India's “Smash Destinations”

The excitement of India’s superb Nehru Cup victory refuses to subside yet. For a team that has been struggling with form since the beginning of the year and has been receiving more criticism than support, the Nehru Cup victory is rejuvenating. The change in approach of our team ever since Wim Koevermans stepped in is a visual treat for fans like me, and the victory against a 59^th ranked Cameroon has sent expectations sky high. And now with Wim stating that India must play more friendlies on FIFA dates to improve its rankings, the excitement just increases. As I went through the FIFA site checking out the rankings, I couldn’t help stare and sometimes even laugh at some nations above India in rankings (there are nations I never knew even existed above India)! I was immediately left thinking how it would be if the present Indian team played them, and I bet the results will be positive for us. The AIFF must definitely plan a trip for our boys to any of the following and let them SMASH the opponents down!

So here are India’s possible SMASH DESTINATIONS in the different corners of the world-

• EUROPE

Well this definitely is going to be challenging. However low ranked, the European nations still has an edge over India, just because they have the experience of playing the elite European powers. But still the present Indian team has the skill and coaching support to take them on and maybe even beat them. Take a look at the following list-

1. Luxemburg(110)
2. Malta(143)
3. Kazakhstan(145)
4. Liechtenstein(148)
5. Faroe Islands(153)

Come on! Don’t you think we can beat a team who has won just 1 game in 15 games across 3 years! That’s Faroe Islands for you. And the fact is that they have never played a team from Asia!

• CONCACAF

If you think that the European teams will be hard to take on, then why not take our boys to the West? The CONCACAF( North American nations) is dominated by Mexico and US, and now we know why! The CONCACAF is an association of 35 nations and you will be astonished to see those nations. Can’t imagine how FIFA give those 3 sure spots and a playoff spot in the World Cup to such a miserable football continent. Again, here we have nations of which we never heard of, nations that haven’t played against teams from other regions but are still above India in rankings. 10 teams are below India in rankings from this region. And it seems that the teams from this region above India, improve their ranking only by defeating these 10 nations! Catch the flight guys, its Smash Time!

1. St.Kitts and Nevis(113)
2. Belize(132)
3. Suriname(135)
4. St.Vincent and the Grenadines(143)
5. Aruba(157)
6. Curacao(165)

ARUBA?? CURACAO?? Wish India played World Cup Qualifications in CONCACAF!!

• OCEANIA

Another hunting ground for the Indian Team will be down South, In Oceania. Australia left the OFC a few years back, due to lack of competition, and even in such a group we have nations ranked higher than us! Ironic! The following nations are above us in rankings-

1. Tahiti(136)
2. New Caledonia(141)
3. Fiji(155)
4. Vanuatu(156)
5. Solomon Islands(159)

Critics would jump on me saying that Fiji defeated us twice when we played them the last time. But come on, that was in 2005! We even lost 3-0 to Pakistan during that phase. 7 years and a lot of change have gone by! We are now here to rule.

The list doesn’t end there. We have our own Asian teams too. And Africa also seems to be a good destination. Anyway the AIFF has all the possibilities to identify the right teams and play them and make leaps and bounds with our ranking. It is time that we show the football world that we aren’t as bad as you think! In fact we are way better than you can probably imagine! And to the nations on India’s Smash Destination list, all I got to say is-

“What are you people doing up there? Play us or come down kids!”