Oman 1-0 India: 5 Talking Points & Tactical Analysis

#3 India again lacklustre in possession

Brandon Fernandes

A few days ago, against Afghanistan, India enjoyed the majority of the possession but were unable to carve out the adequate number of chances. On Tuesday though, the tables were turned as the Blue Tigers were made to work hard defensively as Oman controlled the ball and kept pushing and probing.

However, whenever the visitors got hold of the ball, they seemed bereft of ideas and severely lacked imagination. On countless occasions, Brandon Fernandes got in between the centre-backs to collect passes and distribute the play. Yet, he wasn’t accorded enough passing avenues, meaning that he had to launch aimless balls forward.

And, though that tactic worked a few times, courtesy Manvir Singh’s hold-up capabilities, it was a strategy Oman were happy defending against.

More alarmingly though, the Indians failed to showcase patience and were intent to hoof the ball into the offensive third, rather than trying to break through the hosts’ defensive line. Consequently, their forwards were left feeding off scraps.

Additionally, there was a lack of movement on the offensive players’ part, thereby enabling Oman to cut out passing lanes and prevent India from progressing vertically.

At the start of Stimac’ tenure, the Blue Tigers displayed the courage and bravery the Croatian had preached at the time of appointment. And, while those aspects come to the fore every now and then, the Indians need to start imposing that brand of football more often and against sides stronger than them.