SAFF Championship 2013: Maldives vs India – Three key individual battles

Indian footballers pose for a group picture before their SAFF Championship football match against Pakistan in Kathmandu on September 1, 2013. (Getty Images)

India take on Maldives in the semi-final of the SAFF Championship tomorrow and here are the three most important individual battles:

Ali Ashfaq vs. Arnab Mondal

With ten goals in two matches, Maldives skipper and talisman Ali Ashfaq is already the favourite to bag the individual accolades at SAFF Championship 2013.

Although India coach Wim Koevermans played down the importance of one player, there is no doubt that Ashfaq is the danger man for Maldives, and India will have to come up with a plan to stop the competition’s all-time highest scorer.

The idea should be to hunt Ashfaq in packs so the responsibility of stopping him won’t entirely be on one Indian player but one of the centre-backs has to get closer to him whenever he is in possession and that man could be young Arnab Mondal.

The East Bengal defender has shown glimpses of his potential in the group stage but his inexperience at international level has also been evident in some instances. But Arnab relishes facing quality opposition as he always raises his game against the better foreign strikers of the I-League.

The test against Ashfaq will be equally difficult, if not tougher, and Arnab possibly would have to play the best game of his career to negate the influence of the Maldives superstar. Ashfaq doesn’t have happy memories of playing against India recently as he has failed to score in his last three games against them, including the horror show against the U-23s in the 2009 final.

India would hope that the 28-year-old has another similar bad day in office but for that to happen Arnab must be at his best and avoid making basic mistakes, like going for the final tackle at every opportunity.

Mohamed Arif vs. Mehtab Hossain

Both teams play different formations but the battle in the middle of the park will be crucial as the Maldives players would be eager to provide adequate service for Ashfaq, while India’s midfield will have to work hard and protect the back four.

Both midfields will have to work as a unit but the personal duel between Arif and Mehtab could be decisive. Arif is an absolute powerhouse and his physique will give one the impression that he is a no-nonsense defensive midfielder.

But in truth the 28-year-old is equally creative and has the ability to play defence splitting passes. Arif has a strong left foot and thus can hurt teams if he is given time on the ball. Overall he has the complete midfield package and that is why India’s midfield general Mehtab has a daunting task.

The East Bengal man was far from his best at the group stage but will certainly relish the battle against a quality player like Arif and having three days’ of rest should rejuvenate him for a stronger performance.

India know that in order to stop Ashfaq they would have to control the midfield and limit Maldives to very few chances, hence Mehtab’s role will be vital. He failed to get the better of Adnan Ahmed in the first game against Pakistan and was subdued against Nepal.

It’s high time Mehtab steps up and produces a display fans expect him to. Arif would look to exploit any shortcomings in India’s midfield and if he is allowed to that Maldives will win this comfortably.

File Photo: Syed Rahim Nabi

Ali Fasir vs. Syed Rahim Nabi

Both players are equally versatile and that would make this individual dual very interesting. Fasir started in midfield against Sri Lanka but was used as a right wingback against Bhutan and is expcted to operate in that position according to the Maldives media.

That would put Fasir in direct confrontation with India’s reigning player of the year, Nabi, as he is likely to start in left midfield with Francis Fernandes making his return to the other flank. Fasir’s importance in the Maldives team was highlighted by the fact that he was rested in the final group game against Afghanistan.

Captain and superstar Ali Ashfaq was the only other player with that luxury. Fasir is a quick and creative player and thus would look to get into one-on-one situations with India’s left-back Nallappan Mohanraj, who has had a poor tournament so far.

Nabi will have to work extra hard and protect his fullback Mohanraj but the former East Bengal and Mohun Bagan man would also aim to get forward at every opportunity and expose Fasir, who according to maldivesoccer.com isn’t the best defensively.

Depending on how the game goes and India line-up, Maldives coach Istvan Urbanyi could use Fasir differently but he would be eager to exploit India’s left flank, which was a weak link in the group stage.

However that decision could turn in favour of India because they would surely put crosses in from the right flank for Nabi, who at South Asian level is almost unstoppable in the air. Fasir, who plays for New Radiant, will have to use all his experience to both stop Nabi and create chances from his overlapping runs.