The Indian football team has won nine straight matches, but...

[hafeezrocks]

So, the Indian Football team's 9 Match (8 official and 1 non-official) winning streak is all over the circles, however look at the quality of opposition that they are playing.

Laos, Bhutan, Cambodia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Puerto Rico . All Z grade teams.

Why doesn't India organize any matches against S Korea, N Korea, Japan, Iraq, Iran UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, China?

Now India's next two matches are against St Kitts and Nevis and Macau, another two very quality opposition teams. Now it's easy to understand how rankings are being improved.

 

[Snak3eye5]

It's pretty obvious against quality teams India willl suffer a loss

 

[Varun]

Nobody in India gives two hoots about football.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Nobody in India gives two hoots about football.

I read Tendulkar went to watch matches in the new Indian football league.


India are trying hard to support the rise of football but its not part of the culture and with the strong competition around the world it will be a long time before they qualify for the World Cup.

 

[kaayal]

Nobody in India gives two hoots about football.

Bengalis, Malayalis, Goans and North eastern states definitely give 2 hoots about football.

 

[JaDed]

I read Tendulkar went to watch matches in the new Indian football league.


India are trying hard to support the rise of football but its not part of the culture and with the strong competition around the world it will be a long time before they qualify for the World Cup.

Sachin owns a team,so does Ganguly,why wouldn't they go to watch their own teams?

 

[Rafa]

Indian Football is very crap for all the money that is being pumped in the Sport by corporate houses, ridiculous amount of money was being paid to players on their last legs to participate in that over hyped Indian football league.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Sachin owns a team,so does Ganguly,why wouldn't they go to watch their own teams?

I was responding to the poster who said nobody cares about football in India.

Im so glad India is not a footballing giant and will never be for the next 100 years at least. Sachin and co can buy teams , it wont make a difference.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Indian Football is very crap for all the money that is being pumped in the Sport by corporate houses, ridiculous amount of money was being paid to players on their last legs to participate in that over hyped Indian football league.

Any footage of this spectacle?

 

[JaDed]

I was responding to the poster who said nobody cares about football in India.

Im so glad India is not a footballing giant and will never be for the next 100 years at least. Sachin and co can buy teams , it wont make a difference.

Ok..? Of course him buying a team makes no difference,skills needed for football are different,most Asian countries are completely into football including the Arab ones where it's their top sport but can't do Zilch in world stage,so not sure why is it expected outta India when it's not even the #1 played sport here.

 

[Rafa]

Any footage of this spectacle?

Have only heard about it through online News, don't think anybody outside India is interested to pay and watch for their league. Also the U17 WC is being held in India this year, I guess FIFA is just interested in grabbing a chunk of the Rising Indian Economy. Pure Business, Nothing else.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Have only heard about it through online News, don't think anybody outside India is interested to pay and watch for their league. Also the U17 WC is being held in India this year, I guess FIFA is just interested in grabbing a chunk of the Rising Indian Economy. Pure Business, Nothing else.

Ill see if I can find some footage on youtube.

The main problem for India is the surfaces. Football is a sport where you will fall on the ground multiple times in a match. Unless all schools have nice grass surfaces, the kids wont get want to dive around on hard dirt.

 

[Snak3eye5]

I don't see football ever replacing the cricket hype. I did hear somewhere that India has ipl style foot ball and Kabbadi leagues that are owned by Indian millionaires and Bollywood stars. Any truth to that ??

 

[kaayal]

Have only heard about it through online News, don't think anybody outside India is interested to pay and watch for their league. Also the U17 WC is being held in India this year, I guess FIFA is just interested in grabbing a chunk of the Rising Indian Economy. Pure Business, Nothing else.

Doesn't matter if they take a chunk of our economy if they give us some good football spectacle.

 

[kaayal]

Ill see if I can find some footage on youtube.

The main problem for India is the surfaces. Football is a sport where you will fall on the ground multiple times in a match. Unless all schools have nice grass surfaces, the kids wont get want to dive around on hard dirt.

Our players stamina is not good except for few. They can't survive for 90+ minutes and are injury prone too...Neither they get any proper training facilities or infrastructure...

