Football is one of the sports to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic massively. While the financial ramifications of the wiped out calendar are unprecedented, football is slowly coming back to life with Bundesliga’s resumption. Indian football, meanwhile, saw the final of Indian Super League (ISL) 2020 being played behind closed doors just when the dreaded virus had made its presence felt in India but since then it has been a complete stop when it comes to playing matches or even training outdoors given the strict lockdown measures.&nbsp;

Indian football team’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier against defending Asian Champions Qatar has been already postponed and the future calendar when it comes to international matches still remains under dark clouds.&nbsp;

India National Team coach Igor Stimac, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, discussed how the pandemic impacted his plans, the structure of Indian football and many more.

“I was joking that if there is someone that will benefit from this Covid-19 break then it is Indian football as we are used to long breaks. We have a break of 6-7 months every year and we should not have a problem with injuries as the players are used to this pause”, Stimac said.

<img alt="Igor Stimac: Indian team has changed from kick and chase football to a more possession based game." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="360690ad-57cb-41dd-a4f8-c66ff97edfc7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_DV1447642.jpg" />

Since Stimac took over the charge of the Indian football team, the Blue Tigers have had some inspirational performances on the pitch, the most notable ones being the goalless draw against Qatar (away) and 1-1 stalemate against Afghanistan (away). While there have been disappointments in the form of 1-1 draw against Bangladesh in front of a capacity crowd in Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, the Indian football team has shown a lot of improvement when it comes to playing a positive brand of football and scrapping the long-ball tactics in big matches.&nbsp;

Stimac is of the view that building a team for the future takes time as most of the players are young and lacking confidence. However, the Croatian is not content with some of the results from the 2022 World Cup qualifiers as he said that the lack of experience and charismatic decisions cost India.&nbsp;

“I am excited even much more than before after 12 Months as India Coach. We have proved that we can change many things in such a short time. The task was not easy to change from a kick and chase football to a more possession-based football. We have introduced many young players with more technical abilities. It was not easy and we knew we were going to suffer but this was the only way to stabilise the results in the future,” Stimac said.

"We are building up a new team which should achieve its high level in the next 4-5 years. We have 25 players who are between 18-23 years old. I am not happy with regards to the results as we were expecting some more points from the Qualification Tournament. Looking back we did not take our opportunities. I thought we could surprise Oman but lack of experience and lack of charismatic decisions on the field cost us. India is no longer the team that loses easy games, but we are not scoring enough goals,” he added.

<img alt="Igor Stimac: Indian team has changed from kick and chase football to a more possession based game." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cedad619-5ad1-4669-802a-a3c0f380baae" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1LE5PL.jpg" />

The 1998 FIFA World Cup semifinalist Stimac has been pretty vocal about reducing the number of foreign players in India’s domestic tournaments like ISL and I-League for the betterment of Indian talent. Stimac further revealed that the footballing authorities are in talks with the Indian government about citizenship regulations for players.&nbsp;

“I am feeling depressed and tired at repeatedly saying we have to reduce the number of foreign players in Indian domestic football. It will take time to grow up as a football nation, the season has to be longer for players to play much more games than now. If the Government can change the citizenship regulations, then we can get 7-8 players of Indian origin who are playing abroad and that would change our results dramatically”.

The Croatian also elaborated why the season for Indian Football should be longer&nbsp;compared to other domestic seasons across the world. “We have been working behind closed doors on many aspects. One is regarding the selection of players. We have been talking to the government to change the citizenship regulations. We were also in touch with FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) to increase the length of the season and also to have a long-term calendar season plus the need to restructure the Durand Cup and the Super Cup. Going forward what will be crucial is the number of games. We cannot stop our season at the end of February and football needs to be played until mid-May. I am told that it cannot happen as it overlaps with the broadcast of the IPL but broadcast is not important, what is important is that players play more games to improve their football and bring more quality to the national team,”

<img alt="Igor Stimac: Indian team has changed from kick and chase football to a more possession based game." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9bf1cba7-f30d-4ccc-a8ba-8ee367d04ea7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_1LE5WQ.jpg" />

Stimac had big plans for the Indian team for the year 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered everything. The Croatian said that India were scheduled to go to Turkey and Croatia in April and May for pre-season training camps and play 10 friendly matches only for the dreaded virus to wipe off the sporting calendar and the plans.&nbsp;

“The pandemic has destroyed the plans we had made which were accepted by both the government and the AIFF. We were to go on pre-season training camps to Turkey and Croatia in April and May and we were supposed to play ten friendly games. We are now using this time to improve the education of our players including theoretical points and I am very happy that the players are all following individual training plans that we have sent them and communicating daily on our team groups”.

“The pandemic could see certain rules and regulations be changed globally to rely on home-grown players. This is the perfect opportunity for India to dramatically change the structure of Indian Football. Half the ISL clubs are facing financial difficulties and if all the clubs are not on the same level financially then what is the point of the competition. The competition is good only if everyone starts with the same amount of money and the same regulations,” the Head Coach concluded.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Football is one of the sports to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic massively. While the financial ramifications of the wiped out calendar are unprecedented, football is slowly coming back to life with Bundesliga’s resumption.

Football is one of the sports to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic massively. While the financial ramifications of the wiped out calendar are unprecedented, football is slowly coming back to life with Bundesliga’s resumption. Indian football, meanwhile, saw the final of Indian Super League (ISL) 2020 being played behind closed doors just when the dreaded virus had made its presence felt in India but since then it has been a complete stop when it comes to playing matches or even training outdoors given the strict lockdown measures. Indian football team’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier against defending Asian Champions Qatar has been already postponed and the future calendar when it comes to international matches still remains under dark clouds. India National Team coach Igor Stimac, in an exclusive interview with WION’s Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, discussed how the pandemic impacted his plans, the structure of Indian football and many more. “I was joking that if there is someone that will benefit from this Covid-19 break then it is Indian football as we are used to long breaks. We have a break of 6-7 months every year and we should not have a problem with injuries as the players are used to this pause”, Stimac said. Since Stimac took over the charge of the Indian football team, the Blue Tigers have had some inspirational performances on the pitch, the most notable ones being the goalless draw against Qatar (away) and 1-1 stalemate against Afghanistan (away). While there have been disappointments in the form of 1-1 draw against Bangladesh in front of a capacity crowd in Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, the Indian football team has shown a lot of improvement when it comes to playing a positive brand of football and scrapping the long-ball tactics in big matches. Stimac is of the view that building a team for the future takes time as most of the players are young and lacking confidence. However, the Croatian is not content with some of the results from the 2022 World Cup qualifiers as he said that the lack of experience and charismatic decisions cost India. “I am excited even much more than before after 12 Months as India Coach. We have proved that we can change many things in such a short time. The task was not easy to change from a kick and chase football to a more possession-based football. We have introduced many young players with more technical abilities. It was not easy and we knew we were going to suffer but this was the only way to stabilise the results in the future,” Stimac said. "We are building up a new team which should achieve its high level in the next 4-5 years. We have 25 players who are between 18-23 years old. I am not happy with regards to the results as we were expecting some more points from the Qualification Tournament. Looking back we did not take our opportunities. I thought we could surprise Oman but lack of experience and lack of charismatic decisions on the field cost us. India is no longer the team that loses easy games, but we are not scoring enough goals,” he added. The 1998 FIFA World Cup semifinalist Stimac has been pretty vocal about reducing the number of foreign players in India’s domestic tournaments like ISL and I-League for the betterment of Indian talent. Stimac further revealed that the footballing authorities are in talks with the Indian government about citizenship regulations for players. “I am feeling depressed and tired at repeatedly saying we have to reduce the number of foreign players in Indian domestic football. It will take time to grow up as a football nation, the season has to be longer for players to play much more games than now. If the Government can change the citizenship regulations, then we can get 7-8 players of Indian origin who are playing abroad and that would change our results dramatically”. The Croatian also elaborated why the season for Indian Football should be longer compared to other domestic seasons across the world. “We have been working behind closed doors on many aspects. One is regarding the selection of players. We have been talking to the government to change the citizenship regulations. We were also in touch with FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) to increase the length of the season and also to have a long-term calendar season plus the need to restructure the Durand Cup and the Super Cup. Going forward what will be crucial is the number of games. We cannot stop our season at the end of February and football needs to be played until mid-May. I am told that it cannot happen as it overlaps with the broadcast of the IPL but broadcast is not important, what is important is that players play more games to improve their football and bring more quality to the national team,” Stimac had big plans for the Indian team for the year 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic has shattered everything. The Croatian said that India were scheduled to go to Turkey and Croatia in April and May for pre-season training camps and play 10 friendly matches only for the dreaded virus to wipe off the sporting calendar and the plans. “The pandemic has destroyed the plans we had made which were accepted by both the government and the AIFF. We were to go on pre-season training camps to Turkey and Croatia in April and May and we were supposed to play ten friendly games. We are now using this time to improve the education of our players including theoretical points and I am very happy that the players are all following individual training plans that we have sent them and communicating daily on our team groups”. “The pandemic could see certain rules and regulations be changed globally to rely on home-grown players. This is the perfect opportunity for India to dramatically change the structure of Indian Football. Half the ISL clubs are facing financial difficulties and if all the clubs are not on the same level financially then what is the point of the competition. The competition is good only if everyone starts with the same amount of money and the same regulations,” the Head Coach concluded.

