FIFA World Cup Qualifiers | Created more chances than Afghanistan, deserved more from game, believes Igor Stimac
Indian national team head coach Igor Stimac has stated that India deserved more than a draw after creating more chances against Afghanistan at the World Cup Qualifiers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Thursday. However, the coach expressed his happiness with the team's performance in the second half.
India were once again held to a 1-1 draw, this time by Afghanistan, in their fourth match of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 joint qualifiers match, which was played at the Central Republican Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Thursday. The Blue Tigers were behind for 90 minutes as Afghans scored in the first half's injury-time through a brilliant goal of Zelfy Nazary. However, Igor Stimac's men fought hard in the second half to score the equalizer through Seminlen Doungel in the stoppage time.
However, Stimac has admitted that the draw helps neither team and believed India deserved more. “I think that everyone who was here today and everybody who was watching on TV could enjoy. The game was very exciting. There was plenty of football. Good action, chances. At the end, neither of us can be happy with a draw, but that’s how it finished. Somehow, I have a feeling that we deserved more out of this game. We created more chances than Afghanistan. We were not lucky enough to score from these clear situations,” said Igor Stimac at the post-match press conference, ISL website reported.
Indian played an average game in the first half as Suni Chhetri could not create many chances with help of Sahal, Udanta Singh, and Ashique Kuruniyan. However, Brandon Fernandez did cross numerous balls into the attacking third but no could utilize it. However, It was the error from Goan veteran Mandar Rao Desai which caused the Afghan to take the lead in the stoppage time of first half. Mandar could not hold the Afghan wingers in the left flank.
However, in the second half, with the introduction of Farrukh Choudhary for Sahal Abdul Samad and Manvir Singh for Mandar Rao changed the momentum for India in the second half. Moreover, another Substitute Seminlen Doungel for Pritam Kotal changed the fortunes of India. And coach Stimac expressed his happiness with the performance in the second half.
“I am very happy about how my team performed today, especially in the second half. We are in the build-up process. We are building a new team for the future. And we are becoming a team which is very difficult to beat. And we are playing football now. You could see tonight that India is playing very exciting football. We have many new young players coming through. We are opening the door for them.” Stimac said.
“It’s difficult to expect great results now. But we are gaining lots of experience and we are going to become a great team in the future. Never before was India coming back from negative situations. Last two games, we came back in the last minute. Now we are the team which never gives up. We are becoming the team with character, with charisma. The team which is pushing up when the result is negative and that’s what makes me proud as a coach,” Stmac further added.
India are now fourth in the Group E with three points and the coach spoke about the situation. “We all know that Qatar and Oman are favourites in our group. And the difference between India, Afghanistan and Bangladesh is very small. One situation can decide the game. Never mind who is having more ball possession, who is creating more chances, you can score from one chance and win the game.” said Stimac.
India will now travel to Oman for their next match on the 19th November. Oman beat India 2-1 in Guwahati in the first leg. A win will be a Herculean task for Igor Stimac's men as it will decide India's further chances in the qualifiers. And the coach is wary of the fixture.
“There is a very difficult game for us against Oman. Oman is even better now than when we faced them in Guwahati. It is going to be very difficult for us. We need to see how quickly we can recover from such a difficult game that we had tonight. But I’m confident. I have enough players. I am not afraid to put out a whole new team against Oman.” the Croatian concluded
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