INDIA AT FIFA WORLD CUP 2018
Legend has it that India blew the chance to place itself on the global football map by withdrawing from the 1950 World Cup (then called the Jules Rimet Cup) for its unsuccessful attempt at challenging FIFA’s ruling against barefoot players. While some suggest this to be the central reason for India pulling out of the tournament, others advocate it was a cover up story for the financial crunch, communication gap and lack of time to select and prepare a team for the tournament on the part of the All India Football Federation.
Whatever be the vindication for this almost criminal act for the development of the beautiful game in the country, a self-righteous AIFF had no idea about how big an opportunity it was failing to grasp. Who knows how things would have shaped up if India had flown to Brazil at the half point mark in the 20th century. In actuality, the state of things in Indian football has been on a virtual freefall since then; the nation even hitting its worst ever FIFA rankings on multiple occasions.
Having said that, there had been the occasional silver linings after the turn of the millennium (read the double Nehru Cup coup and the rekindling of the domestic league structure) and in a major accomplishment, India also bagged the hosting rights for the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. In another major first, the team recently made its way into the second round of the 2018 Russia World Cup qualifiers, after seven previous unsuccessful attempts, following a 2-0 (agg.) win over neighbours Nepal.
In the second round, India joined 39 other teams which were divided into eight groups of five each. Out of these, 12 teams – the top team from each group and the four best second-placed teams – will progress into the third and final qualifying round for the World Cup. Earlier this month, the draws for the second round took place and India (ranked 147 in the latest FIFA rankings) have been drawn with Iran (ranked 40), Oman (97), Turkmenistan (59) and Guam (175) in Group D. To be played on home and away basis, the matches have begun from 11 June and can be watched on Sony Six in India.
Schedule
June 11, 2015 – India vs Oman
June 16, 2015 – Guam vs India
September 8, 2015 – India vs Iran
October 8, 2015 – Turkmenistan vs India
October 13, 2015 – Oman vs India
November 12, 2015 – India vs Guam
March 24, 2016 – Iran vs India
March 29, 2016 – India vs Turkmenistan
Know your opponents
Iran (FIFA Rank 41)
Oman (FIFA Rank 101)
Turkmenistan (FIFA Rank 173)
Guam (FIFA Rank 174)
As India lost their first two matches against Oman and Guam, do you guys still think that India will qualify for the World Cup?
- By Football Solutions
( Arbaz Ahmed) and Sports keeda