'Since forever, India have conspired to throw away Sunil Chhetri's best moments.'
These words, written on these very pages in 2022, were followed by that of a positive change in Indian football. Sahal Abdul Samad's late winner against Afghanistan sent India into the AFC Asian Cup and heralded what felt like the dawn of the post-Sunil Chhetri era.
Two years on, and Chhetri was left with his head in his hands, as full-time blew against Afghanistan. There was no salvaging this -- India had conspired to throw away another Sunil Chhetri moment, and it all felt horribly familiar, a regression.
It had looked so different in the 38th minute of the game. Chhetri, taking advantage of a moment of madness from Afghanistan captain, the retiring (for now) Haroon Amiri's raised arm to prevent Manvir Singh's cross from landing on Chhetri's head a yard out. The penalty was stonewall, the destination and outcome almost pre-determined. Sunil Chhetri doesn't fail India.
And he didn't. The ball, arrowed into the bottom left corner from the spot, sent Guwahati (and India) into raptures. Goal no. 94 and scoring in his 150th match for the nation, after having done so in his first, 25th, 50th, 75th, 100th and 125th caps. This was a storybook moment -- an Indian side that hadn't found the net in close to ten hours prior were being dragged kicking and screaming towards a somewhat unearned victory -- by their captain, leader and legend.
Except Igor Stimac's India failed Sunil Chhetri.
The threat of Afghanistan always hung heavy in the Guwahati air. The 1-0 lead looked nervy, India struggling to deal with Afghanistan's wingers and roaming attacking midfielders -- Taufee Skandari and Rahmat Akbari in particular, while Jabar Sharza was turning in a typical #9 display while wearing 10 on his shirt.
The absolute perfect moment then, to take off an inspirational figure when every other player on the pitch was misfiring. Chhetri looked in disbelief while watching his number go up on the touchline, but ever the consummate professional, quietly accepted his fate and handed the armband over, before a perfunctory handshake with his manager.
68 minutes on the clock, India leading 1-0, 7 points in Group A, the third round was beckoning. And then it all went wrong as Chhetri watched in horror from the sidelines.
Despite the nervy lead and India struggling to deal with Afghanistan's threat, they were dealing with Afghanistan's threat. Stimac's decision to make three changes at one go was baffling, especially given the potential to disrupt their shape. It didn't take long, three minutes later, Anwar Ali and Subhasish Bose were scrambling to get back and get blocks in as the ball pinged around in the box, before falling to Akbari's feet.
All game long, Akbari had found the space to let fly from range. In a strange choice, whether by instruction or not, India's defensive midfielders had not closed him down while he was shooting. Akbari had warned India in Abha five days ago, hitting the crossbar from range, but clearly Stimac and his side had not done their homework.
Even if multiple reports will claim that Rahul Bheke had deflected Akbari's strike, the truth was the Afghanistan midfielder's strike was pure (and heading into the net) and all Bheke managed to do as the ball went through his legs was take some pace off it... and trickle into the net. Almost as if to taunt Chhetri further.
India did have their chances thereafter, but Stimac's steadfast refusal to blood new youngsters or pick players in form in the ISL came back to bite him. Vikram Partap Singh was the lone candidate that fit those criteria, but his introduction in the 85th minute couldn't change much -- Afghanistan were on top by then.
Substitute Siar Sadat was causing havoc and capped it off in the 88th minute, latching onto a long ball before a charging Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the resulting contact had the referee point to the spot. Sharif Mukhammad, who's no stranger to Indian shores, smiled as he stepped up to face Gurpreet and made no mistake from the spot.
2-1, the lead now Afghanistan's. All of Stimac's bravado ahead of both the games against Ashley Westwood's side reduced to a goalless draw and a deserved loss.
The celebrations of Afghanistan as the final whistle blew were a painful contrast -- Westwood being felicitated by a group that includes four starters without a club. The Englishman had never once complained ahead of the games against India regarding the player boycott -- instead choosing to close the door on them and being happy with what he was given. No wonder then, that Amiri interrupted Westwood's post-match interview yelling, 'LOVE YOU BOSS!' Igor Stimac, meanwhile, had no qualms throwing his players under the bus and repeated his demand of wanting longer camps.
The Croatian had claimed he would leave his position if India did not make the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. A scenario that's a potential reality now, because his old bad habits came to the fore, and so did India's. There's still time to turn things around against Kuwait in June, but it needs a level of introspection from a coach that refuses to do so.