NewsClick

NewsClick
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Covid-19
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • International
  • Sports
  • Articles
  • Videos
search
menu

SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORT

image/svg+xml
  • All Articles
  • Newsclick Articles
  • All Videos
  • Newsclick Videos
  • हिन्दी
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Science
  • Culture
  • India
  • Sports
  • International
  • Africa
  • Latin America
  • Palestine
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka
  • US
  • West Asia
About us
Grievance Redressal Mechanism
Newsletter
Facebook - Newsclick Twitter - Newsclick Instagram - Newsclick Youtube - Newsclick RSS - Newsclick
close menu
×
You deserve independent, critical media. Subscribe and Support
sports
India

Report Card of Indian Football Team Players in FIFA World Cup Qualifier vs Oman

Oman beat India 0-1 in their FIFA World Cup qualifier in Muscat. While most of Igor Stimac’s men failed to impress, a couple stood out with a decent showing. Here is Newsclick’s report card.
Newsclick Report
20 Nov 2019
Sunil Chhetri of Indian football team in action against Oman

Indian football team´s leading international goal-scorer Sunil Chhetri had a woeful outing against Oman. Though he was on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, he barely had an impact on either end of the game. We rated him 3/10 (Pic: AIFF Media).

Indian football team lost 0-1 to Oman, and out of reckoning to progress to the next round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Oman's Muhsen Al Ghassani scored a first half goal to earn his side  three points and put them in second position on 12 points. Qatar lead Group E with 13 points while India, with three points, are fourth and mathematically out of running for topping the group. (Oman vs India match highlights)

Here is Newsclick’s report card of the Indian players performances on the pitch against Oman:

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu - 7/10

Sandhu wasn’t called into action too many times in the game. He made a couple of brilliant saves in the second half that could have really killed the game. Not at fault for the goal, but could have been more decisive coming off the line to block Al-Ghassani’s angle. 

Rahul Bheke - 3/10

Just like in the previous two games, Bheke started too slowly off the blocks. He gave away an early penalty that no matter what people say, was fairly clear. Bheke needs to go into tackles with his hands tied to his sides. He also gave the ball too cheaply.

Adil Khan - 5/10

Adil was winning the ball in the box and commanding the defence for as long as he was on the pitch. Hopefully he is not injured for too long. It was evident that he has aggravated an injury he was carrying into this round of fixtures.

Nishu Kumar - 5/10

Nishu followed instructions given by his senior partners decently. Combined well with Udanta Singh on occasions. If Stimac is being honest about planning for the 2026 World Cup -- or even the 2023 Asian Cup -- young players like him needs to get more game time. 

Ashique Kuruniyan - 7/10

Ashique was by far India’s best player on the pitch, despite being played in a position he is new to. Like Nishu, Ashique is India’s future and needs to be protected and given more time in areas he prefers to play in. He was good defensively despite being caught out of position often and combined well with Farukh on the left.

Also Read | Indian Football Team Caught in a Vortex of Indecision

Pronay Halder - NA

Pronay didn’t play long enough to impact the game in any way. If anything his injury put Vinit Rai and India into a position of vulnerability.

Udanta Singh - 5/10

Udanta was quick and has speed, no doubt. But he doesn’t deliver enough good final balls. This could be a critique of Udanta’s entire career so far, but is, in fact, just a critique of his impact on the game vs Oman. He was, on the whole much better in the second half once the game plan involved spreading the ball into areas for him to run into.

Brandon Fernandes - 4/10

Brandon took too many long punts into nothing and unfortunately wasted too many set pieces from promising positions to be seriously called the ‘dead ball specialist’ of this team. No last minute assist heroics came this time. In fact, he did horribly in perhaps India’s best position from a set piece in the final 10 minutes.

Farukh Choudhary - 7/10

Farukh combined well with Ashique on the left, in effect carrying on from the second half against Afghanistan. He was also great at cleaning up and doubling up defensively for the Bengaluru player.

Sunil Chhetri - 3/10

Chhetri had no impact on the game whatsoever. It's a struggle to remember one occasion when Chhetri was in a position with the ball to make an impact on the game. He didn’t play the ball enough, wasn’t given the ball enough. Easy to say that the experiment of playing him in the hole is a failure, but maybe he will get more attempts at this.

