to be run over by Iran. The defenders held the line well and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, making his India debut, was authoritative in his area. India were always going to be without the ball for long spells. What they did when not in possession — and how — was going to be one of the deciding factors.

To negate Iran’s physical supremacy, Constantine planted his best and the tallest players at crucial positions. So while Gurpreet replaced seasoned Subrata Pal in goal, Sandesh Jhingan, a tall centre-back, retained his place with technically proficient Arnab Mondal alongside him. Striker Robin Singh, also strongly built, played on the left midfield to keep Iran’s powerful and quick wingers in check and Sunil Chhetri was played up front.

But these looked cosmetic changes to the side that lacks talent to match up to Iran. India were made to run a lot by the Iranians, who were irresistible at times. They would change flanks with some precise long, diagonal balls, run inside from wide positions without much trouble or simply slice open the defence with some deft touches. At times, it looked as if even the Indian players stood there, appreciating the move. Though they did a good job of marking their men tight and clearing the danger, it was all reactionary.

Most of the times, India could not read the moves their oppositions would make. Forwards Mehdi Taremi and Sardar Azmoun would indulge in some delightful one-touch play to unlock the defence but they looked rusty inside the box, missing the final ball. Teymourian would try to initiate a move from the middle while Vahid Amiry and Khosro Heidari would try getting in the wings. In contrast, India’s midfield was non-existent and every time they got the ball, they were swatted away.

With the defence under constant pressure, how long would India be able to maintain the concentration level was going to be the key. And it took just one mistake at the half-hour mark for Iran to open the scoring. Indian defenders were unable to get a flick on Teymourian’s free-kick from the left, and an unmarked Azmoun would score the opener.

By now, Iran had begun to get the better of India even off the field. Hundreds of Iranian fans filled the East Lower Block of the stadium, faces painted in their national colours and armed with flags and horns. Though they were out-numbered by their Indian counterparts, the Iranians out-shouted the hosts. The West Block of the stadium, made famous by Bengaluru FC’s vociferous supporters, drowned in the noise made by the Iranians just like the Indian players, who drowned in the wave after wave of attacks.

India did well not to concede another before half time, giving them some hope of getting something out of this match. But Iran came out blazing in the second half and within six minutes of the restart they scored twice (Teymourian 47′, Taremi 51′) to put the result beyond doubt and destroy India’s morale. India failed to get even a decent look at goal barring a half chance that came Jeje Lalpehklua’s way mid-way through the second half.

Despite outplaying them, Queiroz would later talk about India’s ‘spirited display’ and ‘positive approach’ while Constantine praised his players for the ‘hard work.’ Eventually, it speaks a lot about the state of the team when a three-goal margin is regarded as a job ‘decently’ done.

Guam hold Oman

The tiny Pacific nation of Guam held Oman to a goalless draw in their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, rekindling their fairytale start to the Asian qualifying competition. Guam showed no signs of letdown after their 6-0 thrashing away to Iran last week as they maintained their unbeaten run at home against the more fancied Oman team.

Guam, with a population of little more than 170,000, had never won a World Cup qualifier before this year . But under the guidance of English coach Gary White, Guam have recorded wins over Turkmenistan and India and now drawn with Oman.