Intercontinental Cup 2019 | Know Your Opponent – Tajikistan

Intercontinental Cup 2019 | Know Your Opponent – Tajikistan

no photo

|

getty

Getting clubbed with DPR Korea and Syria might make Tajikistan look like a weak link, but the Persian Lions are a mysterious pack of cards to deal with. Dealing with concerns similar to India, Igor Stimac would need tweaking his tactics to beat a young Tajikistan side relaying mostly on work rate.

History

Though Tajikistan broke up from the Soviet Union in 1992, it wasn’t until 1994 that the Tajikistan National Football Federation was admitted to FIFA. After they started their footballing career as a nation with a 1-0 defeat to Kazakhstan, they entered the 1996 Asian Cup as the first competitive tournament. However, they couldn’t really kick off their campaign.

It wasn’t until the 1998 France edition that Tajikistan entered the World Cup qualifiers but could only finish behind China to bow out. And the “so near yet so far” has been their fate all along. They marked the FIFA 2002 campaign with a record 16–0 win over Guam in qualifiers but lost to Iran to bow out yet again. Germany 2006 wasn’t very different either as they started well with a 4-0 win over Bangladesh in the prelims but could only hold Bahrain to a goalless draw.

Tajikistan, eventually, won the first international tournament later in 2006 AFC Challenge Cup, where they beat Sri Lanka 4–0 in Dhaka. They are yet to hog some limelight in World Cups though. After an upsetting 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, the federation decided to sack Mubin Ergashev and his staff, while a similar 2019 Asian Cup qualification group campaign saw manager Khakim Fuzailov stepping down.

However, despite their lack of experience and achievement at the international level, India have managed to win just once in their four meetings with the Persian Lions. The Blue Tigers’ only victory came back in 2008 when they defeated Tajikistan 4-1 in the AFC Challenge Cup. Apart from that, India have drawn once and lost twice against them.

Preferred tactics and formations

Brevity has seemingly been a forte of the Tajikistan National Football Federation. In their 26-year footballing history so far, Tajikistan has changed as many 20 managers that reflects their lack of success. They haven’t zeroed in on a system or formation as such, which would make it very difficult for Igor Stimac to strategize ahead of the clash as he won’t have much data to work on.

While 3-4-3, and 4-4-2 double 6 have been seen being used in the past, the likes of 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, and 4-4-2 have been their weapon in recent times. The side has won just over the last one year and so, which has come in a 4-4-2 double 6 formation and one look at what the current manager Usmon Toshev is trying to do would throw some light in their preferred tactics.

However, one cannot overlook the relatively less experience this Tajikistan side is having. With Toshev just two matches old, his situation isn’t any different from Stimac, who has just taken over the reins and is handing out chances to a new breed of players. Tajikistan’s custodian, a position that demands experience, has a 31-year-old Abduaziz Mahkamov who has played just 12 matches and won’t be a huge concern for the Indian side.

However, what would really both Stimac is the fluid interchangeability of the side. While Tajikistan have the likes of Sheriddin Boboev, Shahrom Samiev, and Sharafjon Solehov as specialist strikers up front, the team is often found playing midfielders Jahongir Ergashev and Ehson Panjshanbe in advanced positions with just one lone forward playing his trade upwards.

But, quite interestingly, the fluidity is limited to very few players as the likes of Muhammadjon Rahimov, Parvizdzhon Umarbaev, Amirbek Juraboev, or skipper Davron Ergashev for that matter don’t really change positions. Hence, a three-man or a four-man midfield would be easily negotiable by India if they play man-to-man on July 7.

Key Players

Unlike their first opponents in King’s Cup, Curacao, India won’t have many individual match winners in Tajikistan who are a relatively young side on paper. However, as far as technicalities go, India would need to be wary of defenders Akhtam Nazarov and Siyovush Asrorov. A left-back by nature, Nazarov has five goals to his name so far, and the duo has 75 games between them.

As far as their best player in terms of numbers is concerned, it is definitely central midfielder Parvizdzhon Umarbayev, who has scored six goals in 19 matches. Hence, playing with one defensive midfield, which was on show against Curacao and Thailand, could see Umarbayev become dangerous.

Tajikistan don’t have vibrant forwards as such but the likes of Ergashev and Komron Tursunov could bring in the much-feared persistence to India’s defence.

India’s approach

The familiarities in situations between Tashev and Stimac are quite uncanny. Since getting appointed back in November 2018, Tashev has managed two matches so far, and since getting eliminated from the Asian Cup qualifications to the Philippines back in early 2018, Tajikistan have played just four international friendlies.

Stimac, too, is dealing with similar concerns and his wide 35-man preparatory camp squads is a way of picking from all the untested talents. Interestingly, Tajikistan’s only win in the last two years has come under the former player and interim manager Alisher Tukhtaev, who was in charge for just game before Tashev took over and the team returned to losing ways against China (0-1) and Afghanistan (1-1).

With the new look India just two matches old themselves, it would be difficult to find a fixed approach as such, but India are highly expected to go with a 4-3-3 into the game after it proved to be effective in their last two matches. With the players, as well as the Indian manager, focusing more on increasing fitness and maintaining as much possession as possible, we are expecting the Blue Tigers to play fast passing counter-attacking football.

However, Stimac would need to respect the physical attributes of his opponents. With most Tajikistan players 1.88m in height at the midfield and defence, long balls wouldn’t be a savvy option for Sunil Chhetri and Co. Stimac would want to keep the ball on the ground to dictate the game and with players like Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad leading the creative lines, India shouldn’t have a problem in doing that. 

On defending, with the physically superior Ashique Kuruniyan is back in the side from injury, he could be seen falling in the middle to win the ball back for his side from Tajikistan’s goal kicks. As for the back four, Anas Edathodika’s return from retirement could give Adil Khan a chance to start in his preferred defensive midfield position. The FC Pune City man did extremely well in the match against Thailand and could come in handy for India in their Intercontinental Cup opener.

Get updates! Follow us on

Open all