Igor Stimac:  Indian team has changed from kick and chase football to a more possession based game

The All India Football Federation on Friday decided to delay the start date of the domestic season till further notice in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a circular sent to all its members, the AIFF said it was done by following the guidelines issued by the world body FIFA as well as those by the Indian government.

"In view of the current situation of pandemic, we are unsure as to when things would go back to normal and sports can be played again in the country. Hence, AIFF has decided to postpone the start date of the upcoming season i.E. 2020-21 season and its first registration period till further notice," the AIFF said.

"The same shall be declared through a separate circular," it said in the circular titled 'COVID-19 Football Regulatory Issues in India'.

Last year, the Indian Super League began on October 20 while the I-League started on November 30.

The AIFF said Article 5.1 paragraph 1 of Annexe 3 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players provides that prior to a registration period commencing, associations may amend or modify the dates under "exceptional circumstances".

"The COVID-19 outbreak is clearly an exceptional circumstance, the AIFF said.

"In view of the above, FIFA has decided to allow all its MAsto amend season dates and/or registration periods, either within the FIFA Tansfer Matching System (TMS) or by otherwise notifying FIFA."

The AIFF said its Executive Committee on May 13 took a decision to conclude the current season (2019-20) on its original end date of May 31.

Regarding 'Expiring Agreements and New Agreements', the AIFF said: "There will not be any effects on an agreement expiring at the end of the current season as there is no change in the actual end date of the 2019-20 Season and all such agreements shall expire on their original end date.

"In case, an employment agreement is due to commence at the original start date of a new season, such commencement be delayed until the new start date of a new season.

"Notwithstanding the recommended amendment to agreement dates, any payment that contractually falls due prior to the new commencement date of an agreement should be delayed until the new start date of the 2020-21 Season.

The All India Football Federation on Friday decided to delay the start date of the domestic season till further notice in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a circular sent to all its members, the AIFF said it was done by following the guidelines issued by the world body FIFA as well as those by the Indian government.

The All India Football Federation on Friday decided to delay the start date of the domestic season till further notice in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a circular sent to all its members, the AIFF said it was done by following the guidelines issued by the world body FIFA as well as those by the Indian government. "In view of the current situation of pandemic, we are unsure as to when things would go back to normal and sports can be played again in the country. Hence, AIFF has decided to postpone the start date of the upcoming season i.E. 2020-21 season and its first registration period till further notice," the AIFF said. "The same shall be declared through a separate circular," it said in the circular titled 'COVID-19 Football Regulatory Issues in India'. Last year, the Indian Super League began on October 20 while the I-League started on November 30. The AIFF said Article 5.1 paragraph 1 of Annexe 3 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players provides that prior to a registration period commencing, associations may amend or modify the dates under "exceptional circumstances". "The COVID-19 outbreak is clearly an exceptional circumstance, the AIFF said. "In view of the above, FIFA has decided to allow all its MAsto amend season dates and/or registration periods, either within the FIFA Tansfer Matching System (TMS) or by otherwise notifying FIFA." The AIFF said its Executive Committee on May 13 took a decision to conclude the current season (2019-20) on its original end date of May 31. Regarding 'Expiring Agreements and New Agreements', the AIFF said: "There will not be any effects on an agreement expiring at the end of the current season as there is no change in the actual end date of the 2019-20 Season and all such agreements shall expire on their original end date. "In case, an employment agreement is due to commence at the original start date of a new season, such commencement be delayed until the new start date of a new season. "Notwithstanding the recommended amendment to agreement dates, any payment that contractually falls due prior to the new commencement date of an agreement should be delayed until the new start date of the 2020-21 Season.

AIFF decides to delay start of upcoming domestic season due to COVID-19 pandemic

The initial phase of the&nbsp;Indian Super League (ISL) did not start off as expected for the defending champions <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sunil-chhetri-extends-bengaluru-fc-contract-154243">Bengaluru FC</a>, with the team winning only one match out of the first three and only one goal scored.

However, under the guidance of former Barcelona youngster and team head coach Carles Cuadrat, Bengaluru have reclaimed their position as one of the top favourites to win this year's edition of the super league as well.

“We had a slow start. There were a few issues we had to iron out, and we have rectified them now. I think you are going to see a strong finish from our side at the end of the season,” he told sources.

Over the games this season, Indian superstar and team captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hungry-sunil-chhetri-wants-india-in-asias-top-10-240766">Sunil Chhetri</a> and Australian midfielder Erik Paartalu have proclaimed for themselves a position of great eminence on the field, having become the principal playmakers for the team.

Paartalu opened the scoring in the game with a goal from a corner within six&nbsp;minutes since the start of the game.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-owners-to-buy-65-stake-in-indias-mumbai-city-fc-265162">Manchester City owners to buy 65% stake in India's Mumbai City FC</a>

“In my position, you never really get noticed unless you score a goal and make an assist. I think I have four assists and two goals and it’s probably better than any tally I’ve had so far. I want to continue to build on that. This year is a big year for me and the club. We want to push for the Champions League spot,” Paartalu claimed.

Erik was referring to Bengaluru FC attempting to grab a spot in the Asian Football Confederations' <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/revamped-fifa-club-world-cup-important-for-asia-gianni-infantino-208343">(AFC) Champions League</a>, in which domestic rivals Chennaiyin FC hold a spot.

Chhetri doubled the score against the 'Men of Steel' by shooting&nbsp;a goal into the net in the 63rd minute.