 

[kaayal]

I can talk about only my homestate's football craze (Kerala Blasters FC). Here is one video and look at our crowds energy....

 

[Sidilicious]

I can talk about only my homestate's football craze (Kerala Blasters FC). Here is one video and look at our crowds energy....

Wasn't IM Vijayan a mallu?

Kerala, Bengal, Sikkim and the north east have been responsible for whatever success we have had in footie.

 

[Sidilicious]

Have only heard about it through online News, don't think anybody outside India is interested to pay and watch for their league. Also the U17 WC is being held in India this year, I guess FIFA is just interested in grabbing a chunk of the Rising Indian Economy. Pure Business, Nothing else.

And if that our business leads to more kids playing football as kids and going to football academies instead of cricket academies, how will it not help the sport in India?

 

[Napa]

I was responding to the poster who said nobody cares about football in India.

<b>Im so glad India is not a footballing giant and will never be for the next 100 years at least.</b> Sachin and co can buy teams , it wont make a difference.

Wishing others fail is not a good strategy for life.

Ill see if I can find some footage on youtube.

The main problem for India is the surfaces. Football is a sport where you will fall on the ground multiple times in a match. Unless all schools have nice grass surfaces, the kids wont get want to dive around on hard dirt.

Having played football most of my youth, I can assure you that nothing matches the passion generated by football, and young players don't give a da** if they fall.

 

[Yossarian]

Ok..? Of course him buying a team makes no difference,skills needed for football are different,most Asian countries are completely into football including the Arab ones where it's their top sport but can't do Zilch in world stage,so not sure why is it expected outta India when it's not even the #1 played sport here.

Not correct. Those that have qualified for the World Cups in the past have regularly given a good account of themselves and some have even come close to beating the big boys and causing upsets. Many of the players are good enough to play in the top European leagues, but do not do so due to being rewarded far more handsomely by staying/playing in their home countries.

 

[Yossarian]

Nobody in India gives two hoots about football.

Indian Football is very crap for all the money that is being pumped in the Sport by corporate houses, ridiculous amount of money was being paid to players on their last legs to participate in that over hyped Indian football league.

Even if only 1% of Indians become interested in football and become football fans, that's still almost 13 million football fans. That's greater than the entire population of Belgium (Fifa ranking 9), of Switzerland (Fifa ranking 4), of Portugal (Fifa ranking 6).

 

[KingKhanWC]

Wishing others fail is not a good strategy for life.



Having played football most of my youth, I can assure you that nothing matches the passion generated by football, and young players don't give a da** if they fall.

Theres nothing to wish, it just wont happen.

Where did you play in India? We used to play on various surfaces for hours each day. People do care if they fall on hard surfaces which hurts your body. Similar to how Asian teams have been poor fielders over the years because they dont dive well. This is just one problem with football growing in India, there are many others too including no real culture of football. In England football is part of the culture, of course not everyone cares for football but a huge portion of the population plays or watches the sport but it's not about numbers rather playing the game from a young age in all areas of the country.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Even if only 1% of Indians become interested in football and become football fans, that's still almost 13 million football fans. That's greater than the entire population of Belgium (Fifa ranking 9), of Switzerland (Fifa ranking 4), of Portugal (Fifa ranking 6).

Football doesn't work like this. Holland has a very small population but historically has been a great footballing nation from clubs to the international team. The reason is not just having an interest in football but kids playing the game from a very young age regularly, having excellent coaching and having great facilities all over the country.

Football being the worlds most popular team sport makes it very difficult for new countries to compete with the established football nations.

 

[cricketjoshila]

I was responding to the poster who said nobody cares about football in India.

Im so glad India is not a footballing giant and will never be for the next 100 years at least. Sachin and co can buy teams , it wont make a difference.

If only what you think decided how the world will be.

 

[KingKhanWC]

If only what you think decided how the world will be.

It is here, I think right.

India will never be a footballing power, you're only deluding yourself if you think otherwise.

 

[Napa]

Where did you play in India? We used to play on various surfaces for hours each day.

