Indian Football Team were handed a disappointing 3-0 loss at the hands of Uzbekistan in the AFC Asian Cup 2023. Uzbekistan comfortably secured the victory over India in a predominantly one-sided match with goals from Fayzullaev, Sergeev and Nasrullaev This encounter underscored a fundamental footballing truth demonstrated by the Central Asian giants: the importance of keeping it simple. However, the game must have opened Igor Stimac’s eyes to a number of matters that require urgent attention, That being said let us look at 5 important talking points from the India vs Uzbekistan game.
Lack of camps and good opponents during friendlies:
Head coach Igor Stimac has for long wanted a four-week-long campaign ahead of the AFC Asian Cup campaign. However, a tight domestic schedule did not let him have the national team at his disposal. Throughout the year, Indians have hardly played any team ranked higher than them and lack of preparedness was well evident in India’s approach towards the game.
Poor team choice from Igor Stimac:
While the time was not on Igor Stimac’s, team selection was. Keeping aside the fact that Indiia’s Asian Cup Campaign has been marred with injuries sidelining players like Anwar Ali and Sahal Abdul Samad, it is no brainer that Stimac has had some poor team selection. Attempting to adopt a more attacking approach, India made a concerted effort, but this had minimal impact on the Uzbekistan team.
Unstable Indian defence:
Indian defence was at their shambolic self as the Uzbek toyed with them taking advantage of every nook and cranny. Following a gritty performance against Australia, they are a much more difficult opponent than the 77-ranked Uzbeks. the Indian defence crumbled today. Defensively the marking was poor, and the keeping by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was below the par. As the defensive line retreated, the Uzbekistan team exploited the available space, allowing them to take unobstructed shots from outside the box. Playing two attacking full-backs, Igor Stimac, put the defensive stability at risk as Uzbeks kept pilling attacks.
Giant void in Indian Midfield:
India faced significant challenges in retaining possession in the midfield, frequently experiencing ball losses. This, in turn, provided ample opportunities for the Uzbek side to initiate attacks. The match witnessed widespread mispassing, underscoring a noticeable lack of coordination among Indian players. The absence of Sahal creates a void, with the primary supply line effectively severed.
Finishing woes continue:
India encountered a couple of opportunities, particularly when their high press unsettled goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov. Anirudh Thapa then delivered a commendable ball into the box, where Sunil Chhetri executed a dummy play to no avail. However, during this period, India lagged significantly behind the pace of the game. The slowdown in Uzbekistan’s performance in the second half allowed India to gain momentum. Rahul KP’s attempt hit the crossbar, and Rahul Bheke’s well-executed header was thwarted by a solid save. Unfortunately, these chances were too few and far between, as Uzbekistan adeptly fended off India with apparent ease. Despite these opportunities, India continues to grapple with persistent issues in finishing,
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