The team is clearly making progress, taking into consideration their improving match performances and style of playing.

The initial phase of the Indian Super League (ISL) did not start off as expected for the defending champions Bengaluru FC, with the team winning only one match out of the first three and only one goal scored.

The initial phase of the Indian Super League (ISL) did not start off as expected for the defending champions Bengaluru FC, with the team winning only one match out of the first three and only one goal scored. However, under the guidance of former Barcelona youngster and team head coach Carles Cuadrat, Bengaluru have reclaimed their position as one of the top favourites to win this year's edition of the super league as well. “We had a slow start. There were a few issues we had to iron out, and we have rectified them now. I think you are going to see a strong finish from our side at the end of the season,” he told sources. Over the games this season, Indian superstar and team captain Sunil Chhetri and Australian midfielder Erik Paartalu have proclaimed for themselves a position of great eminence on the field, having become the principal playmakers for the team. Paartalu opened the scoring in the game with a goal from a corner within six minutes since the start of the game. Also Read: Manchester City owners to buy 65% stake in India's Mumbai City FC “In my position, you never really get noticed unless you score a goal and make an assist. I think I have four assists and two goals and it’s probably better than any tally I’ve had so far. I want to continue to build on that. This year is a big year for me and the club. We want to push for the Champions League spot,” Paartalu claimed. Erik was referring to Bengaluru FC attempting to grab a spot in the Asian Football Confederations' (AFC) Champions League, in which domestic rivals Chennaiyin FC hold a spot. Chhetri doubled the score against the 'Men of Steel' by shooting a goal into the net in the 63rd minute. The team is clearly making progress, taking into consideration their improving match performances and style of playing.

ISL: Holders Bengaluru FC thrash Jamshedpur 2-0

Sunil Chhetri may be second most prolific international goalscorer among active players behind only Cristiano Ronaldo but the India captain has more modest aspirations for his country.

The forward, who turned 35 on Saturday and has notched 71 goals in 111 internationals, only wants to get India into the top echelons of Asian football before he finally retires.

"I don't think I will ever be content. I am somebody who is always hungry," Chhetri told Reuters in an interview.

"Whenever I do decide to hang (up) the boots or whenever I am forced to hang (up) my boots, I just want that my country is in the first 10 (in Asia) and stays there.

"One thing that I really, really want is that India believes, and we all at least aspire, to be in the first 10."

India's obsession with and success on the cricket pitch has left it a massive underachiever on the football field and the national side is 103rd in the FIFA rankings, 18th among Asian nations.

The path to where many believe India should be in the world rankings is long and hard but Chhetri believes the first step would be regular meetings with the likes of Japan, South Korea, Iran and Australia.

"If we are in the first 10, you are giving yourself a realistic chance to play against the best in Asia and then you always have the answer to how much you have to achieve more," said Chhetri.

"It is really paramount for us to work hard, for all of us together ... and try and achieve that target as soon as possible."

The usual sign of progress for a developing football nation is a place at the World Cup finals, something that India has never come close to achieving.

No less than Virat Kohli, who by his status as India cricket luminary enjoys a much higher profile than Chhetri, said last week he thought his "inspirational" fellow national team captain deserved to play at the quadrennial showpiece event.

Work Cut Out

Realistically, Chhetri's final chance of that would begin next month in the Asian qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup where India have been clubbed with Asian champions Qatar, Oman, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Group E.

Even if Qatar have already qualified as World Cup hosts, India will still have their work cut out to progress to the third round of qualifying as one of eight group winners or four best runners-up.

Chhetri, though, knows the draw could have been a lot worse.

"I was excited to know the draw, not as per say the teams because we already knew the kind of teams that can be drawn from each group," Chhetri said.

"I wouldn't lie, but we boys had discussed a lot of permutation and combination.

"In the end we were just calm and just wanted to know the result. And once the results were out, we were happy, optimistic, everything."

In May, India appointed former Croatia defender Igor Stimac coach on a two-year contract after Englishman Stephen Constantine walked away from the job in the wake of the exit from the group stages of the Asian Cup.

Stimac was part of the Croatia team that sensationally reached the semi-finals of the World Cup at the first attempt in 1998 while the biggest achievement on his coaching resume is helping his country qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals.

Chhetri has already been impressed.

"He comes with a great pedigree, with a lot of experience and knowledge both as a player and as a coach," he added.

"And it shows with the way he trains us, in the way he behaves with us and in the way he talks to us.

"Apart from his technical and tactical knowledge he is someone who wants to give a chance to everyone.

"If I am allowed to say so, not sure he will like it or not, but he is somebody who wants to keep the ball and play from behind. That's the way forward."

Sunil Chhetri may be second most prolific international goalscorer among active players behind only Cristiano Ronaldo but the India captain has more modest aspirations for his country.

Sunil Chhetri may be second most prolific international goalscorer among active players behind only Cristiano Ronaldo but the India captain has more modest aspirations for his country. The forward, who turned 35 on Saturday and has notched 71 goals in 111 internationals, only wants to get India into the top echelons of Asian football before he finally retires. "I don't think I will ever be content. I am somebody who is always hungry," Chhetri told Reuters in an interview. "Whenever I do decide to hang (up) the boots or whenever I am forced to hang (up) my boots, I just want that my country is in the first 10 (in Asia) and stays there. "One thing that I really, really want is that India believes, and we all at least aspire, to be in the first 10." India's obsession with and success on the cricket pitch has left it a massive underachiever on the football field and the national side is 103rd in the FIFA rankings, 18th among Asian nations. The path to where many believe India should be in the world rankings is long and hard but Chhetri believes the first step would be regular meetings with the likes of Japan, South Korea, Iran and Australia. "If we are in the first 10, you are giving yourself a realistic chance to play against the best in Asia and then you always have the answer to how much you have to achieve more," said Chhetri. "It is really paramount for us to work hard, for all of us together ... and try and achieve that target as soon as possible." The usual sign of progress for a developing football nation is a place at the World Cup finals, something that India has never come close to achieving. No less than Virat Kohli, who by his status as India cricket luminary enjoys a much higher profile than Chhetri, said last week he thought his "inspirational" fellow national team captain deserved to play at the quadrennial showpiece event. Work Cut Out Realistically, Chhetri's final chance of that would begin next month in the Asian qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup where India have been clubbed with Asian champions Qatar, Oman, Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Group E. Even if Qatar have already qualified as World Cup hosts, India will still have their work cut out to progress to the third round of qualifying as one of eight group winners or four best runners-up. Chhetri, though, knows the draw could have been a lot worse. "I was excited to know the draw, not as per say the teams because we already knew the kind of teams that can be drawn from each group," Chhetri said. "I wouldn't lie, but we boys had discussed a lot of permutation and combination. "In the end we were just calm and just wanted to know the result. And once the results were out, we were happy, optimistic, everything." In May, India appointed former Croatia defender Igor Stimac coach on a two-year contract after Englishman Stephen Constantine walked away from the job in the wake of the exit from the group stages of the Asian Cup. Stimac was part of the Croatia team that sensationally reached the semi-finals of the World Cup at the first attempt in 1998 while the biggest achievement on his coaching resume is helping his country qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals. Chhetri has already been impressed. "He comes with a great pedigree, with a lot of experience and knowledge both as a player and as a coach," he added. "And it shows with the way he trains us, in the way he behaves with us and in the way he talks to us. "Apart from his technical and tactical knowledge he is someone who wants to give a chance to everyone. "If I am allowed to say so, not sure he will like it or not, but he is somebody who wants to keep the ball and play from behind. That's the way forward."

