Depleted India get ready for Ajerbaijan clash

New Delhi: He doesn’t play but bears all the brunt; he doesn’t play but fingers are pointed at him. The trend worldwide stays the same – National Coach Savio Medeira stays no exception.

Less than 90 days ago, Savio and his ‘Blue’ had convincingly won the SAFF Championship at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium -- a tournament where a Blue-eyed boy of the ‘Blue’ won five consecutive Man-of-the-Match awards. A lot of transition has taken place in the ‘Blue’ since then. Defender extraordinary Mahesh Gawli and creative midfielder par excellence Climax Lawrence have announced their International Retirements and Savio backed a new look ‘Blue’ for the AFC Challenge Cup.

At the moment, very few stays willing to count with Savio; we don’t mind though. None among Nirmal Chhetri, Syed Rahim Nabi, Rocus Lamare, Lalrindika Ralte, Clifford Miranda and Sunil Chhetri started against Oman in the last International Friendly in Muscat. Add to that Jeje Lalpeklua; even if you all of a sudden remember that Subrata Pal is no more synonymous with the National Team any more as he has been missing from action for so long. Missing so many first-team players against Oman was a bad omen indeed.

“This is what football is all about. We need to be patient. The new boys will settle down,” Savio says, only to repeat: “But we need to be patient.”

Against Oman, ranked 95, “there were defensive lapses.” Against Azerbaijan, ranked 109, “we have to correct our mistakes,” Savio stresses. After all, this is India’s last International match prior to the AFC Challenge Cup.

For the record, India haven’t played Azerbaijan ever – this will be the first meeting among the two teams, that too at a neutral venue. “They are a strong side and we know they will come hard at us,” Savio added.

Savio is yet to decide on his starting XI. Midway into the season, it’s understandable, there are niggles and that puts Savio in a Catch 22 situation. “The intention stays to try as many players as possible,” he insists. But with India’s first match in the AFC Challenge Cup staying less than two weeks away, he may not be willing to take that risk which may rule out anyone from the AFC Challenge Cup.

Not many would want to put oneself in Savio Medeira’s shoes at the moment.

The kick-off is at 7pm (IST).