Igor Stimac, the outspoken coach of the Indian football team, expressed confidence in the progress of Indian football, stating that it is “definitely out of its slumber.” However, he cautioned against setting lofty expectations as India gears up for the Asian Cup in Qatar starting this Friday.
Despite being a cricket-dominated nation with a population of 1.4 billion, Stimac, a former West Ham and Derby defender, believes that Indian football is making strides.
“A giant is definitely out of its slumber now,” declared Stimac, but he added a note of realism, saying, ” But I reckon it will take another four years to enter the top 10 in Asia”.
Under Stimac’s guidance, India secured qualification for the Asian cup with three wins from three matches against Hong Kong, Afghanistan , and cambodia. However, the road ahead is challenging, with India drawn against 25-th ranked Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria in the group stage.
“We are far from being happy with the draw, but it is what it is” , stimac commented in an email interview. He expressed concern about the short preparation time and injuries to key players but affirmed the team’s commitment to giving their best.
Stimac highlighted India’s shortcoming in previous tournament, having never progressed beyond the group phase in their four previous Asian Cup appearances. They also face the uphill task of qualifying for the World Cup.
The coach acknowledged challenges, including a 3-0 loss to reigning Asian champions Qatar in World Cup qualifying, injuries to key players, and controversial refereeing in friendly matches against Malaysia and Iraq. Stimac, known for his straightforward approach, emphasized the need for improvement in refereeing standards in Asian football.