Look back : India’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers from 1998 to 2014

World Cup Qualifiers, FIFA, India, World Cup, Soccer, Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, I.M Vijayan, Jo Paul Ancheri, 2014, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010With India’s 2018 World Cup qualification hopes in shambles after the 3-0 loss to Oman on Tuesday, we decided to check and compile India’s performances in world cup qualifiers over the years starting from 1998. There are some interesting results and our best qualifying campaign was for the 2002 world cup. Sukhwinder Singh coached team that had stalwarts like Baichung Bhutia, I.M Vijayan and Jo Paul Ancheri managed some great results in that campaign. Here are the results from the World Cup qualifiers matches that we played from 1998 to 2014.

1998 World Cup :

34 Asian nations took part in the 1998 World Cup qualifiers. India was in Group 10 along with Qatar, Sri Lanka and Philippines.  We managed a win against Philippines, a draw with Sri Lanka and a 6-0 mauling at the hands of Qatar. Nothing to be proud of. Qatar progressed in to the next round as group winners.  Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia and South Korea represented Asia in the 1998 World Cup that took place in France.

Table :

Rank Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Qatar 3 0 0 0 14 0 14 9
2 Sri Lanka 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
3 India 3 1 1 1 3 7 -4 4
4 Philippines 3 0 0 3 0 10 -10 0

Matches :

21-Sep-96
India 2-0 Philippines
Khalifa International Stadium Doha, Qatar
24-Sep-96
 Sri Lanka  1-1 India
Khalifa International Stadium Doha, Qatar
27-Sep-96
Qatar 6-0 India
Khalifa International Stadium Doha, Qatar

2002 World Cup

40 Asian nations took part in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. India was in Group 08  along with UAE, Yemen and Brunei. This has to be our best qualification campaign in recent past. We managed to defeat UAE at home, held Yemen for a draw and thumped Brunei for a whopping five goals to nil. Coached by Sukhwinder Singh, Indian team finished third in the group. Some positives from the campaign were the home win against Arab giant UAE and the 11 goals we managed score in the campaign. South Korea, Japan (Hosts), Saudi Arabia and China PR represented Asian in the 2002 World Cup.

Table :

Rank Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1  United Arab Emirates 6 4 0 2 21 5 16 12
2  Yemen 6 3 2 1 14 8 6 11
3 India 6 3 2 1 11 5 6 11
4  Brunei 6 0 0 6 0 28 -28 0

Matches :

8-Apr-01
India 1-0 UAE
 Alberto  71′
Bangalore Stadium, Bangalore

Attendance: 12,000

   15-Apr-01
 India  1-1  Yemen
 Bhutia  53′  Al Ghurbani  43′
Bangalore Stadium, Bangalore

Attendance: 21,000

26-Apr-01
UAE 1-0 India
Khater  63′

Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium,

Al Ain City

Attendance: 12,000

4-May-01
Yemen 3-3 India
Al-Salimi  13′ (p),  20′,  62′ Ancheri  16′,  38′

Vijayan  51′

Althawra Sports City Stadium, San‘a’

Attendance: 25,000

11-May-01
Brunei 0-1 India
Ancheri 75′
Sultan Hassal Bolkiah Stadium, Bandar Seri Begawan
Attendance: 4,000
20-May-01
India 5-0 Brunei
Alberto  12′
Vijayan  23′
Bhutia 35′ (p)
Ancheri  59′
Hakim 80′
Bangalore Stadium, Bangalore
Attendance: 7,000

2006 World Cup

In 2016 AFC introduced a preliminary round in the qualifications. 14 last ranked teams would fight it out in a preliminary round. However, India was not among the 14 last ranked nations and qualified directly to play in Round 2. India was in Group 3 along with Japan, Oman and Singapore. This campaign was nothing short of a disaster for India. This campaign ended Stephen Constantine’s first stint with India. We conceded 16 goals and could only score 2 in the  whole campaign. Stephen Constantine was sacked and Sukhwinder took on the reigns in 2005.