Mainly "grounds" which had a little grass cover but was mostly dry. If you fell, you would scrape your knees. But I didn't and I think my friends didn't care. Football was stronger than a drug, it was pure intoxication. Then again, I am a Bengali and Bengalis are supposed to be crazy about football

Later when I played at university, the grounds had much more grass. And finally when I played in the intra-murals as a grad student in the US, the grounds had plenty of grass and the Italians and Argentinians were super.

 

[Napa]

View attachment 75887

So, the Indian Football team's 9 Match (8 official and 1 non-official) winning streak is all over the circles, however look at the quality of opposition that they are playing.

Laos, Bhutan, Cambodia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Puerto Rico . All Z grade teams.

Why doesn't India organize any matches against S Korea, N Korea, Japan, Iraq, Iran UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, China?

Now India's next two matches are against St Kitts and Nevis and Macau, another two very quality opposition teams. Now it's easy to understand how rankings are being improved.

I don't think Indians have the level of fitness needed to compete with the Europeans. But fitness is improving, and you can see cricketers like Pandya much fitter than the previous generation. India can compete at the world level only when it becomes somewhat competitive in track and field events, as that is a good measure of fitness. That may still be some time away. As far as skill goes, the Goanese, the Bengalis, the Keralites, the people from the North-East are already pretty good, and there must be more in the rest of India. Skill plus fitness will make you a world power.

 

[Specialisttailender]

In my paternal village Football had been played between villages for decades.

 

[Slog]

Im so glad India is not a footballing giant and will never be for the next 100 years at least.

That is disappointing but not entirely unexpected

Ill see if I can find some footage on youtube.

The main problem for India is the surfaces. Football is a sport where you will fall on the ground multiple times in a match. Unless all schools have nice grass surfaces, the kids wont get want to dive around on hard dirt.

Surfaces arent the problem. That is actually very naive thinking.

You think kids in Ivory Coast, Brazil, Ecuador or Ghana are playing on lush green surfaces?

Also. The desi kids in UK get all the best facilities apparently and most of them still only end up in Conference sides.

 

[Slog]

Mainly "grounds" which had a little grass cover but was mostly dry. If you fell, you would scrape your knees. But I didn't and I think my friends didn't care. Football was stronger than a drug, it was pure intoxication. Then again, I am a Bengali and Bengalis are supposed to be crazy about football

Later when I played at university, the grounds had much more grass. And finally when I played in the intra-murals as a grad student in the US, the grounds had plenty of grass and the Italians and Argentinians were super.

Why do you think desis cant do well in football even when they have the passion and (in case of western born desis) the facilities?

I think it is genetic

 

[Varun]

Even if only 1% of Indians become interested in football and become football fans, that's still almost 13 million football fans. That's greater than the entire population of Belgium (Fifa ranking 9), of Switzerland (Fifa ranking 4), of Portugal (Fifa ranking 6).

And if even 1% (13 million) of Indians are interested in llamas, they'll be consuming more llama meat than Bolivia (10.89 million pop) and Paraguay (6.725 million pop).

Doesn't mean anything.

 

[boomboomcheema]

Why do you think desis cant do well in football even when they have the passion and (in case of western born desis) the facilities?

I think it is genetic

Do you mean playing Football is some herculean task that requires SuperHuman genetics?

Its not Basketball where only Tall giants can dominate.

I think it's mainly due to the fact that most of these countries doing well have a headstart of 200-300 years, plus the level of interest and development in the game. South Americans for example have Football in their Blood for some centuries now, how can Hippy Desis perform anywhere closer to them in just about 10-20 years.

Countries like United States and China win majority of medals in Olympics but still fail to play better football compared to Traditional Footballing Nations. Do these countries suffer from lack of genetics or simply due to lack of footballing culture of 300 years old and lack of interest ?

West African Nations have been long colonialized by the French who have spread the Footballing Culture in those countries. Once the culture spreads, level tends to increase with rapid development in the game, how can countries with no culture today partipicate with ones with a culture of couple of centuries.

 

[Yossarian]

And if even 1% (13 million) of Indians are interested in llamas, they'll be consuming more llama meat than Bolivia (10.89 million pop) and Paraguay (6.725 million pop).

Doesn't mean anything.

