Despite Indian football being “definitely out of its slumber” according to Igor Stimac, the outspoken coach cautioned against having high expectations for the Asian Cup, which begins on Friday in Qatar.
Sepp Blatter, the previous head of FIFA, once referred to India as “a sleeping giant” of football, but the sport has failed to gain traction in the 1.4 billion-strong population that is more interested in cricket.
With the appointment of Stimac as coach in May 2019, India saw their second short stint in the top 100 of FIFA’s global rankings in over three decades. Stimac had previously played as a defender for West Ham and Derby.
With a population of fewer than two million, they have dropped to 102nd place, just behind Kosovo.
“A giant is definitely out of its slumber now,” proclaims Stimac, who then warns, “But I reckon it will take us another four years to enter the top 10 in Asia.”
India advanced to the Asian Cup because to the former Croatian international’s coaching, where they won all three matches against Afghanistan, Cambodia, and Hong Kong while allowing just one goal.
India faces 25th-ranked Australia on Saturday in the first match of their tournament in Qatar, where they will also face Uzbekistan and Syria.
“We are far from being happy with the draw but it is what it is,” said the 56-year-old Stimac, who was a member of the Croatian squad that came third in the 1998 World Cup, in an email interview.
Expecting great things with so little time to prepare is challenging, but the injuries sustained by many of our important players are my biggest worry.
“Anyway, we are going to give our best and make it very difficult for our opponents.”
India has participated in five Asian Cups.
They have never advanced beyond the group stage, with the exception of 1964, when they finished second in a competition with just four teams.
Nobody has ever seen them play in the World Cup.
Fiery
The impending challenge is highlighted by Stimac’s team’s 3-0 home loss to the defending Asian champions Qatar in November’s World Cup qualification.
In addition to losing in friendly matches against Iraq and Malaysia, they won 1-0 away against Kuwait in World Cup qualification.
Stimac said that “terrible refereeing” was to blame for Iraq’s and Malaysia’s defeats.
“I despise bringing it up, but this aspect of Asian football really needs some serious work,” remarks the straight-talking Croat.
Controversy envelops Indian sports administrations on a frequent basis; in 2022, Stimac promised to step down unless the domestic game underwent “drastic” reforms.
“As a professional I have absolute freedom but I can work only with what I get from our decision-makers,” according to him.
Accusations that Stimac sought advice from an astrologer in selecting his squad were dubbed “a disgrace” by the media in September, and he dropped hints that his tenure as coach would be winding down once again.
Chhetri, a role model
According to Stimac, “and our supporters are finally enjoying some exciting football watching their national team” since he took over, the squad has recruited around 20 young players.
That India’s captain Sunil Chhetri, at 39 years old, is still the team’s greatest star, nevertheless, is a sign of the squad’s shortcomings.
With 93 goals for his country, Chhetri is now in the company of greats like Cristiano Ronaldo (128) and Lionel Messi (106).
The forward is free to retire whenever he wants, according to Stimac.
“We are not putting any pressure on him whatsoever,” Stimac stated.
“That’s up to him.”
“If he keeps enjoying his game with the same hunger and maintaining such brilliant fitness levels then we are there for him as long as it takes,” according to him.
“He is a proper role model for many Indian kids dreaming about becoming football players.”