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India got off to a good start in their 2026 FIFA World Cup second round qualifying campaign, with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Kuwait. Igor Stimac’s men were incredibly impressive throughout, as India ended a six-match winless streak. ran in regulation time thanks to a goal from Manvir Singh in the 75th minute along with a remarkable defensive effort.
As happens every time India takes to the football field, the adjustment was food for thought.
The numbers reveal the significance of this victory: it was India’s first away win in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in 22 years, the victory over Bangladesh in the qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup was played at an unbiased venue in Doha due to Covid restrictions. The last away win at the FIFA World Cup came in Brunei in 2001, perhaps the most productive qualifying campaign in India’s history.
That team had a young Mahesh Gawli in defense, who last replaced Stimac as coach of the national team a few months ago. This kind of win is the norm, and this Indian team deserves a lot of credit.
In terms of the group’s ramifications, the win is tremendously significant: Qatar are clear favourites to take the top spot in the standings, as evidenced by their 8-1 win over Afghanistan on Thursday. The war for second place (which would seal qualification) for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and advancement to the third qualifying round for the World Cup) pits Kuwait, ranked 136th, and India, ranked 102nd, against Afghanistan (154th). An away win gives India the edge and makes the two games against Qatar less applicable: Afghanistan is clearly beatable and a draw against Kuwait at home is enough to advance.
India’s last match was a thrilling 2-4 loss to Malaysia in the Merdeka Cup, where Stimac’s team was in disarray in defence. The absence of Jeakson Singh due to a shoulder injury has affected the team in transitions, Jeakson’s exceptional understanding of his role in the game has been sorely missed by the rest defence (the defensive form that India owns to save them a transition).
Suresh Singh Wangjam is not as well-suited for the role on Stimac’s side as his liking to playing for Bengaluru FC (a transition team itself) rarely puts him in that high-risk role where he has to be the first to quell a counter-attack. Lalengmawia Ralte, also known as Apuia, was reportedly left out of the national team due to an obvious deficient discipline challenge, but Stimac’s hand would have possibly been forced due to Jeakson’s injury. The Mumbai City FC midfielder plays a similar role in the look of his club and their outfits. trouble-free towards the base of midfield next to Suresh’s side, with Kuwait (a perfect team in transitions with their threats on the wing) largely nullified.
. @manvir_singh07 came here to lead @IndianFootball to victory in #KUWIND!??? #WCQ #FIFAWorldCup #AsianQualifiers #BlueTigers #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball pic. twitter. com/46tOPqB8jo
– Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) November 16, 2023
Coupled with the return of Rahul Bheke to the line-up (as a better defender than Mehtab Singh as a player), India softly blocked Kuwait as their defensive balance was restored. Jeakson is still a failure, but with Apuia in place, Stimac can count. about his favorite style of play. That may replace Qatar in India’s upcoming match as they will have less of the ball, but the features in the midfield are now plentiful.
It’s a recurring theme in this Indian team lately: their penchant for scoring goals with beautiful team plays. And this play against Kuwait was memorable, especially because it started from behind. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu started the play, passing it to Rahul Bheke in a wide left centre-back space, allowing Akash Mishra to stretch the field as he bombed forward on the left touchline.
A precise pass from Bheke came, and Mishra saw Lallianzuala Chungte run down the left channel and played a first pass straight in his path. Chhangte didn’t have to slow down and sent a low cross straight into the box, with Manvir Singh coming in and putting his marker in the net with a first shot. Eight seconds after the ball came out of Bheke’s boot, two brilliantly timed first passes, four touches of the ball and India scored a goal that advanced the length of the field.
It’s simple to say that it was only a few years ago that Stimac began his reign by betting on the long-ball attrition football that had plagued Indian football for decades. Goals like these highlight the progress made, but they are also achievements worth appreciating.
In a very important FIFA World Cup qualifier, Stimac had the ability to turn to reigning AIFF Player of the Year Chhangte as a substitute. Despite the injuries of some very important players in the first eleven, the team’s point never lost and the substitutes adapted easily. Stimac has maintained his desire to hold long pre-season camps before big games, and his argument finds some justification in a poorly organized Asian Games campaign.
What goes unnoticed, however, is that Stimac now has a squad of 15 or 16 players who sense their taste and become seasoned foreigners, able to make the transition from club football to foreign football with ease. There is a certain familiarity with what the Croatian needs. on the pitch, and it’s not limited to the first XI.
Sunil Chhetri’s main contribution to the adjustment was a decoy run towards goal; Mahesh Singh, India’s most consistent and artistic player in recent memory, had a bit of a difficult day and the ability to turn it around with a tactical adjustment (Chhangte was behind instead of Mahesh losing) cannot be underestimated. Dear.
Apuia and Bheke have bolstered the defense, while Anirudh Thapa’s ability can also be called upon. Manvir returned to the look in a role that reflected what is required of Ashique Kuruniyan (a physical rider/attack hybrid) and excelled. despite the goal.
These are players who can expect to be part of the AFC Asian Cup squad and who are well aware of their role within the national set-up. They appear to be a fluid team, and although things don’t look so good compared to Qatar in a few days’ time, there is enough quality and clarity in the team to be able to hold a short camp before the Asian Cup in January.
While India’s victory owes much to their paintings on the field, it also owes much to the crowd that effectively played an important role. The Indian diaspora extends to all corners of the world and Kuwait is no exception, with many supporters of the visiting team in the stands. .
The cheers every time India rallied in attack were louder than the home support, which reached a crescendo when the goal was scored. The Vikings’ applause that echoed out of Kuwait City’s Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium after the game may well have been deceiving. Someone thinks it’s a house game.
Witness the post-victory scenes.
⚔️ ⚽ #KUWIND #FIFAWorldCup #BackTheBlue #BlueTigers #IndianFootball pic. twitter. com/zGYfNbe1zy
– Indian National Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 16, 2023
Now let’s move on to Kalinga in Bhubaneswar. Qatar’s power awaits, but a raucous crowd can see a miracle happen.