SAFF Championship 2013 Preview: India vs Nepal

Venue: Dasarath Stadium, Kathmandu, Nepal

Kickoff: Thursday, September 5 2013, 03:15pm IST

Point Needed

India’s performances so far at SAFF Championship 2013 have been far from convincing but their position in Group A could have been disastrous had Pakistan taken their chances in the first game or if Sunil Chhetri had not scored an injury time equaliser against Bangladesh. As it stands though, India needs only a point in this game to progress to the semi-finals, although they would qualify as second. Only a win would see them top the group.

Coach Wim Koevermans has been heavily criticised by most of the travelling Indian journalists and also back home by fans and former players. The criticism has largely surrounded the exclusion of reigning AIFF Player of the Year Syed Rahim Nabi and the inclusion of Nallappan Mohanraj at left back. To make matters worse, some sections of the media have also highlighted a petty verbal spat between Mohanraj and Mehtab Hossain after the Bangladesh game to suggest that team spirit is nowhere near great at the India camp.

Indian football fans would hope that the players and coach don’t get affected by such negativity but the performances have to improve. While the first half showing against Bangladesh was much better than it was against Pakistan, India’s performance in the second half yesterday wasn’t good enough. The reason behind it could be fatigue, as Koevermans’ side had one less day to prepare for the game but an Indian team shouldn’t use that as an excuse to beat Bangladesh. At least that’s what the fans feel.

However, it is important to remember that the national team has gone backwards in the last two years and are in transition while other teams in South Asia have improved. So, while India were among the pre-tournament contenders, none of their matches even at SAFF 2013 should be expected to be straightforward and the clash against Nepal is possibly the toughest as the hosts will have the ‘12^th man’ behind them.

Koevermans’ side buckled under pressure in similar circumstances at the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in March as they failed to get the draw that was needed against hosts Myanmar to qualify. The Dutchman would hope that his team have learned from their mistakes and will step up in this game. History tells us that India have often started the group stage in this competition unconvincingly before peaking in the latter stages.

Going by India’s first two displays, they can’t play any worse but Koevermans might have to bring in a few fresh legs to ensure that they get a result. Topping the group may not be that important considering that both Afghanistan and Maldives are strong on paper, but India should approach the game looking for a win. Skipper Sunil has been uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal but has had very little support also. The passionate home support will make life even more difficult for this out-of-form India side but they have enough quality to get three points and qualify for the semis as group winners.

Home Advantage

Many local experts in Nepal believe that Nepal were a stronger side in the last edition in 2011 when they reached the semi-finals and didn’t lose a game in 90 minutes. But the class of 2013 have something which the 2011 team didn’t have and that is home advantage. While most nations in the sub-continent fail to attract audiences even for national team matches, both of Nepal’s games were witnessed by a capacity crowd at the Dasarath Stadium and that will surely be repeated for this game with thousands also expected to watch on television.

India, being the favourites and record champions, have always been the team to beat in this tournament and they can expect a hostile reception from the locals, who are determined to see Nepal win this game. When the draw was made, this was the most anticipated fixture in Nepal and now, of course, has plenty riding on it for both teams.

The Pakistan and Bangladesh contingents will have fears of this game ending in a draw, a result that would take both India and Nepal through to the last four. But unlike in 2011, both group A matches will kick off simultaneously and thus there will be nerves among both Nepal and India players because whoever loses the game could bow out of the tournament.

Although Nepal failed to beat Pakistan in their last game, they actually produced a better display than the one against Bangladesh, which they won 2-0. Nepal will depend heavily on home support but against Pakistan, they showed their quality and mental strength as they kept going and scored a deserved equaliser in stoppage time. While India still need a win to top the group, a draw will be enough for Nepal. Thus, they don’t have to go out and take the initiative, something which they have done in their first two games.

But having watched India in the first two games, Nepal will surely not be afraid to have a go at the defending champions. The hosts have looked dangerous in this tournament when they have been on the front foot, so although they only need a draw, coach Jack Stefanowski could be going for all three points as it would also enhance their self-belief.

The Polish-American coach, though, has to ensure that his players don’t get carried away and will be aware that the Indian team too will be desperate for a good performance. Nepal are placed 25 spots below India in the FIFA Rankings but the performances of the sides in their first two games gives one a different impression. With the support of more than 22,000, Nepal have every chance of walking away with maximum points from this.

Form Guide

India: WLLWD

The draw against Bangladesh means India have won only three out of seven games in foreign shores under Wim Koevermans. They have also suffered successive away defeats against Singapore, Myanmar and Tajikistan. Koevermans would feel his side are due a win in an environment where their opponents will have all the support.

Nepal: WLDWD

Nepal’s results under Jack Stefanowski have been a mixed bag but on a positive note in this tournament, they have been able to find the back of the net in both games. They held India to a goalless draw when the sides last met in the 2012 Nehru Cup but were beaten 1-0 in the last SAFF Championship meeting in 2009.

Team News

India

Wim Koevermans has hit out at the tournament schedule several times already but is unlikely to make too many changes as qualification to the semi-finals isn’t sealed yet. The big worry for the Dutchman is that India’s best player in the tournament so far, Francis Fernandes, is carrying a knock and didn’t train on Wednesday at all. He could be replaced by Syed Rahim Nabi.

Probable XI – Subrata Pal; Nirmal Chettri, Gouramangi Singh, Arnab Mondal, Nallappan Mohanraj; Syed Rahim Nabi, Lenny Rodrigues, Mehtab Hossain, Jeje Lalpekhlua; Jewel Raja; Sunil Chhetri.

Nepal

Jack Stefanowski also has a couple of serious injury worries as the star duo of Anil Gurung and Jagjeet Shrestha didn’t train on Wednesday. While Anil could still make the starting eleven, there are huge question marks about ‘Nepali Messi’, Jagjeet. It would be interesting to see how much action 15-year-old Bimal Gharti Magar gets after his heroics against Pakistan.

Probable XI: Kiran Chemjong ; Biraj Mahajan, Sandip Rai, Sagar Thapa, Robin Shrestha; Bhola Nath Silwal, Raju Tamang, Rohit Chand, Jumanu Rai; Anil Gurung, Bharat Khawas.

Player To Watch

India – Sunil Chhetri

Despite some poor finishing in the first two games, India’s captain remains the team’s biggest goal threat and match winner. Sunil would be hoping to score from his first chance in this game so that the team settles down in a bid to get a positive result and progress to the semi-finals.

Nepal – Bharat Khawas

Due to the fitness concerns of Anil Gurung, Khawas will have a lot more responsibility on his shoulders. The 21-year-old was brilliant against Bangladesh but couldn’t maintain that level in the Pakistan game and thus would be determined for a strong showing against India.