'Hungry' Sunil Chhetri wants India in Asia's top 10

Indian star footballer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/president-kovind-confers-padma-awards-hs-phoolka-cricketer-gautam-gambhir-bollywood-actor-manoj-bajpayee-receive-padma-shri-203672">Sunil Chhetri</a> has said that the national women's team is better than the men's side.&nbsp;

As per the world rankings, the women's side is currently at 62nd out of 152 nations and the men's team is ranked 103rd out of 211 countries.&nbsp;

Chhetri, who is the second most goal scorer among active international players, praised the national women's team for its fifth consecutive SAFF title win.&nbsp;

"Extremely proud of all of you. I have always maintained that the women's team is much better than the men," Chhetri said in a release from the All India Football Federation.&nbsp;

"Go there, and give your best in Myanmar. I have been keeping a track of all of you playing. Keep up the good work," Chhetri said.&nbsp;

Recently, Chhetri was conferred upon Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.&nbsp;

Also&nbsp;was awarded the first-ever ‘Football Ratna’ by Football Delhi, the State Association governing the sport in the national capital.&nbsp;

Indian star footballer Sunil Chhetri has said that the national women's team is better than the men's side. As per the world rankings, the women's side is currently at 62nd out of 152 nations and the men's team is ranked 103rd out of 211 countries.

Indian star footballer Sunil Chhetri has said that the national women's team is better than the men's side. As per the world rankings, the women's side is currently at 62nd out of 152 nations and the men's team is ranked 103rd out of 211 countries. Chhetri, who is the second most goal scorer among active international players, praised the national women's team for its fifth consecutive SAFF title win. "Extremely proud of all of you. I have always maintained that the women's team is much better than the men," Chhetri said in a release from the All India Football Federation. "Go there, and give your best in Myanmar. I have been keeping a track of all of you playing. Keep up the good work," Chhetri said. Recently, Chhetri was conferred upon Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award. Also was awarded the first-ever ‘Football Ratna’ by Football Delhi, the State Association governing the sport in the national capital.

Sunil Chhetri believes Indian women's football team better than men's

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri has been honoured with Padma Shri award for his crucial contribution to Indian football. Chhetri led the Indian football team with distinction for over a decade.&nbsp;

After receiving the honour, Chhetri said that being in the elite list of former footballers to be honoured with the Padma award makes him a bit "nervous" and brings "extra pressure" to strive for excellence.&nbsp;

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/list-of-sports-personalities-who-received-padma-awards-this-year-192864">Padma Shri</a> is the fourth-highest civilian honour after the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan.&nbsp;

"At the moment, it's just pure happiness. It hasn't sunk in as yet. I need some time to feel it. I need some time to understand what the recognition actually means," said Chhetri.

"Every person has flaws, so do I. I understand it and strive to be a better version of myself - a better human being. I feel I need to set a better example to others.&nbsp;

"I am loving that extra pressure which has come with this Padma Shri announcement."

He became only the sixth footballer after the Late Gostho Paul, the Late Sailen Manna, PK Banerjee, Chuni Goswami and Bhaichung Bhutia to be honoured with the prestigious award.&nbsp;

"I am aware of the aura all of them possess. It was my dad who had educated me about their exploits much before I became a professional player. Being in the same club as them is a feeling which I can't express, it can make you nervous," Chhetri said.&nbsp;

"Look at that list? the late Gostho Paul, the late Sailen Manna, PK Banerjee, Chuni Goswami and Bhaichung-bhai. They are all legends. To be in that same list is an honour for me. It gives me goosebumps.&nbsp;

Chhetri is the second highest goal-getter (among current players) in international football after Cristiano Ronaldo.&nbsp;

"It is also a reminder to me on what I need to do, all in my effort to improve every minute as a footballer."&nbsp;

"As a player, I need to keep working hard. There's no alternative to that. No award can make you a better player unless you strive to be one," he said.

"But yeah, this is an added motivation for me. This Award will surely spur me on, to maybe, be the hungrier, fittest and the sharpest among all in my team."&nbsp;

Other sportspersons to have received the Padma Shri this year included Gautam Gambhir (cricket), Bajrang Punia (wrestling), Dronavalli Harika (chess), Sharath Kamal (table tennis), Bombayla Devi Laishram (archery), Ajay Thakur (kabaddi) and Prashanti Singh (basketball).&nbsp;

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri has been honoured with Padma Shri award for his crucial contribution to Indian football. Chhetri led the Indian football team with distinction for over a decade.

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri has been honoured with Padma Shri award for his crucial contribution to Indian football. Chhetri led the Indian football team with distinction for over a decade. After receiving the honour, Chhetri said that being in the elite list of former footballers to be honoured with the Padma award makes him a bit "nervous" and brings "extra pressure" to strive for excellence. The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian honour after the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan. "At the moment, it's just pure happiness. It hasn't sunk in as yet. I need some time to feel it. I need some time to understand what the recognition actually means," said Chhetri. "Every person has flaws, so do I. I understand it and strive to be a better version of myself - a better human being. I feel I need to set a better example to others. "I am loving that extra pressure which has come with this Padma Shri announcement." He became only the sixth footballer after the Late Gostho Paul, the Late Sailen Manna, PK Banerjee, Chuni Goswami and Bhaichung Bhutia to be honoured with the prestigious award. "I am aware of the aura all of them possess. It was my dad who had educated me about their exploits much before I became a professional player. Being in the same club as them is a feeling which I can't express, it can make you nervous," Chhetri said. "Look at that list? the late Gostho Paul, the late Sailen Manna, PK Banerjee, Chuni Goswami and Bhaichung-bhai. They are all legends. To be in that same list is an honour for me. It gives me goosebumps. Chhetri is the second highest goal-getter (among current players) in international football after Cristiano Ronaldo. "It is also a reminder to me on what I need to do, all in my effort to improve every minute as a footballer." "As a player, I need to keep working hard. There's no alternative to that. No award can make you a better player unless you strive to be one," he said. "But yeah, this is an added motivation for me. This Award will surely spur me on, to maybe, be the hungrier, fittest and the sharpest among all in my team." Other sportspersons to have received the Padma Shri this year included Gautam Gambhir (cricket), Bajrang Punia (wrestling), Dronavalli Harika (chess), Sharath Kamal (table tennis), Bombayla Devi Laishram (archery), Ajay Thakur (kabaddi) and Prashanti Singh (basketball).

Extra pressure comes with honour, it makes me nervous: Footballer Sunil Chhetri on Padma award

A nomadic English coach whose colourful career has taken him from Millwall to Malawi has got cricket-mad India dreaming of Asian Cup football glory.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-cup-2019-sunil-chhetri-strikes-twice-as-india-defeat-thailand-4-1-188580">India stunned Thailand 4-1 in their opening match</a> last weekend to record their first victory at the tournament in over 50 years and despite losing 2-0 to hosts United Arab Emirates, Stephen Constantine insists football has knocked cricket of its perch -- at least for a little bit.

"After qualifying and two outstanding performances we have done that and more," the 56-year-old Londoner told AFP in an interview.

"Indians do love their cricket but you really are seeing a metamorphosis in football and that is really something to be proud of.

