India’s most recent significant success came in November 2023 when they defeated Kuwait 0-1 on the road in a World Cup qualifying match. Since then, a number of other WC qualifiers have taken place, including the AFC Asian Cup, and those games are interspersed with friendlies against other nations. Their 3-0 victory over Maldives, a side that hasn’t played in a local league in two years, is the sole outcome that has gone their way. India has suffered seven defeats, six draws, and one victory since its victory over Kuwait.
With just two shots on goal in more over 90 minutes of play, India opened its 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers with a tie on Tuesday, which was actually an escape from a loss and the sixth draw in that terrible sequence of results. Marquez had to find the perfect words to describe the game against a side that was ranked 185th in the world. The Spaniard’s response was, “Maybe this is the reality of Indian football.”
“The positive is that we didn’t concede a single goal with the chances they created,” he said, appeasing the little broadcaster bubble when prompted to say something positive about the miserable football that has become a way of life.
The coach’s emotional breakdown during and after the matches may be more entertaining than the actual game at India’s international tournaments. There is no better method to discipline a Spaniard than to have them kick the ball farther up the field for the first half of the match without any players or pressure in the area. Unfortunately for India, Hamza Choudhury, a loanee from Sheffield Wednesday, learned that Bangladesh is also no slouch when it comes to immediately returning the ball.
India have now drawn three of their last four games against Bangladesh. One draw or a loss can be brushed aside as happenstance but these results and their patterns point to just how far Indian football has receded even at the South Asian level.
The Indian game
This Indian team’s tendency to give the ball away when in possession through long balls has been apparent. The first option when passing through the middle is to pass through the flanks, where the ball is dropped into the box right away and is readily picked off by the opposing defense. Repeat after rinsing and lathering.
Marquez attempted to play a high line, but there should have been fewer passing options because three lines of Indian players were merged closely together. Rather, it resulted in the defense opening up, leaving Rahul Bheke and captain Sandesh Jhingan—two players who are frequently caught off guard—to fend for themselves. Bangladesh beat the aging Indian center-back duo for pace by attempting to position themselves in one-on-one situations on the sides with both.
Both teams made an effort to keep the ball in the second half. Even if the home team was marginally superior, chances have to be taken in a system where offensive production is careless. Chhetri scored a few of them, but as has been the case with the seasoned Indian striker, goals typically only come after numerous opportunities have been created. Although he had two half-opportunities, his defensive job on Choudhury and his unrelenting closing of Bangladesh’s defensive line were the true highlights of his performance. Apart from that, India didn’t really produce anything noteworthy.
On paper, Bangladesh might have appeared to be the inferior squad, but coach Javier Cabrera reinforced the feeling that India’s inferior defensive line was about to collapse.
“Getting a point away from home against a Pot 1 team is a good result. We could have been ahead by one or two goals at the conclusion of the first half, though. However, we’re pleased with the result,” Cabrera, whose squad is the lowest-ranked in a group that also includes Singapore, Hong Kong, and India, stated.
The sole benefit the team can bring to Hong Kong is that, assuming the AIFF and its business partners decide it is appropriate, Marquez will finally have a lengthy camp with the players by then, as the country’s football season will have concluded. It’s uncertain if Chettri would play for India again at that time or if this was only a two-match comeback.
The sole benefit the team can bring to Hong Kong is that, assuming the AIFF and its business partners decide it is appropriate, Marquez will finally have a lengthy camp with the players by then, as the country’s football season will have concluded. It’s uncertain if Chettri would play for India again at that time or if this was only a two-match comeback.