13 million football fans means one heck of a lot of potential customers for replica shirts, scarves and other items fans purchase. 13 million football fans means potentially 13 million 'bums on seats' at football matches. 13 million football fans means millions of tv viewers wanting to watch Indian club matches on tv. 13 million football fans means a large pool of potential football-fan parents wanting to send their kids to junior clubs ..... the list is endless. How do you think the Chinese, Korean, Japanese etc, started with football? And look at them now. The Chinese clubs are even buying some of the top players for their teams, some of whom are being paid even more than Ronaldo or Messi. Heck, Japan and Korea have even hosted the World Cup,

Basically, India's vast and diverse population, many of whom follow European football and teams like R. Madrid, Barcelona, Man Utd, Bayern Munich etc., means that the potential is there for India to become a very large football market, in the same way as China has now become, which will eventually lead to a bigger and wider football infrastructure, football being played in schools and junior clubs, leading to bigger football clubs with home grown Indian talent.

 

[Yossarian]

Countries like United States and China win majority of medals in Olympics but still fail to play better football compared to Traditional Footballing Nations. Do these countries suffer from lack of genetics or simply due to lack of footballing culture of 300 years old and lack of interest ?

Rubbish.

The USA reached the knockout stages at the last World Cup, drawing 2-2 at the Group stage against the eventual World Cup winners Germany.

They lost to 2-1 to Belgium at the knockout stage, but only after extra time. They had a couple of opportunities to actually win the match.

In the last seven Women's World Cups, the US womens team have been champions three times, runners-up once, and 3rd place three times.

In the last five Olympic Games, the US womens team have been champions on four occasions, and losing finalists once.

In 2008, the US men's team reached no.8 in the Fifa World Rankings.

 

[UN talkz]

We have to give credit where it's true.....
All the teams mentioned in OP were ahead of India and some might be ahead of them even now.... India was ranked 173 in march 2015 and today they are ranked 97.... The quality of teams might be a factor but the point is that these teams were ranked ahead of India two years ago. India is making progess in football and there is hardly any doubt about it.

The ISL has helped a lot, even though most of the teams have retired professional footballers in foriegners category but that is still helping the younger players of India who had no exposure till the advent of ISL.... This time i watched both IPL and ISL, and honestly I felt ISL drew more crowd than IPL.... and the crowd was way more energetic than IPL crowd, especially in North East, Bengal and in Southern States of India. Also with the advent of I-league, a lot of youngsters are showing interest towards football.
I accept that the level of fitness is below as compared to top notch international teams but it's not that bad. Somebody above mentioned that Indian players can last 90 minutes, and that's completely rubbish. About 60 matches are played in ISL every year and i never saw such a problem..... even 18 year old players dont have any such problem.
Lets take an eg from cricket..... If Scotland defeat Afghanistan, they definitely did a good job... and this will help them improve rankings as well... it's simple.
But the logic used by posters here is that Scotland should defeat India and Australia and then only the improvement in ranking is justified... and that's ridiculous logic. Obviously if Indian Football team plays Brazil, Germany and Argentina, they will be humiliated and wont be able to compete with such high class teams BUT the fact is they are defeating teams who are of the same level as India or marginally better than them. Gradually they will defeat better teams and move forward, Although it will take time, actually it will take a long time. When you move up 76 places in a span of two years, then it surely is an achievement.

It will take time but if somebody has done well then they surely need to be applauded...

 

[Varun]

Why do you think desis cant do well in football even when they have the passion and (in case of western born desis) the facilities?

I think it is genetic

Likewise, why can't Netherlands and Oman hold a cricket bat to save their lives? Why do they barely make the World Cup? Must be genetic there too?*

*Apologies to Ryan ten Doeschate, but he's a Saffer.

 

[Slog]

Likewise, why can't Netherlands and Oman hold a cricket bat to save their lives? Why do they barely make the World Cup? Must be genetic there too?*

*Apologies to Ryan ten Doeschate, but he's a Saffer.

Because they obviously do not care and havent played it growing up

Many regions in subcontinent such as Bengal, Goa and the like do play football with passion and have done so for generations though

 

[hussain123]

I believe indian climate is too humid for football.

 

[Varun]

Because they obviously do not care and havent played it growing up

Many regions in subcontinent such as Bengal, Goa and the like do play football with passion and have done so for generations though

They play it because they want a break from playing cricket or video games. Nobody cares about football all that much in those places.

