2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier: India against Afghanistan and Oman

The Indian team is in Tajikistan today as they face Afghanistan in their next 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier fixture in Dushanbe.

India is now at 4th place in Group E after just two points from 3 matches. India lost to Oman (1-2) in the opener in Guwahati, a goal-less draw against Qatar in Doha in September and 1-1 draw against Bangladesh in Kolkata on October 15. Adil Khan’s last-gasp header in 88th minute saved us in Kolkata.

Indian team cannot afford to lose this crucial match against Afghanistan in the World Cup qualifying round. The Afghans, who are 149th in FIFA rankings against India at 106th position, are placed third in the group with one win and two losses.

After Afghanistan, the Indian team face Oman on November 19 in Muscat. Oman are ranked higher than India at 84th.

Let’s keep this thread to discuss India’s FIFA World Cup Qualifying round, updates on matches and discussion related to it.

11 Likes

Afghanistan seems to have strategically chosen Tajikistan as their home ground. It is currently extremely cold there with freezing temperatures and Indian team is not used to playing in such climatic conditions. Moreover, the match is scheduled on an artificial turf which our players are not used to.

"Afghanistan have chosen the venue to make others’ life difficult,” Igor Stimac said.

Despite this we have a good chance of winning. A win against Afghanistan will boost our confidence and will head strong to play against Oman in Muscat on Nov 19.

9 Likes

2022 World Cup Qualifiers - Group E Table

9 Likes

Historically, India enjoys a good record against Afghanistan.

Head-to-head record of India against Afghanistan.

Games won: 6
Games drawn: 1
Games lost: 1

Head-to-head-India-vs-Afghanistan

13 Likes

The Indian team is going to play without two key players - central defender Anas Edathodika and mid-fielder Rowlin Borges who is injured.
Anas had to return home from Dubai, where the team had a stopover on way to Dushanbe, due to the death of his mother. Anas along with Sandesh Jhingan, who is currently recovering from an injury will be missed today.

The India Squad:

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Pritam Kotal, Nishu Kumar, Rahul Bheke, Narender, Adil Khan, Sarthak Golui, Subhasish Bose, Mandar Rao Dessai, Udanta Singh, Jackichand Singh, Seiminlen Doungel, Raynier Fernandes, Vinit Rai, Sahal Abdul Samad, Pronay Halder, Anirudh Thapa, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Brandon Fernandes, Ashique Kuruniyan, Sunil Chhetri, Manvir Singh, Farukh Choudhary

9 Likes

Afghanistan will come into this match after beating Bangladesh 1-0. Captain Farshad Noor has scored Afghanistan’s only goal in the World Cup Qualifiers so far. They had lost heavily to Oman (0-3) and Qatar (0-6) in their earlier matches.

Haroon Amiri is their most capped player with 48 international appearances and has played since 2011. He has also played in the inaugural ISL 2014 for FC Goa. This season he has joined I-League side Gokulam Kerala FC.

afg-football

If our team overcomes the mental block of much discussed weather conditions and artificial turf then we can easily win this match.

7 Likes

:soccer: India face Afghanistan in crunch match tonight at Dushanbe in the FIFA 2022 World Cup Qualifying campaign.

All the best Blue Tigers ! :large_blue_circle::tiger:

7 Likes

India draw 1-1 Afghanistan with another late goal. India remain placed 4th in the Group E table with just 3 points from 4 games. While Afghanistan get 4 points from 4 games.

The draw was definitely not encouraging but nonetheless it has saved India’s World Cup campaign from crashing completely. India will be in absolute need for a win as they face Oman next on Nov 19.

India%20vs%20Afghanistan%20-%20FIFA%20Qualifiers

8 Likes

In another FIFA Qualifiers match, Oman beat Bangladesh 4-1. The match was played in Baushar, Oman.

Oman%20vs%20Bangladesh

The Group E standings at the end of 4 matches :

Hope to see some football magic from Indian players when they play against Oman next week. :worried:

9 Likes

Agree :crossed_fingers: :v:

6 Likes

Do-or-die World Cup qualifying round match tonight in Muscat!!

Winless in four games so far, Sunil Chhetri-led India will eye its first win when it faces higher-ranked Oman.

India’s World Cup Qualifying campaign so far:

Ind vs Oman 1-2 Loss on Sep 5 (Home)

Ind vs Qat 0-0 Draw on Sep 10 (Away)

Ind vs Ban 1-1 Draw on Oct 15 (Home)

Ind vs Afg 1-1 Draw on Nov 14 (Away)

India is coming into this match after playing out a 1-1 draw against Afghanistan, while Oman defeated Bangladesh 4-1 in its previous World Cup qualifier.