Also Read | Women Footballers in Spain Go on Strike Demanding Salary Reforms and Maternity Benefits

Manvir Singh - 5/10

Manvir did what he was asked to do. Got into positions, but didn’t get service. He held up the ball, didn’t receive support. Manvir needs to get more time playing as a striker at the club level as well as for country to really display his talent. He has the makings of a good striking option, if he gets more game time.

Vinit Rai - 3/10

Rai was brought in for Pronay and almost immediately lost balls in crucial areas that gave Oman opportunities to exploit gaps in India’s defence. He was clearly at fault for Oman’s goal but not at fault for being forced into a position he is not entirely comfortable playing.

Anas Edathodika - 5.5/10

Anas came into this game after suffering personal strife and for a man recovering from such was composed in defence. He was brought on to do Adil’s job on short notice. For a senior player though, he committed too many fouls around the area. 

Sarthak Golui - NA

Golui came on for too little time but was probably useful in the long run. India next play a game in March but seeing how players are dropping like flies, blooding Golui in for a defensive midfield cover job is a good idea.

Igor Stimac - 5/10

It is tough to ask a coach to tactically tweak a game when he is forced into two substitutions because of injuries in the first half. Stimac took the brave decision of putting out a team with attacking intent, even if this wasn’t the fixture to do so. He will have some time off to really think about his starting XI and the pool of players at his disposal to construct a ‘new beginning for Indian football’. He changed the gameplan in the second half to spreading the ball wide and long, and it could have paid dividends for India. For now, though, it is tough to see how much of an improvement the team has made. His record now reads W-1 D-4 L-5. Not pretty.

Read more sports stories from Newsclick

Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.
Indian football team
Indian Football
Oman vs India review
Oman vs India report card
Indian football players
Igor Stimac
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
Sunil Chhetri
Adil Khan
Anas Edathodika
Rahul Bheke
Udanta Singh
Ashique Kuruniyan
Related Stories
Praful Patel and Supreme Court CoA order

The Many Ignominious Firsts in Indian Football by AIFF’s Accidental President Praful Patel

Mumbai City FC coach Les Buckhingham interview

​Des Buckingham: Looking Forward to Build in Mumbai​

Indian Under 17 women's world cup team

India, Set to Host FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, Yet to Stage U-17 Nationals

FC Goa's Carlos Pena interview

Meet FC Goa's New Head Coach Carlos Pena (420 Grams)

Mumbai City FC vs Al Jazira tactical analysis

What Mumbai City FC Did Right in AFC Champions League

Praful Patel and stalled AIFF Indian football elections

Why is the All India Football Federation Stalling Elections?

Praful Patel and AIFF electioins

Praful Patel, AIFF Committee Has No Mandate to Hold on to Their Offices: Sports Ministry to Supreme Court

Indian football captains history 420 Grams

India's Football Captains and How they Lead | 420 Grams with Renedy, Sharda and Richard

India vs Belarus football friendly match

Indian Football Team’s Poor Show in Bahrain: Blame the System, Not Coach Igor Stimac

Indian football team Igor Stimac era review

Indian Football Team under Igor Stimac : Review with Renedy, Ishfaq, and Richard​ (420 Grams)

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare via EmailShare on RedditShare on KindlePrint
Share
You deserve independent, critical media. We want readers like you. Support independent, critical media. Subscribe to Newsclick.

Subscribe and Support


Latest

  • Assam

    Professor Arrested for Emails Criticising Assam Govt, CM

  • du

    DU Students, Teachers Slam Professor’s Arrest Over ‘Shivling’ Comment

  • Why is Ailing Lalu Being Targetted Again; Wrath of Hindutva on Two Dalit Professors

    Why is Ailing Lalu Being Targetted Again; Wrath of Hindutva on Two Dalit Professors

  • TN This Week: Stone Quarry Accident Trapped 6 Workers 300 Ft Deep, 3 Died

    TN This Week: Stone Quarry Accident Trapped 6 Workers 300 Ft Deep, 3 Died

  • Load More
Newsletter
About us
Grievance Redressal Mechanism