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Indian football on right track: Coach Constantine

Only a year-and-a-half ago, India were ranked No. 173 in the world

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With the Indian football team having climbed four places to No. 96 in the FIFA World Rankings released last Thursday — the country's best in 21 years — it has given football fans in the country a reason to celebrate.

Only a year-and-a-half ago, India were ranked No. 173 in the world, and broke into the top 100 in June. Away wins against Myanmar and Cambodia, coupled with back-to-back victories against Nepal and Kyrgyz Republic in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, ensured the team scaled greater heights.

There has been a consistent rise in India's FIFA ranking over the last year, ever since Stephen Constantine took charge of the team.

FIFA rankings are such that every team in the world has to plan well in advance to better them. For example, FIFA has a separate window for playing friendlies, and a team can get maximum points if it plans their matches accordingly.

Thus, a team like India, which is down in the rankings chart, needs to carefully plan its friendlies at least a year in advance.

This was not done till a year ago because the All India Football Federation (AIFF) coaches or administrators had no idea how to go about it.

However, ever since Constantine took over as head coach, the ranking business has been taken seriously. Apart from Constantine, a few AIFF officials also have considerable understanding of how the FIFA ranking works.

"When I took over, I had mentioned that my target was to ensure India ranks within the top 100," Constantine said. "I am happy to have played a small part in this process. Kudos to the boys, the staff and a big thank you to my colleagues in AIFF for supporting us throughout."

However, India have also had to deal with a set of challenges. Like in the case with cricket in Zimbabwe, no top team wants to tour that country for specific reasons. Likewise, Indian football has had to cough up more money in order to attract higher-ranked teams, apart from spending on other logistics. Each time AIFF hosts a team, it has to spend about Rs 45-50 lakh per friendly.

Constantine & Co had advised the AIFF in 2016 to attract better ranked teams in order to improve the team's ranking ahead of the 2019 Asian Cup qualifications, which began in 2017.

And that's where AIFF needs to be credited for arranging matches against Bhutan, as well as a home game against Puerto Rico, despite not boasting the kind of money that the Board of Control for Cricket in India does.

Challenges ahead

If one goes by rankings, then India are ahead of teams like Iraq and Jordan. This, however, does not show the real picture, for both these teams can beat India at will on most occasions.

"The present FIFA spot does not mean that we have achieved much. We need to stay focused to face upcoming challenges," Constantine said, adding that his next goal is to ensure India qualifies for 2019 AFC Asian Cup in UAE.

That said, India's ranking of No. 96 now puts the side among the elite 16 teams in Asia. This, in turn, will help India get a favourable draw in the World Cup or Olympic or Asian Games qualifiers, or in any Asian football championship.

India, in all probability, will have some breathing space now if they are not pitted against Asian powerhouses like Iraq, Iran and Japan to avoid early elimination. But the road to inch closer to a team like Iran, which leads the Asian ranking list at No. 23, is is tougher and more complex.

MAKING STRIDES

  • India has registered wins against Myanmar, Cambodia, Nepal and Kyrgyz Republic, ensuring the team scaled greater heights.
     
  • There has been a consistent rise in India’s FIFA ranking over the last year.
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