This is a new era for both India and Stephen Constantine. A relatively fresh bunch of players in a fresh competition is cause for the kind of optimism that the national football team hasn’t induced in years.
Eight players have debuted in the two games the Englishman has overseen; a couple more could win their first caps when India meets Oman in the second round of AFC qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Thursday.
“We’ve had a group of players for the last three-four years who have been playing and, let’s not kid ourselves, have not given us the results,” Constantine said. “So obviously something is wrong, something needs to change, and that’s what I’m doing.”
This is thus an Indian team in transition, with wholesale changes to the side that drew with Nepal in Kathmandu in March. Arnab Mondal has been named captain which at once puts in doubt the participation of the goal-keeper Subrata Paul, who led the team in its last outing. The beanpole Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, whose stock has risen enormously since his move to Norway’s Stabaek, could start in goal.
Jhingan pulls outSandesh Jhingan will also be absent — for a long time — with a torn rotator cuff; he will need surgery, which is a big blow and leaves Mondal looking for a new partner in the centre of defence. Rino Anto ought to start at right-back while Dhanachandra Singh and Lalchhuanmawia will compete for the left-back spot.
Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Mohun Bagan’s Sehnaj Singh, still uncapped, may expect to start in central midfield. Jackichand Singh, declared the I-League’s best player, should get a chance on one wing, while it remains to be seen if the experience of Francis Fernandes or the vigour of Royal Wahingdoh’s Seityasen Singh will be preferred on other. There is no doubt that India is the underdog here. Oman is ranked 101 to India’s 141.