"To get to the knockout stages would be massive," added Constantine, who has repeatedly been overlooked for jobs in his home country.&nbsp;

"But whatever happens, we've already overachieved."

Veteran striker Sunil Chhetri overtook Lionel Messi in international goals during the win over Thailand, earning comparisons with India's cricket skipper Virat Kohli for his heroics, and the Blue Tigers still have their eye on a place in the last 16.

"Football is as popular in India in my opinion -- it's just not written about as much," said Constantine, who witnessed conflict, bloodshed and human suffering in his time coaching Malawi, Sudan and Rwanda before returning for a second spell as India boss four years ago.

"Of course when the cricket team is doing well and the football isn't, there is only going to be one winner.&nbsp;

"But that has all changed," he added, pointing to the progress his rough diamonds have made and the positive impact of the domestic Indian Super League since its launch in 2013.

"The fact that we are capable of playing the bigger teams and to compete was not the case when I arrived. We are a solid unit, we work very hard on all aspects of the game and on our day can hurt most teams."

Drastic improvement

Despite a population of 1.3 billion, India has barely registered on the football map -- until now.

Beaten finalists on their Asian Cup debut in 1964 when it was a four-team competition won by Israel, they last qualified in 2011 when they were thrashed by Australia, Bahrain and South Korea, conceding 13 goals in the process.

But the step up in quality shown by the world's 97th-ranked national side this time around has been little short of astonishing.

"In a nutshell it's down to the players, they have given me everything," said Constantine, whose young team face Bahrain on Monday in their final Group A game.

"I'm so proud of the work rate, determination and the attitude of the players."

Part of the secret of India's drastic improvement under Constantine lies in the Englishman's emphasis on sports science, nutrition and monitoring the "wellness" of his players.

"That holistic approach has proved to be successful over the last several years both here in India and in other countries I have coached in," said Constantine, who as Sudan coach once had rifles pulled on him while driving from Khartoum to scout a player.&nbsp;

Constantine is not easily intimidated, sparking dismay in India by stripping Chhetri of the captaincy before the Asian Cup.

But he has bowled a googly at his critics as harmony has returned, and he promises the best is yet to come.

"When I think back to 2015 and where we were, we have indeed come a long way," he said. "The fact that this is the youngest team in the history of Indian football, I'm certain the future is bright."

A nomadic English coach whose colourful career has taken him from Millwall to Malawi has got cricket-mad India dreaming of Asian Cup football glory. India stunned Thailand 4-1 in their opening match last weekend to record their first victory at the tournament in over 50 years and despite losing 2-0 to hosts United Arab Emirates, Stephen Constantine insists football has knocked cricket of its perch -- at least for a little bit.

A nomadic English coach whose colourful career has taken him from Millwall to Malawi has got cricket-mad India dreaming of Asian Cup football glory. India stunned Thailand 4-1 in their opening match last weekend to record their first victory at the tournament in over 50 years and despite losing 2-0 to hosts United Arab Emirates, Stephen Constantine insists football has knocked cricket of its perch -- at least for a little bit. "After qualifying and two outstanding performances we have done that and more," the 56-year-old Londoner told AFP in an interview. "Indians do love their cricket but you really are seeing a metamorphosis in football and that is really something to be proud of. "To get to the knockout stages would be massive," added Constantine, who has repeatedly been overlooked for jobs in his home country. "But whatever happens, we've already overachieved." Veteran striker Sunil Chhetri overtook Lionel Messi in international goals during the win over Thailand, earning comparisons with India's cricket skipper Virat Kohli for his heroics, and the Blue Tigers still have their eye on a place in the last 16. "Football is as popular in India in my opinion -- it's just not written about as much," said Constantine, who witnessed conflict, bloodshed and human suffering in his time coaching Malawi, Sudan and Rwanda before returning for a second spell as India boss four years ago. "Of course when the cricket team is doing well and the football isn't, there is only going to be one winner. "But that has all changed," he added, pointing to the progress his rough diamonds have made and the positive impact of the domestic Indian Super League since its launch in 2013. "The fact that we are capable of playing the bigger teams and to compete was not the case when I arrived. We are a solid unit, we work very hard on all aspects of the game and on our day can hurt most teams." Drastic improvement Despite a population of 1.3 billion, India has barely registered on the football map -- until now. Beaten finalists on their Asian Cup debut in 1964 when it was a four-team competition won by Israel, they last qualified in 2011 when they were thrashed by Australia, Bahrain and South Korea, conceding 13 goals in the process. But the step up in quality shown by the world's 97th-ranked national side this time around has been little short of astonishing. "In a nutshell it's down to the players, they have given me everything," said Constantine, whose young team face Bahrain on Monday in their final Group A game. "I'm so proud of the work rate, determination and the attitude of the players." Part of the secret of India's drastic improvement under Constantine lies in the Englishman's emphasis on sports science, nutrition and monitoring the "wellness" of his players. "That holistic approach has proved to be successful over the last several years both here in India and in other countries I have coached in," said Constantine, who as Sudan coach once had rifles pulled on him while driving from Khartoum to scout a player. Constantine is not easily intimidated, sparking dismay in India by stripping Chhetri of the captaincy before the Asian Cup. But he has bowled a googly at his critics as harmony has returned, and he promises the best is yet to come. "When I think back to 2015 and where we were, we have indeed come a long way," he said. "The fact that this is the youngest team in the history of Indian football, I'm certain the future is bright."

Football is the new cricket in India, says coach Stephen Constantine

To say Sunil Chhetri and Lionel Messi in the same breath is more than a little odd is what the talismanic Indian striker himself felt once or twice.&nbsp;

On Sunday, he went past the Argentine superstar in the list of goals scored by an active footballer on the international arena, leading, as he has so many times done, his country to its first win in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-cup-2019-india-register-first-win-in-55-years-188584">the AFC Asian Cup since 1964</a>.&nbsp;

He was modesty personified after going past (in terms of goals scored at least) one of the modern day's greatest footballers.&nbsp;

"Records don't matter, it doesn't matter who scores the goals. Whoever scores the jubilation was the same. I'm glad we got all three points," Chhetri said after the sensational 4-1 result against Thailand, the team that featured three J-League players in its ranks.&nbsp;

The 34-year-old Chhetri scored a world-class goal -- his second of the game -- but he preferred to talk everything else but his strike, which became a talking point for Indian football fans.&nbsp;

"I can think about my goals some ten years later," he maintained post-match.&nbsp;

"At the moment, we need to focus. The goals need to come and it just doesn't matter who scores," he stated.&nbsp;

"You can see the jubilation and happiness whenever someone scores. I am so happy for the boys. Every one of them ran and defended for their lives."&nbsp;

Playing in his second Asian Cup and 105th match, Chhetri scored in the 27th (penalty) and 46th minutes for his 66th and 67th goals to become the second highest international scorer.&nbsp;

With 85 strikes from 154 games, only Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo remains ahead of the Indian at the moment.&nbsp;

But Chhetri would rather talk about the difficult upcoming engagements.&nbsp;

"It's a tough pool when we started thinking, we felt that all the others were more experienced and better than us. But the manner the boys fought, it shows a lot of character. I have said this before, we are a very difficult team to play against," he maintained.&nbsp;

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The NEW second highest (active) International goalscorer <a href="https://twitter.com/chetrisunil11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chetrisunil11</a> 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 <a href="https://t.co/8lLG1XrIAv">pic.twitter.com/8lLG1XrIAv</a>
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"We may not be the most technical team but we will fight till the end, and that's what the boys showed.&nbsp;

Looking at the statistics and the goal-scoring comparisons between him and them (Messi and Ronaldo), Chhetri had said last year, "It's not even fair. The two players who are above me are completely world stars. I am a big fan of Messi and Ronaldo. There is a massive difference between them and us.&nbsp;

here is no comparison at all." 
On Sunday, after his team's convincing victory, Chhetri was all praise for the passing abilities of Thailand.&nbsp;

"They were very good with the ball. We saw that in the first half. We knew that if we allowed them space they would just be passing around the whole park and we may not even touch the ball. So we stayed close.&nbsp;

"The goals came in the right times and it helped a lot."&nbsp;

On the many fans that turned up to back the Indian team, he said, "The onus was on them... We expect so much from them, they have made us so used to all the support. I hope in the coming matches also we can give them things to cheer."

