The 2021was a not-so-good-and-not-so-bad year for the Indian football in the Men’s category. There was a lot of improvement with regard to the playing pattern, but consistency wise a lot left to be desired. The year saw the team winning SAFF Championship for the 8th time, but did not qualify directly for the AFC Asian Cup. They played 12 international games overall in 12 months. In the UAE’s business capital, Dubai, during the two international friendlies, the Indian team had one decent and one below-par outings. They managed to eke out a draw against Oman but got a bitter reality check against the UAE, a 6-0 loss.
These two games were ideal opportunities to get some adequate practice before the 2022 FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup qualifiers but they were unable to make the most out of these. After this, India failed to secure the first-round qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, to be held in Qatar, as their brilliant came to the fore only sporadically. As for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, they fell in the third round of qualification and yet again missed a direct qualification with just 7 points from 8 games.
However, praising the game’s governing bodies, national team defender Adil Khan beaming with confidence said “Indian football is growing in a good way and is on the correct path. I just wish it keeps growing the way it has been and tries to maintain the quality.”
Now, the team’s next crucial assignment happened to be the 13th SAFF Championship, which was held in the Maldives after a year’s delay due to the prevailing Covid situation. Yet again, they displayed contrasting forms in the two friendlies against Nepal, where they managed one win and a draw. When the SAFF kicked off the Indian team did not have the best of the starts as both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka held them for draws. But when it mattered the most, the team led by Sunil Chettri showed class to get the better of Nepal (1-0) and Maldives (3-1) to enter the final. In the title clash, India outclassed Nepal (3-0) to lift the trophy yet again.
Coming to the AFC Cup, our very own ATK Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC (post making it from play-offs) locked horns with Bangladesh’s Basundhara Kings and home side Maldives’ Maziya in the South Asia Zone Group stage. After the single-leg stage, ATK Mohun Bagan topped the group undefeated with two victories and a draw against Bashundhara. However, things radically changed for them in the Inter-zone play-off Semi-Final, when they got beaten hands down (6-0) by Uzbekistan FC Nasaf. And, in the ISL, Mumbai City beat Mohun Bagan on goal difference to lift the title for the first time.
This year, like 2020, had also been quite harsh for everyone, including athletes. However, in spite of the various challenges, like less outdoor practice due to the Covid-led restrictions, our players put the best foot forward. All these augurs well for an eventful 2022 for the Indian Men’s football, provided the virus does not wreak havoc yet again in their lives.