 

[hafeezrocks]

We have to give credit where it's true.....
All the teams mentioned in OP were ahead of India and some might be ahead of them even now.... India was ranked 173 in march 2015 and today they are ranked 97.... The quality of teams might be a factor but the point is that these teams were ranked ahead of India two years ago. India is making progess in football and there is hardly any doubt about it.

The ISL has helped a lot, even though most of the teams have retired professional footballers in foriegners category but that is still helping the younger players of India who had no exposure till the advent of ISL.... This time i watched both IPL and ISL, and honestly I felt ISL drew more crowd than IPL.... and the crowd was way more energetic than IPL crowd, especially in North East, Bengal and in Southern States of India. Also with the advent of I-league, a lot of youngsters are showing interest towards football.
I accept that the level of fitness is below as compared to top notch international teams but it's not that bad. Somebody above mentioned that Indian players can last 90 minutes, and that's completely rubbish. About 60 matches are played in ISL every year and i never saw such a problem..... even 18 year old players dont have any such problem.
Lets take an eg from cricket..... If Scotland defeat Afghanistan, they definitely did a good job... and this will help them improve rankings as well... it's simple.
But the logic used by posters here is that Scotland should defeat India and Australia and then only the improvement in ranking is justified... and that's ridiculous logic. Obviously if Indian Football team plays Brazil, Germany and Argentina, they will be humiliated and wont be able to compete with such high class teams BUT the fact is they are defeating teams who are of the same level as India or marginally better than them. Gradually they will defeat better teams and move forward, Although it will take time, actually it will take a long time. When you move up 76 places in a span of two years, then it surely is an achievement.

It will take time but if somebody has done well then they surely need to be applauded...

Rankings sometimes don't make much sense in Football, teams mostly play other teams in their own confederation . For example, currently India is ranked ahead of Iraq, North Korea , Thailand and NZ which are much better teams than India and have qualified even for WC's. If India plays head to head with any of these teams, they are likely to lose 9 times out of ten.

 

[UN talkz]

They play it because they want a break from playing cricket or video games. Nobody cares about football all that much in those places.

Bengal has got a huge football fanbase but people equally like cricket as well....
But people from Northeast dont give a damn about cricket.... They are mad football supporters.
And most of the south Indian states also have a lot of passion for football

 

[hafeezrocks]

India's rise will be impressive only if they beat a Nation that has qualified for the WC in the past.

For example : S Korea, N Korea, Japan, Iraq, Iran UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, China.

Forget about Brazil or Argentina or Chile.

 

[Slog]

They play it because they want a break from playing cricket or video games. Nobody cares about football all that much in those places.

well that is not just true

and only few posts ago indians were saying bengal is football-mad.

and north east. im sure they dont care abt cricket and football is their sport

 

[Slog]

Rubbish.

The USA reached the knockout stages at the last World Cup, drawing 2-2 at the Group stage against the eventual World Cup winners Germany.

They lost to 2-1 to Belgium at the knockout stage, but only after extra time. They had a couple of opportunities to actually win the match.

In the last seven Women's World Cups, the US womens team have been champions three times, runners-up once, and 3rd place three times.

In the last five Olympic Games, the US womens team have been champions on four occasions, and losing finalists once.

In 2008, the US men's team reached no.8 in the Fifa World Rankings.

Yes. This claim is mind boggling to me always. Like do people even bother to do a simple Google search or better yet have some general knowledge?

And the worst thing is that its not just casual fans who are ignorant.

I can never forget that the head of the Pakistan Football Federation ("PFF") said in 2008 that the level of football in Pakistan is at the same level as that in the US. Mindboggling. i remember thinking what the fudge is wrong with this guy

 

[JaDed]

Not correct. Those that have qualified for the World Cups in the past have regularly given a good account of themselves and some have even come close to beating the big boys and causing upsets. Many of the players are good enough to play in the top European leagues, but do not do so due to being rewarded far more handsomely by staying/playing in their home countries.

Point being it's their #1 sport and they hardly do well compared to European and Latin American ones that also do well in other team sports such as hockey and volleyball,at best I can remember only South and North Korea reaching semis of a WC.

