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Indian footballers win hearts despite Asian Cup exit
NEW DELHI, Jan 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Football fans and pundits were full of
praise for India Tuesday even as an injury-time penalty cost the Blue Tigers
an unlikely spot in the Asian Cup knockout stages and prompted the coach to
resign.
Despite its giant population India is a footballing minnow at a lowly 97th
in FIFA’s world rankings, and its players are used to being overshadowed by
the nation’s glamorous millionaire cricketers.
They did not even qualify for the last Asian Cup, but dared to dream of
glory after stunning Thailand 4-1 in their opening match in the United Arab
Emirates.
Having lost to the hosts in their second match, the 0-0 scoreline going
into injury time in their final match Monday against Bahrain would have been
sufficient to see India through.
But a rash foul by skipper Pronay Halder gave Bahrain a penalty, converted
coolly by Jamal Rashed. The Hindu daily said India had “won hearts aplenty”
with their performances, earning plaudits as they “threw their bodies at the
ball, defended doggedly and put up a fearless display.”
“The Indians had endured a long journey to rub shoulders with Asia’s best.
Unfortunately for them, the journey ends here,” the newspaper said.
ESPN India said the bid to reach the knockout stages had been thwarted “in
the most diabolical of ways”.
Coach Stephen Constantine stepped down after the game, but said “the boys
have exceeded expectations” and that he was “exceptionally proud of the
players for everything that they’ve given”.
Beaten finalists on their 1964 Asian Cup debut when it was a four-team
competition, India last qualified in 2011 when they were thrashed in every
game and let in 13 goals.
“The positives are, the team is much fitter. Full credit goes to Stephen
Constantine that he has made it very cohesive, very fit,” commentator and
author Novy Kapadia told AFP.
“He has made the team that plays to a game plan.”
– ‘Heartbreaking loss’ –
Fans too chose to highlight the good moments on the field. “We loved the
way India played, especially against Thailand. They fought hard against UAE
and Bahrain. Keep it up. Way to go..” said a Twitter user, Amit Jain.
“Heartbreaking loss. but full marks to Chhetri and company for making us
hope. lov u guys,” wrote another, Jaya Singh.
Indian defender Sandeep Jhingan thanked the fans.
“We defended like warriors and the defeat is really hard to take,” said
Jhingan.
“Disappointed seeing how it turned out but we can only go upwards from
here. Proud of the boys and we thank the fans for their support.”
But despite the Asian Cup heroics, cricket remains the only game in town
for most Indians.
Striker Sunil Chhetri overtook Lionel Messi in international goals during
the tournament, but few Indians would even recognise their football talisman.
Millions of Indians do watch England’s Premier League, but 34-year-old
Chhetri has spent most of his club career in India’s domestic leagues,
barring brief stints with Kansas City Wizards and Sporting Clube de
Portugal’s reserves.
Last year Chhetri made an emotional plea to Indians to fill empty stadiums
after just 2,569 turned up to watch the national team play in the Inter-
Continental Cup in Mumbai.
But in a celebrity scene dominated by Bollywood actors and cricketers,
footballers rarely make a broader impact beyond the sports pages.
“Cricket is number one, every other sport has to accept that they can only
compete for the number two spot,” Kapadia said.
He added: “We shouldn’t get carried away (by the Asian Cup performance).
It is a step forward. The team is still not World Cup material”.
BSS/AFP/SSS/1441 hrs