Table :

Rank Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Japan 6 6 0 0 16 1 15 18
2 Oman 6 3 1 2 14 3 11 10
3 India 6 1 1 4 2 18 -16 4
4  Singapore 6 1 0 5 3 13 -10 3

Matches :

18-Feb-04
India 1-0 Singapore
 Alberto  71′
Fatorda Stadium, Margao

Attendance: 28,000

31-Mar-2004
 India  1-1  Oman
Renedy  18′ Amad Ali 12′

Ahmed Mubarak  26′, 49′

Al Hinai 60′, 88′

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi

Attendance: 48,000

9-Jun-04
Japan 7-0 India
Kubo 12′
Fukunishi 25′
Nakamura 29′
Suzuki 54′
Nakazawa 65′, 76′
Ogasawara 68′

Saitama Stadium, Saitama

Attendance:  63,000

8-Sep-04
India 0-4 Japan
Suzuki Goal 45′

Ono 60′
Fukunishi 71′
Miyamoto 87′

Yuva Bharati Krirangan, Bidhannagar

Attendance: 90,000

13-Oct-04
Singapore 2-0 India
 Sahdan Goal 73′
Mohd Goal 76
Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore
Attendance: 3,609
17-Nov-04
Oman 0-0 India
Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat
Attendance: 2,000

2010 World Cup

In 2010 AFC introduced seeding for teams in the qualifiers. Seeding for the first two rounds was based each team’s performance during the qualification stage for the previous World Cup. Nations ranked 1-5 after seeding directly qualified for the third round of qualifiers, where as nations ranked 6–43 entered the first round, with teams ranked from 6–24 drawn against teams ranked from 25–43. Bob Houghton coached India was drawn against Lebanon in the first round match that was played in an home and away format. We suffered a 4-1 defeat in the away match at Lebanon but managed to hold them for a draw in Goa. Asutralia, Japan, North Korea and South Korea represented Asia in 2010 World Cup.

Matches :

08-oct-2007
Lebanon 4-1 India
Antar 33′
Ghaddar 62′, 76′
El Ali 63′
Chetri 30′
Saida International Stadium, Saida

Attendance: 500

30-Oct-2007
 India  1-1  Lebanon
Chhetri 29′
Dias 90+2′
Ghaddar 72′ (pen.), 85′
Fatorda Stadium, Goa

Attendance: 10,000

2014 World Cup

For the 2014 World Cup, AFC’s competitions committee decided to follow the same format of 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Teams ranked 1–5 directly qualified to the group stages of qualifiers. Those ranked 6-27 received a bye to the 2nd round of qualification and teams ranked 28-43 played the 1st round of qualification. We received a bye to play in the 2nd round of qualifiers and were pitted against UAE. Armando Colaco had taken over the reigns from Bob Houghton by the time we took on UAE in an away match on 23-July-2011, in we got defeated 3-0.

23-july-2011
UAE 3-0 India
Al Kamali 21′ (pen.)
Al Shehhi 29′ (pen.)
Al Hammadi Goal 81′
Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain
Attendance: 3,179
28-july-2011
 India  2-2  UAE
Jeje 74′
Gouramangi 90+2′
Al Shehhi 40′
Al-Wehaibi 72′
Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi
Attendance: 13,000

Our hopes to qualify for 2018 World Cup are over. Recently we lost 3-0 to Oman and that was our fifth consecutive defeat in this qualifying campaign. For the uninitiated, such bad results are not new for our football team. 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign has also been disrupted because of ISL coinciding with the qualifiers. Let us hope that our team manage to win some upcoming home matches. Mean while, hoping that you enjoyed this compilation of the results from the past.

Tamil Nadu Announce Santosh Trophy 2014-2015 Squad

Tamil Nadu, football, soccer, association, team, santosh trophy, manjeri, south zone, 2014, 2015,  Tamil Nadu football Association (TFA) has announced a 20 member squad for the 69th National football championship played for the Santosh Trophy. Tamil Nadu will play the south zone qualifiers at the MSDC stadium in Manjeri. Tamil Nadu is in Group B along with Services and Pondicherry. Tamil Nadu will kick off their South Zone campaign when they meet Pondicherry on the 18th of January.

