India go down fighting 2-5 against Bahrain

DOHA: India produced a dominant performance in the second half but went down fighting 2-5 against Bahrain in their second group match of the Asian Cup football tournament here on Friday.


India, who lost to Australia 0-4 in their first match on January 10, trailed 1-4 at the breather but rallied strongly in the second half to show that they are no pushovers though there is 51 places difference in the FIFA rankings between the two teams with Bahrain at 93rd.

With this loss, India expectedly were eliminated from the competition though they have one more match - against South Korea on January 18.

Bahrain striker Ismaeel Abdul Latif scored the tournament's first hat-trict, finding the target four times in the 16th, 19th, 35th and 77th minutes after his team-mate Faouzi Aaish had opened the account for his side in the eighth minute.

For India, Gouramangi Singh and Sunil Chhetri scored in the ninth and 51st minutes in the Group C match at the Al Sadd Stadium here.

In a fast-paced match, India tried to match their more fancied rivals, who missed out the bus for 2010 World Cup in play-off, but a goal-keeper misjudgement and constant pressure from their opponents saw them wilt and trail 1-4 at half time.

Egged on by a vocal 11,052 crowd at the 13,500-capacity stadium, mainly made up of Indians here, they regrouped and were the dominant side with the midfield combining well.

Strikers Chhetri and Abhishek Yadav, who started in place of Mohammed Rafi today, troubled the opposition defence many times.

Chhetri, in particular, was in the thick of things though he missed on a couple of chances.

India scored one goal through Chhetri in the second half, but they failed to use the opportunity of one-man advantage from the 62nd minute onwards and score more.

Bahrain's first goal scorer Faouzi Aatish was sent off by Malaysian referee Mohammed Abdul Razaq after he was booked for the second time in the match for diving without any foul.

Instead, India conceded a goal against the run of play to widen the margin of loss.

With this win, Bahrain, who lost to South Korea 1-2 in their opening match, stayed in contention for a quarterfinal berth. Ranked seventh in Asia, Bahrain play Australia on January 18.

The Indian defence of Gouramangi Singh, Anwar, Surkumar Singh and Syed Rahim Nabi were troubled by the fast Bahraini strike duo of John Jaycee and Abdul Latif several times in the first half.

India, who started promisingly, had some good moves and set piece chances but hardly troubled the Bahrain goal in the opening 45 minutes.

As early as the third minute, India almost took the lead but striker Sunil Chhetri missed the opportunity.

In a quick counterattack, Captain Climax Lawrence sent a precise aerial pass for Chhetri but the Indian strike's left-footer was tipped over the bar by Bahrain goalkeeper Mahmood Mansoor.

Two minutes later, however, Bahrain took the lead through a penalty kick after Climax brought down Faouzi Aaish who stepped up to convert it.

The near-capacity crowd at the Stadium rose on their feet with India equalising in the 10th minute through Gouramangi Singh.

Renedy Singh's measured free-kick from near the centre line was headed down by tall striker Abhishek Yadav for Gouramangi to shoot home.

The Indian euphoria, however, was shortlived as Bahrain scored twice in the space of four minutes.

In the 16th minute, Indian goalkepeer misjudged a harmless cross from the left and he allowed the ball to deflect from his legs for Bahrain striker Ismaeel Abdul Latif to fire home with a left-footer.

Three minutes later, Abdul Latif scored again with John Jaycee, who was left alone at the left side, setting him up with a cross.

Abdul Latif added another in the 35th minute after he was set up by Abdulla Al Dakeel with a nice flick.

Bob Houghton's boys fought back in the second session, just like they had stoutly defended against the Australians.

Six minutes into the second half, Renedy Singh, who came in second half against Australia but started today, got the better of his marker and then unleashed a powerful left-footer from the left top edge of the box.

The bullet shot beat the Bahraini goalkeeper but found the bar on its way. Abhishek Yadav headed in from the rebound only to find the bar again but Chhetri had all the time in the world to head home from another rebound.

Television replays showed the ball had already crossed the goal-line after hitting the crossbar from the Renedy shot.

In the 61st minute, Paul made a great save as he blocked a fierce shot from Abdula Al Dakeel in a one-on-one situation.

Chhetri had a go at the Bahrain goal in the 64th minute but he shot wide after being set up by Steven Dias. -PTI

India fall short of success, critics say

All it takes is a measuring tape to explain why India is a dwarf among giants dominating international soccer, critics of the national team say.

The world's second most populous nation has a rich history of the game but the team are an embarrassing 142nd in the FIFA rankings and Indians wonder every four years why they do not figure in the World Cup.

The national team did qualify for this month's Asian Cup -- after a 27-year gap that underlines their struggles even in the smaller continental pool -- but were soundly beaten 4-0 by Australia in their opening group match on Monday.

The popular notion is that opponents are literally head and shoulders above India because lack of height is a serious handicap for Indian soccer.

"To a large extent, height has been an issue in Indian soccer," veteran journalist and author Jaydeep Basu said.

"Look at the forward line. You have a 1.73-metre Bhaichung Bhutia, partnering Sunil Chhetri, who is 1.70. Going for the aerial ball, they stand no chance against taller defenders.

"In the defence, Deepak Mondal is not technically unsound but suppose India play England tomorrow and he has to mark Peter Crouch (2.01m)," said Basu, who has been following the game in the country for more than 25 years and has written an anecdotal history of Indian football.

"This is precisely why (national coach) Bob Houghton is scouting for taller players. I think the same logic explains the presence of Abhishek Yadav, a towering forward of limited ability, in the national team."

"Similarly, Subrata Paul is the bravest goalkeeper we have but Bob has the taller Arindam Bhattacharya in his scheme of things as well."

