Eleven matches. Six defeats and five draws. Four goals scored and 15 conceded. As far as results are concerned, 2024 was arguably the worst year ever for the Indian men’s football team. It was a year that started with hopes of a strong campaign at the AFC Asian Cup. However, with some disastrous results and the controversial departure of head coach Igor Stimac, it was anything but an easy journey. Manolo Marquez taking over the reins midway but he had a tough task with the team missing their talisman Sunil Chhetri who bid farewell to the game after an illustrious career. The final half of the year saw some new faces make their presence felt for the side but sadly, the team still ended the year without a single victory.

The AFC Asian Cup campaign saw India facing tough opponents in Australia, Syria and Uzbekistan. India were unable to score even a single goal in the entire competition with just five shots on target in the three group stage matches. They were out of the group stages after conceding six goals.

It was the beginning of India’s misery as they slumped to a shocking 1-2 loss against Afghanistan at home in a FIFA World Cup qualifier match. Chhetri did find the back of the net but they were made to suffer for their missed chances as both experts and fans were left stunned by the result.

A draw against Kuwait gave some hope for qualification to the third round of World Cup qualifiers but the dreams were shattered following a controversial 1-2 loss against Qatar. The game saw India produce some good football but a horrible error by the referee spelt the end of their chances of advancing.

Following the loss against Qatar, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) decided to terminate Igor Stimac’s contract as the head coach. However, controversy ensued once again as Stimac was left fuming by the decision and he launched a scathing attack on AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey. There were allegations made on both side and it ended with a $400,000 (approximately Rs 3.36 crore) compensation for Stimac as his contract was ended early by the AIFF due to the disappointing results.

Manolo Marquez was appointed the head coach of the side and he had the tough job of reconstructing a side low on confidence and missing their star striker. Chhetri announced that he will play his final game against Kuwait and his emotional farewell left a huge gap in the Indian attack. The national side has been struggling to find a proper replacement for Chhetri and his departure left Marquez in a spot of bother.

The four matches under Marquez saw in-form players making the cut and the team leaning a lot on making use of the wingers in attack. Marquez’s first assignment was the Intercontinental Cup where they drew their first match against Maldives but were defeated 0-3 by Syria in the following match.

While the football on display was quite attractive due to the focus on midfield and more sharpness in set-pieces, the lack of goals was quite evident. The last two matches of the year saw India playing out draws against Vietnam and Malaysia with the team scoring just twice in the two matches. There were as many as four strikers used in those two matches but they did not come close to replicating Chhetri’s prowess.

While India have not won a single game under Marquez’s coaching yet, they have been successful in drawing three of the four matches. The fast-paced attacking football has already found a few admirers among the fans but it is still a long road ahead for the side. The first challenge of 2025 for the side will be to register their first win in over a year and finally attempt to solve the striker conundrum. However, it is a new era under Manolo Marquez and for the time being, it does come with new hope for the national side.

Sandesh Jhingan opened up about his experience with age fraud in football.© X (Twitter)

Influential centre-back Sandesh Jhingan’s name was missing as Chennaiyin FC forward Kiyan Nassiri, son of East Bengal’s Iranian legend Jamshid, on Wednesday inched closer to his maiden India selection after being named among new head coach Manolo Marquez’s 26 probables for the Intercontinental Cup preparatory camp. Mohun Bagan SG right-back Ashish Rai and East Bengal goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, who are yet to play for the senior India team, also received call-ups for the camp in preparation for the three-team annual tournament that will be held from September 3-9 in Hyderabad.

It is understood that key defender Jhingan, who sustained a right knee injury during India’s Asian Cup group match against Syria in January, is yet to recover from the injury.

Jhingan, the 31-year-old central defender, also missed out on selection for the team’s camp ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary joint qualification round 2 matches against Kuwait and Qatar, in May.

Syria, placed 93rd in the latest FIFA rankings and Mauritius, who stand at 179, are the other two teams in the competition. India are currently ranked 124th. The preparatory camp will start in Hyderabad from August 31.

The fourth edition of the Intercontinental Cup will be the first full tournament after the retirement of the legendary Sunil Chhetri and the first assignment for Marquez who was named India head coach last month. India have won the tournament twice in the past. The 23-year-old Kiyan, who grew up in Kolkata and whose mother was born and brought up in Shillong, has been excelling upfront while playing for Indian Super League side Chennaiyin FC.

His father has been an East Bengal legend and currently lives in Kolkata, having represented the Iranian U-20 team in the 1977 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Announcing the probables, Marquez said: “We are very excited about our first preparatory camp and I know it will be the same for the players.

“We face two different teams and the rankings are not very important. We need to work all together in the same direction to find the correct group of players and their predisposition will be very good, something I am completely sure about.

“I know all of us are in pre-season with nice challenges in front of us. Is a big honour to wear the jersey of the national team and we need to show it for all our fans.” The list of probables: Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh, Amrinder Singh, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill.

Defenders: Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Roshan Singh Naorem, Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, Ashish Rai, Subhasish Bose, Mehtab Singh.

Midfielders: Suresh Singh Wangjam, Jeakson Singh, Nandhakumar Sekar, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Yasir Mohammad, Lalengmawia Ralte, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Lalthathanga Khawlhring.

Forwards: Kiyan Nassiri Giri, Edmund Lalrindika, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco.

The Indian men’s football team aims to kickstart a new era as Spanish coach Manolo Marquez takes over as the head coach of the nation. Interestingly, Manolo will also continue to coach club side FC Goa alongside his national team role. However, just days into his new role, Manolo has made it clear that an improvement in mentality is necessary among the Indian players, also encouraging players to move out of the comfort of playing in India, and improving their skills abroad.

With qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup out of the question, Manolo targeted improvement in the level of the players. Speaking to the media for the first time since his appointment as India head coach, Manolo made a valuable recommendation to the Indian players.

“The level of Indian players can be better and can improve faster. Everyone knows my feeling – maybe some players don’t like – that they are very comfortable playing in the Indian Super League (ISL). They are very comfortable in India,” said Manolo.

“You will grow when you play abroad. I’m not saying the top level, like the Premier League or La Liga. If you play in one division where the opponents are the same or better than you, you will improve 100 per cent,” he added.

Manolo sympathised with the need for comfort for his players, pointing out the example of FC Goa defender Sandesh Jhingan, who had spent an unsuccessful year abroad at Croatian club HNK Sibenik in the 2021-22 season.

“I understand that life is very good for most of them in ISL and it’s difficult for them to go abroad. For example, Sandesh tried to do it in Croatia,” he said.

Manolo put a lot of emphasis on increasing mental strength.

“In football, technique, tactics and physique is very important. But if this doesn’t work (points to head), you cannot do anything, not only in football, but also your life,” Manolo stated.

The Indian men’s football team next play on September 9, 2024, in a friendly against Syria.

India Vs China Asian Games 2023 Live Updates: India aim for a win© AFP