Fixtures :

18/01/2015 4 Pondicherry Tamil Nadu
20/01/2015 6 Tamil Nadu Services

Team :

Ajmal (Indian Bank/Chennai)
Vugneswaran (Chennai FC/Chennai)
PremKumar (RBI/CHennai)
Wayne Antoniou’s Silva (Indian Bank/ Chennai)
G V Hariharana (Customs/Chennai)
Sivapriyan (RBI/Chennai)
M Gnana Sekaran (Indian Bank/Chennai)
S Santosh Kumar (S.Railway/Chennai)
John Carlo (ICF/Chennai)
Praveendran (FCI/Chennai)
Sudhakar (AG’s Office/Chennai)
Vikram Patel (AG’s Office/Chennai)
Mijo Jose (Indian Bank/Chennai)
Soosairaj (Chennai City FC/ Chennai)
Regan (AG’s Office/Chennai)
H Ameerudeen (Income Tax/Chennai)
Edwin (Indian Bank/Chennai)
Rajkumar (ICF/Chennai)
Suresh Kumar (Cuddalore)
Suraj Bahadur (Nilgiris)

Coach – M Narayana Murthy (SAI, Chennai)
Manager – K Radha Krishnan (VP TFA)
Physio – Dr. Ragunath Manogaran

Mizoram Announce Santosh Trophy 2014-15 Squad

Mizoram, Football, Association, MFA, Soccer, Santosh Trophy, Assam, 2014, 2015Mizoram announced their 20 players squad for the 69th National Football Championships for the Santosh Trophy. The north-east zone matches will be played in Morigaon, Assam.

The seven states of North east India have been divided into two groups. Group A is consists of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh while Group B consists of three states – Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura.

Team :

Gks : Lalawmpuia, Malsawmtluanga

Defs: Ronald Zothanzama, Zothanpuia, Lalrinchhana, Lalrinzuala Khiangte, Lalruatthara , C Lalrosanga

Mid: Samson Ramengmawia, Ricky Lallawmawma, Lalruatdika, Lalbiakhlua, H. Lalmuankima, Johny Lalfakzuala, Laldingngheta

Fwds :  Lalruatfela Zote, Joseph Lalnunpuia, F. Lalrinpuia, Malsawmfela, Lalrinfela

Officials :
H. Vanltlathlanga (Coach), H.C. Zarzoliana (Assistant Coach), Lalbiakzuala (Manager)

Sikkim Announce Santosh Trophy 2014-15 Squad

Santosh Trophy, Football, South Zone, North-East Zone, East Zone, West Zone, North ZoneSikkim has announced a 20 member squad for the 69th Santosh Trophy Championship.

Sikkim has been placed in a group featuring Odisha, Railways and Chattisgarh at the zonal round being hosted at Jamshedpur. They play against Odisha on January 16, Railways on January 18 and Chattisgarh on January 20. Only one team will progress into the next round.

Team :

Goalkeepers: Karma Tshering Lepcha, Bimal Bagdas
Defence: Nim Tshering Lepcha, Amit Pariyar, Tema Lhendup Bhutia, Wangchuk Bhutia, Bishal Chettri, Dawa Lepcha
Midfield: Ong Tshering Lepcha (captain), Bikash Gurung, Roshan Pradhan, Suk Raj Limboo, Chandra Tamang, Sanjay Chettri, Sahenshah Ansari, Novin Gurung, Pappu Chettri
Fowards: Tenzin Tshepel Bhutia, Sishil Karthak, Sudesh Subba

Coach: Puspa Gurung Manager: Kamal Bagdas Asst Manager: Rakesh Gurung

Chandigarh Santosh Tophy 2014-15 Squad

Santosh Trophy, Football, South Zone, North-East Zone, East Zone, West Zone, North ZoneRahul Kumar will lead the Chandigarh team in the North Zone matches of the 69th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy to be held at the Guru Gobind Singh Stadium in Jalandhar from January 10.

Team :

Rahul Kumar  (Captain) Harbir Singh, Sudhir Kumar, Yadawinder Singh, Davinder, Nikhil Prashar, Kuldeep Anil, Akshay, Verinder, Navdeep Singh, Pawandeep Singh, Akash, Arshdeep Singh, Saurav Rothela, Manish, Sahibinder, Kulbir Singh, Lekhraj Singh, Abhijeet Singh and Hanish Patiyal.