To say Sunil Chhetri and Lionel Messi in the same breath is more than a little odd is what the talismanic Indian striker himself felt once or twice. On Sunday, he went past the Argentine superstar in the list of goals scored by an active footballer on the international arena, leading, as he has so many times done, his country to its first win in the AFC Asian Cup since 1964.

To say Sunil Chhetri and Lionel Messi in the same breath is more than a little odd is what the talismanic Indian striker himself felt once or twice. On Sunday, he went past the Argentine superstar in the list of goals scored by an active footballer on the international arena, leading, as he has so many times done, his country to its first win in the AFC Asian Cup since 1964. He was modesty personified after going past (in terms of goals scored at least) one of the modern day's greatest footballers. "Records don't matter, it doesn't matter who scores the goals. Whoever scores the jubilation was the same. I'm glad we got all three points," Chhetri said after the sensational 4-1 result against Thailand, the team that featured three J-League players in its ranks. The 34-year-old Chhetri scored a world-class goal -- his second of the game -- but he preferred to talk everything else but his strike, which became a talking point for Indian football fans. "I can think about my goals some ten years later," he maintained post-match. "At the moment, we need to focus. The goals need to come and it just doesn't matter who scores," he stated. "You can see the jubilation and happiness whenever someone scores. I am so happy for the boys. Every one of them ran and defended for their lives." Playing in his second Asian Cup and 105th match, Chhetri scored in the 27th (penalty) and 46th minutes for his 66th and 67th goals to become the second highest international scorer. With 85 strikes from 154 games, only Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo remains ahead of the Indian at the moment. But Chhetri would rather talk about the difficult upcoming engagements. "It's a tough pool when we started thinking, we felt that all the others were more experienced and better than us. But the manner the boys fought, it shows a lot of character. I have said this before, we are a very difficult team to play against," he maintained. The NEW second highest (active) International goalscorer @chetrisunil11 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/8lLG1XrIAv — #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) January 6, 2019 × "We may not be the most technical team but we will fight till the end, and that's what the boys showed. Looking at the statistics and the goal-scoring comparisons between him and them (Messi and Ronaldo), Chhetri had said last year, "It's not even fair. The two players who are above me are completely world stars. I am a big fan of Messi and Ronaldo. There is a massive difference between them and us. here is no comparison at all." On Sunday, after his team's convincing victory, Chhetri was all praise for the passing abilities of Thailand. "They were very good with the ball. We saw that in the first half. We knew that if we allowed them space they would just be passing around the whole park and we may not even touch the ball. So we stayed close. "The goals came in the right times and it helped a lot." On the many fans that turned up to back the Indian team, he said, "The onus was on them... We expect so much from them, they have made us so used to all the support. I hope in the coming matches also we can give them things to cheer."

Asian Cup 2019: Whoever scores jubilation remains same, says Sunil Chhetri

India enter the biggest ever Asian Cup, starting here Saturday, hoping to exorcise the ghosts of a disastrous outing in 2011 and using it as a stepping stone to realise the dream of making the 2026 World Cup.&nbsp;

The Asian Football Confederation's continental showpiece, which has seen an increase in the number of finalists from 16 to 24, kicks off with hosts United Arab Emirates taking on Bahrain in a Group A fixture at the Zayed Sports City Stadium.

India, placed in the same group as the host nation, will begin their campaign with a game against Thailand at the Al Nahyan Stadium, the home ground of Al Wahda club, on Sunday.

The Blue Tigers last participated in the tournament eight years ago, which ended with a forgettable group stage exit following heavy defeats at the hands regional powerhouses Australia, South Korea and Bahrain.

The 17th edition of the quadrennial event will be India's fourth-ever appearance. While they brought to an end a 24-year wait by making the 2011 edition, India missed qualification to the 2015 tournament, which was won by hosts Australia.

Though not as dominant as the Koreans or the Australians, India will still have their task cut out against well-oiled teams such as Bahrain, Thailand and UAE.

While speculation can be a futile exercise, an unbeaten run of 13 matches, during which the country qualified for the tournament and achieved its second best ranking in the FIFA chart, gives chief coach Stephen Constantine reasons to be optimistic.

India are currently ranked 97th, a far cry from the day a few years ago when they slipped to their worst-ever 173rd position.

India also endured the humiliation of losing to Guam, a tiny Pacific island with a population of 1.5 lakh, in a World Cup Qualifier.

The revival began after that as India, under Constantine and the talismanic Sunil Chhetri's prolific form in front of the goal learned to win matches.

India were the first among 23 visiting teams to arrive in the UAE capital on December 20. A 28-member squad had been practicing in an effort to acclimatise themselves to the conditions.

The Asian Cup will be a different ball game, and the team is aware of that.

"We are looking forward to the massive tournament. We hope these 23 boys will do a good job for us," Constantine said ahead of the tournament.

Bidding to defend the title won on home soil in 2015, Australia come into the tournament as one of the contenders after head coach Graham Arnold put his players through the grind.

They will be entering a new era without stalwarts Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak.

Neighbours South Korea and Japan will resume their rivalry with both teams having their eyes trained at the trophy. Led by free-scoring Tottenham forward Son Heung-min, favourites South Korea will fancy their chances of ending more than 50 years of wait.

Japan, having given the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists Belgium a run for their money in a Round of 16 games in Russia, have the team to go all the way in the UAE.

Iraq, who won the tournament in 2007 and finished among the last four years ago, will be another to watch out for.

Apart from their impressive results in recent times, including against Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi's China and Oman, raising India's hopes is the provision of the four best third-placed teams also making it to the next round.

Lippi, who guided Italy to a World Cup triumph in 2006, has put his players through a tough month of training ahead of the tournament.&nbsp;

India enter the biggest ever Asian Cup, starting here Saturday, hoping to exorcise the ghosts of a disastrous outing in 2011 and using it as a stepping stone to realise the dream of making the 2026 World Cup.

