We Can Progress To Third Round Of World Cup Qualifiers: Igor Stimac After Loss To Afghanistan – News18

Guwahati, Mar 26: Embattled Indian soccer workforce head coach Igor Stimac mentioned his aspect can nonetheless progress to the third spherical of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, placing up a courageous entrance regardless of an embarrassing defeat to decrease-ranked Afghanistan right here on Tuesday.

Ranked 158 on this planet, Afghanistan shocked 117-ranked India 2-1 as the house workforce suffered one in all its most embarrassing defeats in recent times regardless of talisman Sunil Chhetri’s 94th worldwide purpose in his one hundred and fiftieth match.

“Of course, I think we can qualify (for third round of World Cup Qualifiers) and I told you before as well we are going to be a different team after a long camp.

“You can see that half of our players are not able to bring that intensity and I cannot change that in five days, I am sorry,” Stimac mentioned after the match.

“I repeat myself again and again and again. I hope you remember all these players were the same players in June-July and Afghanistan is not a different team than Kuwait and Lebanon teams that we had beaten and dominated.” In his landmark sport, Chhetri did what was anticipated of him and located the again of the web from the spot within the thirty seventh minute after Haroon Amiri dealt with the ball contained in the field in India’s house leg match within the second spherical of the joint qualifiers for the World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

However, the Afghans hit again within the second half with objectives from Rahmat Akbari (71′) and Sharif Mukhammad (88′), leaving the packed home on the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium heartbroken after one more failure.

Stimac apologised for the defeat following a under-par efficiency from his wards.

When requested if he would resign, he mentioned that he’s right here to “fulfil a mission” and he could be accountable for the workforce until June.

Stimac, who has been on the helm since 2019, final yr acquired a contract extension that’s supposed to maintain him in cost till June 2026.

He mentioned that this is similar Indian workforce that was persistently successful final yr.

“The difference is only in the intensity,” he mentioned.

He mentioned had he bought an extended time to arrange, the outcomes would have been completely different.

Stimac didn’t agree with the suggestion that his workforce was tactically outplayed on Tuesday however mentioned that India mustn’t have conceded the penalty via a foolish mistake.

He mentioned that the Afghan assault was one-dimensional, enjoying lengthy ball into the penalty space and the Indian defence was “ineffective in checking this predictable approach.” “We did many things correct today but something that was very poor was that after being in control for most of the game, there were some points in the game when we give something away. As a team, we are frozen for 5-6 minutes, which is inexplicable.” “It’s not only about trying to qualify for the third round, it’s also about what we are going to do there, when we get there. We have to do well in June otherwise we will stay where we were in the last eight years, qualifying against Myanmar and Guam.” PTI RM AH AH ATK ATK

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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – PTI)