Even Australia has improved in football inspite of Doing very well in Cricket,Field Hockey and Rugby.

 

[JaDed]

USA has actually started taking football seriously,with the amount of injuries in NFL, parents have started enrolling Kids in soccer,heard grounds are being converted for the same.

Americans actually take sports very seriously,and they probably have the best sporting culture after Australia.

 

[hafeezrocks]

USA has actually started taking football seriously,with the amount of injuries in NFL, parents have started enrolling Kids in soccer,heard grounds are being converted for the same.

Americans actually take sports very seriously,and they probably have the best sporting culture after Australia.

thats right, its considered the softest and safest Sport to play for Kids and Girls in the USA )

 

[Napa]

Why do you think desis cant do well in football even when they have the passion and (in case of western born desis) the facilities?

I think it is genetic

That is possible. After all second generation desis do well in cricket in Britain but not football. Anyway, with close to 2 billion people in the subcontinent, maybe there is just enough talent have a respectable showing.

The genetic argument is reinforced by the poor performance of nations with abundant facilities and large populations where also soccer is the most popular game: Japan (#52), Korea (#66) and China (#88).

http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/ranking-table/men/rank=243/index.html

China is especially surprising as they are reasonably good in track and field having won the largest number of medals in the Olympics. #88??? Unbelievable!!!

Football is a game of passion unlike any other sport I know of. Maybe basketball comes closest. If you don't have the passion, nothing can make up for it.
[MENTION=137142]JaDed[/MENTION] [MENTION=102121]hafeezrocks[/MENTION]

 

[CricketCartoons]

India must do well in football if it wants to be respected as a nation, or as a race.

 

[Napa]

India must do well in football if it wants to be respected as a nation, or as a race.

Just enjoy playing football. And develop the economy so that the poor have a better life.

After that, if people respect you, that is good. If they don't, then it is their prerogative, nothing for Indians to worry about.

 

[Varun]

India must do well in football if it wants to be respected as a nation, or as a race.

Cricket is a way better sport in every sense.

 

[Napa]

Cricket is a way better sport in every sense.

About ten times more people in the world play football compared to cricket and there is a good reason for that.

As someone who has played a lot of both sports, I can tell you that football generates ten times the passion in the player compared to cricket.

Football is non-stop action, cricket is really quite boring to play for 11 out of 13 players on the field (everybody other than the batsman and the bowler).

 

[Slog]

The genetic argument is reinforced by the poor performance of nations with abundant facilities and large populations where also soccer is the most popular game: Japan (#52), Korea (#66) and China (#88).

Ok lets be honest here. Japan and Korea while no world beaters, are regulars in World Cups. They make it every time so there is NO comparison between us and them. Also they have had decent representation in top leagues

Thats why I end up thinking it must be genetic or at best, cultural. Desis are way too lazy and laid back for football.

There is no reason that villagers from dirt poor African countries can go to the very top of football and desis can, if the only reasoon holding us back was the facilities or coaching at youth levels

 

[IAJ]

Why do you think desis cant do well in football even when they have the passion and (in case of western born desis) the facilities?

I think it is genetic

Genetics could be one of the reasons but there are alot of other factors you also need to rely on.

I can talk about personal experience as well. When I was younger I was caught in a dilemma, should I focus on my studies or football or should I try both. I tried both and it went well till I was 16-17. At that age I played with many who went on to represent the Norwegian national side and I competed well, but slowly I started feeling pain under my feet whenever I trained too hard and eventually I had to give up my career due to this injury.

Even If I didn't have this injury I don't think I would have made to the top senior level because I simply didn't have stamina, running 60 metres I was quicker than most, I was sort of explosive, but I got tired too quickly, I hardly lasted 90 minutes with my explosivness, so there could be some genes there which hindered me.

Likewise you had other desi players who could run and run but they were not quick enough so they lacked those kind of genes.

There were a couple who actually were very good, but they started partying and could not handle the fame at so young age and their career faded away.

There are a couple of pakistani who play at top senior level now and many young players are coming through.

Many parents want their children to become doctors, engineers etc and don't let them focus on sports. There is a mix bag here really.