Player list

Houghton was given a list of 35 players when he took over in 2006 but one of the first things the journeyman coach did was to ask the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to invite taller players for trial. From them, he picked Micky Fernandes and Freddie Mascarenhas for a four-team tournament in Vancouver.

"Even the 1962 Asian Games champion Indian squad, arguably our best ever, had at least seven first-team players -- including Peter Thangaraj, Arun Ghosh, Chuni Goswami and Jarnail Singh -- who were near or over the six-foot (1.82-metre) mark," Basu said.

Manab Bhattacharya, a sports science officer who worked with the national team, submitted a proposal to the AIFF to start a centre to groom taller players but the federation did not show interest.

"We missed a trick there," Bhattacharya told Reuters. "A similar centre in Bangalore has done wonders for our volleyball team which now at least qualifies for the world championship, something we could not imagine earlier.

"I proposed a similar height-hunt project for Indian football. It would not have disturbed the existing set-up but could have been a source of a steady supply of talented, taller players," said Bhattacharya, who works with the Sports Authority of India.

The head of Premier League Arsenal's soccer school Paul Shipwright, however, is not convinced by these arguments even though he is baffled by India's lack of progress in soccer.

"It does surprise me that a country of one billion is outside the top 100 (in the FIFA rankings)," Shipwright, who recently visited New Delhi, told Reuters.

Good Technique

"It's not that India is not a sporting nation. See the Commonwealth Games: they beat everyone in cricket and ruled the world in field hockey. I think they just have not concentrated on soccer.

"A lot of people do say this (lack of height being a disadvantage) but I'm not convinced. Look at the Arsenal team, they are not all towering players. See (Andre) Arshavin, he is not a giant. Players like (Lionel) Messi are short but strong."

Russian Arshavin stands 1.72 metres, while Argentine Messi is 1.69. Andres Iniesta, who scored Spain's winning goal in last year's World Cup final, is 1.70, taller by some three centimetres than Argentina's former World Cup hero Diego Maradona.

"I don't like it when people say India is lagging because the players here are short," Shipwright said. "This is more of an excuse. I have seen some of the Indian boys who are really big and height does not matter as long as you have got a good technique."

Basu concedes there may be other reasons for India's lack of success.

"People talk about great players who are short, about the advantage of having a low point of gravity and how Spain's World Cup triumph in South Africa proves lack of height is no real handicap.

"I think India's problem is different. Our players are neither strong nor skilled enough to completely negate the height factor.

"The fact remains, we need footballers who are both skilled and tall and you just cannot compromise in either of these two aspects." -REUTERS

FIFA WC: Russia and Qatar land World Cups

Russia and Qatar have won the rights to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively as announced by FIFA on Thursday in Zurich.

England's roller-coaster campaign to host the 2018 World Cup ended in bitter and controversial defeat.

FIFA's executive committee voted to give the tournament to Russia ahead of England, Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium.

England looked to have suffered from a backlash against corruption investigations into FIFA members by BBC Panorama and the Sunday Times over the last two months.

These investigations were criticised both by Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin yesterday and Spain/Portugal bid president Angel Villar Llona in his presentation to fellow FIFA members on Thursday.

Villar Llona: said: "I love FIFA dearly but those I love the most are my colleagues in the ExCo.

"Recently we have been criticised by many media outlets. Unfortunately for them FIFA is a clean institution.

"FIFA values honesty, FIFA works for football and for the world and all my colleagues here present are all honest, hard-working football people and the people not here are also honest and hard-working.

"You have already heard enough slander in the media, the bidding process is clean regardless of what they say."

Six FIFA officials were last month suspended following a Sunday Times investigations and on Monday BBC Panorama claimed three other FIFA members had taken bribes in the 1990s.

The defeat comes despite an impressive presentation by England that was described by FIFA president Sepp Blatter as "excellent and remarkable".

Prince William, David Cameron and David Beckham all sparkled but were all outshone by 27-year-old Eddie Afekafe, who works on Manchester City's community programmes.

Afekafe explained how football had changed his life before introducing the prince to the 22 FIFA executive committee members.

William then said: "I love football, we English love football and it would be an honour for us to host the World Cup."

Beckham had made an emotional pitch, drawing on memories of his grandad Joe who died a year ago today, just before he took part in the South African World Cup draw in Cape Town.

Beckham said: "My life in football began with my grandad Joe. A year ago today my grandad died, the day before the draw. Now I want to do something that will make my grandad proud.

"Now I want to do more. Our dream is to stage a World Cup that benefits billions, that makes you, your grandchildren and everyone in football truly proud."

Earlier, Cameron had highlighted the Government's support and a commercial success for the tournament, and said England's bid would deliver for players, fans and FIFA.

Handed the World Cup by Blatter, Russian deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov celebrated, saying: "You have entrusted us with the Fifa World Cup for 2018 and I can promise, we all can promise, you will never regret it.

"Let us make history together."

Major of London Boris Johnson told reporters that, according to information he had received about the voting, England had been knocked out in the first round.

Meanwhile, Qatar will host the World Cup finals for the first time after FIFA awarded them the rights to the 2022 tournament.

Qatar beat bids from Australia, the United States and 2004 World Cup co-hosts Japan and South Korea.

The FIFA executive committees' decision comes as a slight surprise after the US and Australia bids had been highly-fancied.

Qatar's staging of the tournament had come in for some criticism because of the weather in the country during June and July - when temperatures can rise as high as 50 degrees Celsius - while the close proximity of the stadiums had also raised some questions.

Qatar's success in Thursday's vote comes just over a month before they are schedule to host the Asian Cup finals.