India's best chance to come close to qualifying for the FIFA world cup
The 2014 FIFA world cup is almost four years away. To be held in the land of 'Joga Bonito' , in what will certainly be a samba carnival, presents India with it's best chance to get close to qualifying for the most watched event in television history.
But for India and it's new breed of footballers, the beginning ( or end ) of that dream will come between June 29 and July 5th when they square off in a home and away format against the UAE. Having tasted the flavour of competetive international football in the recently concluded Asian Cup, the feeling must still be lingering in the young and upcoming legs of Indian football.
So here's how it's going to work.In all there are going to be 5 rounds of qualification. Australia,South Korea,Japan,North Korea and Bahrain have been seeded top 5 and will compete directly from the third round of qualification.
The first round will be playoffs between teams seeded 28th upwards to 43 (43 being the total number of asian nations vying for qualification). The winners of these playoffs will square off against teams seeded 6th to 27th in the second round. India is seeded 27th and have drawn formidable UAE for their second round match.
The winners of the second round, 15 of them, will join the top 5 seeds in the third round. A total of these twenty teams will be clubbed into 5 pools of 4 teams each and will play each other in a home and away format.
The top two teams from each of these pools will then be drawn into two pools of 5 teams each for the fourth round of the qualifying. The first and second placed teams from each pool will earn an entry into the 2014 FIFA world cup. The two third placed teams from each pool will have a play-off to be the fifth guaranteed Asian entry at the FIFA world cup of 2014. The loser of this match still has a chance, provided he wins the play-off against an opponent from another confederation.
So with 6 slots up for grabs and India already in the second round, there is a very good chance of making it to the fourth round. Although the first hurdle against the UAE is a tough one, if India plays with the same heart it did against Australia and South Korea in the recent world cup and infused with the talent and energy of young colts we stand a very good chance of overcoming the UAE.
The formation of the Indian U-21 team to take part as the Indian Arrows in the I-league is a good step which is already beginning to produce exciting talent ready to don national colours. Two of the names that are already standing out are Jejelalpheklua and Jewel Raja. The under 23 team is brimming with talent having done well in last year's Asian games as well as the ongoing Olympic Qualifier.
This is an interesting time for Indian football. We have to watch and see if players like Bhaichung Bhutia,Climax Lawrence and few other veterans will be gracious enough to pave the way for youngsters. India football has a good run in the recent past and getting knocked out in the second round of qualification itself will pour cold water on our footballing ambitions. But if Bob Houghton manages to take the team even to the fourth round of qualifications, it will herald a footballing wave in the country.
Please mark my words, this is the decade that will witness India rise prominently in the world of sport. Good luck boys and girls.
But for India and it's new breed of footballers, the beginning ( or end ) of that dream will come between June 29 and July 5th when they square off in a home and away format against the UAE. Having tasted the flavour of competetive international football in the recently concluded Asian Cup, the feeling must still be lingering in the young and upcoming legs of Indian football.
So here's how it's going to work.In all there are going to be 5 rounds of qualification. Australia,South Korea,Japan,North Korea and Bahrain have been seeded top 5 and will compete directly from the third round of qualification.
The first round will be playoffs between teams seeded 28th upwards to 43 (43 being the total number of asian nations vying for qualification). The winners of these playoffs will square off against teams seeded 6th to 27th in the second round. India is seeded 27th and have drawn formidable UAE for their second round match.
The winners of the second round, 15 of them, will join the top 5 seeds in the third round. A total of these twenty teams will be clubbed into 5 pools of 4 teams each and will play each other in a home and away format.
The top two teams from each of these pools will then be drawn into two pools of 5 teams each for the fourth round of the qualifying. The first and second placed teams from each pool will earn an entry into the 2014 FIFA world cup. The two third placed teams from each pool will have a play-off to be the fifth guaranteed Asian entry at the FIFA world cup of 2014. The loser of this match still has a chance, provided he wins the play-off against an opponent from another confederation.
So with 6 slots up for grabs and India already in the second round, there is a very good chance of making it to the fourth round. Although the first hurdle against the UAE is a tough one, if India plays with the same heart it did against Australia and South Korea in the recent world cup and infused with the talent and energy of young colts we stand a very good chance of overcoming the UAE.
The formation of the Indian U-21 team to take part as the Indian Arrows in the I-league is a good step which is already beginning to produce exciting talent ready to don national colours. Two of the names that are already standing out are Jejelalpheklua and Jewel Raja. The under 23 team is brimming with talent having done well in last year's Asian games as well as the ongoing Olympic Qualifier.
This is an interesting time for Indian football. We have to watch and see if players like Bhaichung Bhutia,Climax Lawrence and few other veterans will be gracious enough to pave the way for youngsters. India football has a good run in the recent past and getting knocked out in the second round of qualification itself will pour cold water on our footballing ambitions. But if Bob Houghton manages to take the team even to the fourth round of qualifications, it will herald a footballing wave in the country.
Please mark my words, this is the decade that will witness India rise prominently in the world of sport. Good luck boys and girls.
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