Oman’s World Cup Qualifying campaign so far :

Oman vs Ind 2-1 Win on Sep 5 (Away)

Oman vs Afg 3-0 Win on Oct 10 (Home)

Oman vs Qat 1-2 Loss on Oct 15 (Away)

Oman vs Ban 4-1 Win on Nov 14 (Home)

After three draws and a defeat, India is 4th in the Group E table with 3 points, while Oman is 2nd with 9 points from 4 matches. Qatar is on top with 10 points from 4 matches.

Possible Outcomes:

  • A win over Oman will keep the hunt for a next round berth alive

  • A loss will certainly put India out of the 2022 World Cup qualification
    A loss means India will trail Oman by 9 points and have only 3 matches, maximum 9 points left to play in this 2nd round of the qualifiers next year.

  • A draw will also make it difficult for India to qualify for the next round.

Even the runner-up sides from the eight groups are not guaranteed an automatic spot in the third round of the qualifiers.

We need a win today! All the best Blue Tigers!! :v::blue_heart::tiger::v:

9 Likes

Historic Head-to-head record of India against Oman.

India last won the match against Oman in 1994.

Games won: 1
Games drawn: 2
Games lost: 5

India-Oman-Historic-Head-to-Head

9 Likes

India Lose 0-1 to Oman : India’s WC hopes virtually over. :pensive:

4 Likes

Group E standings - Round 2

Group%20E%20Table

2 Likes

A big blow to billion hopes!

Even though we have lost chance of qualifying for 2022 FIFA, hope to see the team train, play harder and win rest of the 3 games scheduled on Mar 26, Jun 4 and Jun 9 next year. :v:

The win in last 3 games will set the right tone to aim for 2026 WC. With growing support, interest and improved training in football at grass root level, I don’t see this dream impossible.

3 Likes

Frankly, Indians with their weather and physical build, will have tough time excelling at football. We may see few individual doing some good but we may not be a force in world football. :frowning_face:

2 Likes

@Yogesh I don’t agree with the weather and physical build reasoning. There are so many players in the world who even with their small stature have been a big success for their clubs and countries…Messi is a well known example.

I came across this well summarized key skills in order to achieve success in football.

  1. Technique – ball control, dribbling skills, passing accuracy, body control

  2. Game Intelligence – spatial awareness, tactical knowledge, risk assessment

  3. Physical Fitness – endurance, balance and coordination, speed, strength and power

  4. Proper Mindset - compassion, composure and mental strength, coachability, self-motivation

Source: How to achieve success in football

Do we have this kind of training at grass root level? I doubt.

There is definitely increase in youth players who have shifted from mere watching to actually playing football and aspiring to play on international level.

Bringing international coaches only at national level will not change things around drastically. I think proper training, skill building, tactics from a young age with well charted out plan and seeking help from internationally experienced coaches at grass root level will make a difference in future. I see this as a 5-10 year plan and aim for 2026 World Cup qualification.

7 Likes

I mean stamina, power and strength by physical build and not Height. Football requires stamina and endurance. Indians will find it very difficult to be a force in any athletic team sports. We may some sparks in individual sports. but that’s it. Our weather and build are not conducive.

2 Likes

“It will not come to us, rather we need to go and snatch it. It’s always about us and our performance to achieve something,

9 Likes

We excelled in football during 1960’s. During the Asian games of 1962, we won the championship admist a lot of hatred for us. The final game was scheduled with South Korea and we were receiving boos from the complete stadium. The tournament was scheduled in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesia was an Chinese ally and we had our issues with China in 1962. The indian football team was the previous champions.However, the Indian football team was booed and stones were pelted on their buses. Moreover we also lost our only center forward in the first game of the tournament.
The centre back,Jarnail Singh played as an striker. We won the tournament easily even after so much hatred.
Moreover, that year 5 Indians were in the Asian team of the year. PK Banerjee was arguably on of the best wingers/attacking Banerjee in the world.
Football lost in India because of negligence and ignorance of officials. Do read
‘From Barefoot to Boots’ by Novi Kapadia. India dominated Asia. And many Indian players rejected foreign contracts because they wanted to live in India. Chunni Goswami rejected a move to Totenham Hotspurs.
6179d-1509191899-800

10 Likes