India enter the biggest ever Asian Cup, starting here Saturday, hoping to exorcise the ghosts of a disastrous outing in 2011 and using it as a stepping stone to realise the dream of making the 2026 World Cup. The Asian Football Confederation's continental showpiece, which has seen an increase in the number of finalists from 16 to 24, kicks off with hosts United Arab Emirates taking on Bahrain in a Group A fixture at the Zayed Sports City Stadium. India, placed in the same group as the host nation, will begin their campaign with a game against Thailand at the Al Nahyan Stadium, the home ground of Al Wahda club, on Sunday. The Blue Tigers last participated in the tournament eight years ago, which ended with a forgettable group stage exit following heavy defeats at the hands regional powerhouses Australia, South Korea and Bahrain. The 17th edition of the quadrennial event will be India's fourth-ever appearance. While they brought to an end a 24-year wait by making the 2011 edition, India missed qualification to the 2015 tournament, which was won by hosts Australia. Though not as dominant as the Koreans or the Australians, India will still have their task cut out against well-oiled teams such as Bahrain, Thailand and UAE. While speculation can be a futile exercise, an unbeaten run of 13 matches, during which the country qualified for the tournament and achieved its second best ranking in the FIFA chart, gives chief coach Stephen Constantine reasons to be optimistic. India are currently ranked 97th, a far cry from the day a few years ago when they slipped to their worst-ever 173rd position. India also endured the humiliation of losing to Guam, a tiny Pacific island with a population of 1.5 lakh, in a World Cup Qualifier. The revival began after that as India, under Constantine and the talismanic Sunil Chhetri's prolific form in front of the goal learned to win matches. India were the first among 23 visiting teams to arrive in the UAE capital on December 20. A 28-member squad had been practicing in an effort to acclimatise themselves to the conditions. The Asian Cup will be a different ball game, and the team is aware of that. "We are looking forward to the massive tournament. We hope these 23 boys will do a good job for us," Constantine said ahead of the tournament. Bidding to defend the title won on home soil in 2015, Australia come into the tournament as one of the contenders after head coach Graham Arnold put his players through the grind. They will be entering a new era without stalwarts Tim Cahill and Mile Jedinak. Neighbours South Korea and Japan will resume their rivalry with both teams having their eyes trained at the trophy. Led by free-scoring Tottenham forward Son Heung-min, favourites South Korea will fancy their chances of ending more than 50 years of wait. Japan, having given the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists Belgium a run for their money in a Round of 16 games in Russia, have the team to go all the way in the UAE. Iraq, who won the tournament in 2007 and finished among the last four years ago, will be another to watch out for. Apart from their impressive results in recent times, including against Italy's World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi's China and Oman, raising India's hopes is the provision of the four best third-placed teams also making it to the next round. Lippi, who guided Italy to a World Cup triumph in 2006, has put his players through a tough month of training ahead of the tournament.

Asian Cup 2019: Tournament starts today, India begin campaign on Day 2

Sports scientist Danny Deigan, who has played a crucial role behind raising the fitness levels of the Indian football team, says the methods followed are "very similar" to the ones in leading clubs such as Arsenal.&nbsp;

"After visiting a number of EPL clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City, I can say that the methods that we use in the Indian team are very similar to them," Deigan stated.&nbsp;

"It's important to take note of the output against the top teams in Asia so that we can replicate them, and even do better in the upcoming Asian Cup," he added said during India's ongoing preparatory camp for the forthcoming continental showpiece.&nbsp;

It was Stephen Constantine who had suggested that "we need our players in the best of their shapes to run for 90 minutes".&nbsp;

"If you can't run, you can't fight on the pitch. The effect of the tests and the results have been great for us. The credit goes to Danny's effort in the past three years, and Joel Carter since earlier this year to raise the bar," the coach remarked.&nbsp;

"Moreover, Gigy (George), Pratik (Kamble) and Liaqat (Ali) have also put in their efforts to keep the players up and running," Constantine added. 
On being asked about the regime which the team follows regularly, Deigan, who comes from Australia, informed the regular screenings are conducted every morning to assess the physical conditions.&nbsp;

"We run a screening every morning to assess the physical conditions of the players before the day's training. At the training, we start with a physical warm-up session that leads to the main training.&nbsp;

"After the training, we go on to analyse the physical condition of every player individually."&nbsp;

"During the screening, we look into their ankles, hamstrings, groins and also their ability to jump. It gives us an idea of their fatigue and readiness which helps us to plan the day's training," Deigan explained.&nbsp;

Sports scientist Danny Deigan, who has played a crucial role behind raising the fitness levels of the Indian football team, says the methods followed are "very similar" to the ones in leading clubs such as Arsenal.

Sports scientist Danny Deigan, who has played a crucial role behind raising the fitness levels of the Indian football team, says the methods followed are "very similar" to the ones in leading clubs such as Arsenal. "After visiting a number of EPL clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City, I can say that the methods that we use in the Indian team are very similar to them," Deigan stated. "It's important to take note of the output against the top teams in Asia so that we can replicate them, and even do better in the upcoming Asian Cup," he added said during India's ongoing preparatory camp for the forthcoming continental showpiece. It was Stephen Constantine who had suggested that "we need our players in the best of their shapes to run for 90 minutes". "If you can't run, you can't fight on the pitch. The effect of the tests and the results have been great for us. The credit goes to Danny's effort in the past three years, and Joel Carter since earlier this year to raise the bar," the coach remarked. "Moreover, Gigy (George), Pratik (Kamble) and Liaqat (Ali) have also put in their efforts to keep the players up and running," Constantine added. On being asked about the regime which the team follows regularly, Deigan, who comes from Australia, informed the regular screenings are conducted every morning to assess the physical conditions. "We run a screening every morning to assess the physical conditions of the players before the day's training. At the training, we start with a physical warm-up session that leads to the main training. "After the training, we go on to analyse the physical condition of every player individually." "During the screening, we look into their ankles, hamstrings, groins and also their ability to jump. It gives us an idea of their fatigue and readiness which helps us to plan the day's training," Deigan explained.

Methods we use with Indian team are similar to Arsenal, Leicester: Danny Deigan

Indian football &ndash; as indeed India &ndash; is going places.

As much as India&rsquo;s recent quantum leap of 30 spots to make it to the world&rsquo;s Top-100 in Ease of Doing Business enthused the businessman in me, a jump of just a couple of notches to break into FIFA&rsquo;s Top-100 ranking for football will be a source of immense joy for the sports enthusiast in me.&nbsp;

The real big moment, of course, would be to see lakhs of little heroes dribbling the ball on the grounds and kicking up a storm in the years to come to make India truly a football country.&nbsp;

Just a few weeks back, Indian Under-19 footballer from Delhi, Luv Kapoor signed up for Palamos FC, one of Spain&rsquo;s oldest football clubs, to play at the highest level that any Indian has in the Spanish Football League. In another part of Europe, the Under-17 World Cup star Dheeraj Singh took up an assignment under the goalposts for Scotland&rsquo;s Motherwell FC.&nbsp;

Closer home, a local football tournament hosted in Baroda over the weekend attracted as many as 1200 players who represented 92 teams from across Gujarat, participating in all age groups &ndash; right from under-9 to under-15.&nbsp;

And at the highest national level, the AIFF has announced the Hero Super Cup for April, where the top 16 teams in the country will participate in the knockout tournament.&nbsp;

Even as Indian players are venturing on to the world stage and the finest international stars are playing before local crowds, the increasing participation at the grassroots level and the swelling crowd in the stands is a testimony to the sport&rsquo;s growing popularity in the country.&nbsp;

Creating Heroes&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Pawan Munjal with Amarjit Singh, captain, Under-17 World Cup skipper Amarji Singh. (Others)
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&nbsp;

For the young aspiring country that India is, sporting icons make the ideal role models. While cricket has captured the imagination of the nation, footfall has all the makings of a popular national sport. Physical prowess, intelligence, tactical acumen and team spirit &ndash;the qualities that go into the making of a good football player are the same as the ones of a successful personality.&nbsp;