Manager : Amit Kapoor

Punjab Announce Santosh Trophy 2014-15 Squad

Santosh Trophy, Football, South Zone, North-East Zone, East Zone, West Zone, North ZonePunjab Announce Santosh Trophy 2014-15 Squad. Defender Ravinder Singh will captain the team. North Zone matches will be held in Jalandhar starting January 10th.

Team:

Jagroop Singh, Harpreet Singh, Satbir Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Harjinder Singh, Sandeep Singh, Ravinder Singh (captain), Sarbjit Singh, Amarwant Singh, Ranjit Singh, Sunny, Sajandeep Singh, Prabhjot Singh, Gurtej singh (vice-captain), Prabhdeep Singh, Paramjit Singh, Ajay Singh, Manvir Singh, Taranjit Singh, Jaswinder Singh

Libero Sports India finalists in Football Business Awards 2014

Libero Sports, Football, Soccer, Football Business Awards, 2014, Business, Awards Libero Sports India Private Limited will become first ever business firm from India to get selected as a finalist for the  annual Football Business Awards.

Libero Sports, a football advisory and player representation firm from India is nominated under the Best Business Serving Football – up to £2m turnover (non professional service) category in the 2014 awards.

Football Business Awards instituted in 2012 is an annual networking and recognition platform involving various partners operating across the globe. The 2014 panel of judges include Kevin Keegan OBE (Former Player and Manager. Football Broadcaster) Alistair Mackintosh
(CEO, Fulham FC), Kenny MacLeod (Commercial Director, Scottish FA) among others.

This is a massive achievement for Libero Sports which was formed in 2010. It has grown considerably by involving in strategic consulting and other areas related to football in India and abroad.

Asian Games 2014 : Men’s Football Schedule

After all the uncertainty, Indian Football team will start their 2014 Asian Games 2014 sojourn on September 15th, when they take on a formidable opposition in UAE.  India is grouped along UAE and Jordan in Group G and their matches take place at the Hwaseong Stadium and the Incheon Munhak Stadium. Two teams will qualify to the round 16 from the group.

India, Football, Asian Games, 2014,  UAE, Jordan,  Group G, Indianfootball, Mens, Incheon

Indian Football team may miss out on Asian Games 2014

Asian Games, Football, India, Indianfootball, team, south koreaReports are surfacing that the Indian football team may miss out on participating in the upcoming Incheon Asian games 2014. With Indian Olympic Association submitting a bumper list of 900 people including athletes and officials, to the sports ministry for approval for travelling to the Sept. 19-Oct. 4 Games in the South Korean city of Incheon, sports ministry would be forced to prune the list.  

Lacklustre performance against Pakistan in the recently friendlies have also not helped the team’s chances. SAI director Jiji Thomson was in attendance at the Bangalore stadium when the Indian team comprising  mainly under-23 players took on the Pakistan team.  

Jiji Thomoson was quoted in Times of India saying  :

“I am a football fan and I was present at the match. I can only say that the performance was very disappointing,”

If the team is not cleared by the ministry, All India Football Federation would be forced to pay from their pockets to send the team for Asian games 2014. In an article in The Telegraph a senior official is quoted that the government will not bear the cost of the men’s and women’s football teams in the Asian Games 2014.

“A final decision would only be taken after a week, but there is every chance the government would not bear the cost of the men’s and women’s football teams in the Asian Games. Of course, the AIFF (All India Football Federation) can send the team on their own,” 

However this is not the first time that the football team is being forced out of Asian Games by government. In 1990 and 1994 the government had stopped the football team from going for the Asian Games.

Bengaluru FC are the I-League Champions

In an evenly contested match in Goa, Bengaluru FC outplayed Goan giants Dempo SC to become the champions of I-league. Considering this is the very first season for Bengaluru FC in I-league makes it even more special. I-League, since its inception in 2007 has never seen a champion other than Goan teams. Bengaluru FC has broken the monopoly of Goan teams in the league.

Many thanks to awesome matches and atmosphere at the Bangalore Football stadium. More over, hearty Congratulations to the crew at Bengaluru FC!

bengaluru fc, indianfootball, ileague, Bangalore, Football, Dempo SC, 2014, 2013-2014. Sunil Chhetri, India, Football, Soccer