In just five years, the Hero Indian Super League has inspired millions of youngsters across the country to take up the sport. While some of them will go on to become professional players in the years to come, I am confident that each youngster who straps the studs and kicks the ball will only get enriched by the game and grow into a fuller personality. Football is not just about scoring goals, but also about setting goals.&nbsp;

Football has made huge strides in the past five years, not just in the traditional bastions of Kerala, West Bengal and Goa, but also in other parts of the country. Over the past 10 years, north-eastern states such as Meghalaya and Manipur have made immense progress, and young footballers from these states are today making their mark at the national level.&nbsp;

The goal&nbsp;

The players are ready and the resources are available. The only thing that is required is consistent commitment on the part of administrators, state associations, clubs and coaches to give their best for the game.&nbsp;

There is a need to develop playgrounds with more grass on them so that our players are not afraid of making diving tackles for the fear of picking up injuries. Then we need better sports medicine specialists attached to the teams so that the injuries are treated expeditiously and appropriately and don&rsquo;t get aggravated. We also need to train and groom referees from the grassroots so that they gain enough confidence to officiate at the highest level without getting intimidated, to be able to penalize the players committing serious fouls. These three measures will certainly go a long way in instilling a lot of confidence in our young players and prepare them for the intensely competitive big league at the global level. &nbsp;

On our part as long-term supporters, we are committed to continuing to contribute towards the creation of a sporting culture in the country, and we are convinced that football has huge potential to be a positive influencer for the youth. We are determined to play the role of a catalyst &ndash; a change agent &ndash; in bringing about a complete transformation in the &lsquo;culture&rsquo; of football in India.

If we collectively put our hearts to it, it is a matter of just a few years before football will be the chosen sport for millions of Indians. Simultaneously, the immense talent that lies latent within the country will begin to express itself on the world stage.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The players are ready and the resources are available. The only thing that is required is consistent commitment on the part of administrators, state associations, clubs and coaches to give their best for Indian Football.

Indian football – as indeed India – is going places. As much as India’s recent quantum leap of 30 spots to make it to the world’s Top-100 in Ease of Doing Business enthused the businessman in me, a jump of just a couple of notches to break into FIFA’s Top-100 ranking for football will be a source of immense joy for the sports enthusiast in me. The real big moment, of course, would be to see lakhs of little heroes dribbling the ball on the grounds and kicking up a storm in the years to come to make India truly a football country. Just a few weeks back, Indian Under-19 footballer from Delhi, Luv Kapoor signed up for Palamos FC, one of Spain’s oldest football clubs, to play at the highest level that any Indian has in the Spanish Football League. In another part of Europe, the Under-17 World Cup star Dheeraj Singh took up an assignment under the goalposts for Scotland’s Motherwell FC. Closer home, a local football tournament hosted in Baroda over the weekend attracted as many as 1200 players who represented 92 teams from across Gujarat, participating in all age groups – right from under-9 to under-15. And at the highest national level, the AIFF has announced the Hero Super Cup for April, where the top 16 teams in the country will participate in the knockout tournament. Even as Indian players are venturing on to the world stage and the finest international stars are playing before local crowds, the increasing participation at the grassroots level and the swelling crowd in the stands is a testimony to the sport’s growing popularity in the country. Creating Heroes Pawan Munjal with Amarjit Singh, captain, Under-17 World Cup skipper Amarji Singh. (Others) × For the young aspiring country that India is, sporting icons make the ideal role models. While cricket has captured the imagination of the nation, footfall has all the makings of a popular national sport. Physical prowess, intelligence, tactical acumen and team spirit –the qualities that go into the making of a good football player are the same as the ones of a successful personality. In just five years, the Hero Indian Super League has inspired millions of youngsters across the country to take up the sport. While some of them will go on to become professional players in the years to come, I am confident that each youngster who straps the studs and kicks the ball will only get enriched by the game and grow into a fuller personality. Football is not just about scoring goals, but also about setting goals. Football has made huge strides in the past five years, not just in the traditional bastions of Kerala, West Bengal and Goa, but also in other parts of the country. Over the past 10 years, north-eastern states such as Meghalaya and Manipur have made immense progress, and young footballers from these states are today making their mark at the national level. The goal The players are ready and the resources are available. The only thing that is required is consistent commitment on the part of administrators, state associations, clubs and coaches to give their best for the game. There is a need to develop playgrounds with more grass on them so that our players are not afraid of making diving tackles for the fear of picking up injuries. Then we need better sports medicine specialists attached to the teams so that the injuries are treated expeditiously and appropriately and don’t get aggravated. We also need to train and groom referees from the grassroots so that they gain enough confidence to officiate at the highest level without getting intimidated, to be able to penalize the players committing serious fouls. These three measures will certainly go a long way in instilling a lot of confidence in our young players and prepare them for the intensely competitive big league at the global level. On our part as long-term supporters, we are committed to continuing to contribute towards the creation of a sporting culture in the country, and we are convinced that football has huge potential to be a positive influencer for the youth. We are determined to play the role of a catalyst – a change agent – in bringing about a complete transformation in the ‘culture’ of football in India. If we collectively put our hearts to it, it is a matter of just a few years before football will be the chosen sport for millions of Indians. Simultaneously, the immense talent that lies latent within the country will begin to express itself on the world stage. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Indian football rising from the grassroots

The Indian football team has dropped 10 places to 107th spot in the latest FIFA rankings.&nbsp;

India, ranked 13th in Asia, have 316 points, compared to their previous 341.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/football/germany-return-to-top-of-fifa-rankings-20208" target="_blank">Also read: World Champions Germany on top of FIFA rankings, Brazil slips</a>

India were ranked 97th out of 211 countries in August.&nbsp;

And had been in the top 100 since May.&nbsp;

On May 4, India, with a total of 331 points, were ranked 100th alongside Nicaragua, Lithuania, and Estonia.&nbsp; 
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The Indian football team has dropped 10 places to 107th spot in the latest FIFA rankings. India, ranked 13th in Asia, have 316 points, compared to their previous 341. Also read: World Champions Germany on top of FIFA rankings, Brazil slips India were ranked 97th out of 211 countries in August. And had been in the top 100 since May. On May 4, India, with a total of 331 points, were ranked 100th alongside Nicaragua, Lithuania, and Estonia.

FIFA rankings: India fall out of top 100

FIFA has written to the All India Football Federation informing it of possible match fixing.

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FIFA wrote to AIFF informing about fixing during a match between Tollygunge Aggrgami and Rainbow FC on Aug 25: Utpal Ganguly,AIFF to ANI
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/906085574041231360">September 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The match FIFA was referring to was played on August 25 between Tollygunge Aggrgami and Rainbow FC.&nbsp;

The two clubs play in the Calcutta Football League.&nbsp;

Tollygunge won this match 2-1.

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The match FIFA was referring to was played on August 25 between Tollygunge Aggrgami and Rainbow FC

FIFA has written to the All India Football Federation informing it of possible match fixing. FIFA wrote to AIFF informing about fixing during a match between Tollygunge Aggrgami and Rainbow FC on Aug 25: Utpal Ganguly,AIFF to ANI — ANI (@ANI) September 8, 2017 × The match FIFA was referring to was played on August 25 between Tollygunge Aggrgami and Rainbow FC. The two clubs play in the Calcutta Football League. Tollygunge won this match 2-1.

FIFA writes to AIFF about possible match-fixing in Calcutta Football League

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