 

[kaayal]

I accept that the level of fitness is below as compared to top notch international teams but it's not that bad. Somebody above mentioned that Indian players can last 90 minutes, and that's completely rubbish. About 60 matches are played in ISL every year and i never saw such a problem..... even 18 year old players dont have any such problem.
..

Ofcourse they will play the whole 90minutes. They will be like brazil in the first 10 minutes, full attacking mode...After that they losses all their energy and can't even connect the passes. And by 90mts, they are barely able to run let alone scoring a goal.

 

[kaayal]

Wasn't IM Vijayan a mallu?

Kerala, Bengal, Sikkim and the north east have been responsible for whatever success we have had in footie.

Yeah he along with Baichung bhutia were our best players in those days.

 

[Varun]

About ten times more people in the world play football compared to cricket and there is a good reason for that.

The lowest common denominator will always be greater in number. Get hold of the average football fan and try explaining the concepts of a draw, follow-on or powerplay and he won't be able to take it beyond five minutes.

 

[cricketjoshila]

ISL are hiring most foreign from Liga Secunda or Championship etc.Plus the likes of Elano Berbatov Robbie Keane Forlan etc means that it will help Indian players raise their standards.Even if India is able to field 15 players who are of Liga Secunda or championship level i believe we will have a good chance of qualifying for WCs.

 

[Slog]

ISL are hiring most foreign from Liga Secunda or Championship etc.Plus the likes of Elano Berbatov Robbie Keane Forlan etc means that it will help Indian players raise their standards.Even if India is able to field 15 players who are of Liga Secunda or championship level i believe we will have a good chance of qualifying for WCs.

also.

World Cup is being expanded to 48 teams i think so more chances

 

[KingKhanWC]

That is disappointing but not entirely unexpected



Surfaces arent the problem. That is actually very naive thinking.

You think kids in Ivory Coast, Brazil, Ecuador or Ghana are playing on lush green surfaces?

Also. The desi kids in UK get all the best facilities apparently and most of them still only end up in Conference sides.

Have you even played football or know anything about the game?

In Brazil kids play on the beach, which is why they have a great first touch. Africa still hasn't produced a team which has gone on to the later stages of the world cup even though they have produced some very good players. In those African countries football is the main sport, it's very popular but if they did have better surfaces and playing conditions they would have dominated football to some extent.

There is a lot of competition in England, the desis who play in Sunday league teams are better than anyone in Pakistan or India.

 

[hafeezrocks]

also.

World Cup is being expanded to 48 teams i think so more chances

2026 WC will be held between 48 Teams with 8 Spots for Asian sides.

Iran
South Korea
Japan
Australia

That's 4 Slots booked.

Remaining contenders :

North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, China, Iraq ( Teams that have qualified in the past)

Other Superior contenders : Qatar, UAE, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Syria.

India will be fighting with these contenders for the last 4 Spots. That's against ten teams.

 

[Slog]

There is a lot of competition in England, the desis who play in Sunday league teams are better than anyone in Pakistan or India.

No. They are not

Quite a few conference and division 2 desi players have played for Pakistan and they got taken to the cleaners

 

[KingKhanWC]

No. They are not

Quite a few conference and division 2 desi players have played for Pakistan and they got taken to the cleaners

lol

Ive played in Pakistan against the so called top players, they are u-16 level in England.

 

[Slog]

lol

Ive played in Pakistan against the so called top players, they are u-16 level in England.

well I dont really care for your made up stories which you cannot back

What I do know is actual evidence

The likes of Zesh Rehman and Adnan Ahmed (Huddersfield Town back when they were in League One) have played for Pakistan and not made much difference

That is factual. Your fantasy stories aren't

 

[Slog]

well I dont really care for your made up stories which you cannot back

What I do know is actual evidence

The likes of Zesh Rehman and Adnan Ahmed (Huddersfield Town back when they were in League One) have played for Pakistan and not made much difference

That is factual. Your fantasy stories aren't

Others in this illustrious list of lower tier British Pakistani origin players who did jack all when they played for Pakistan are:

Usman Gondal
Shabir Khan

Quite a few other of these 'superstar' British Pakistani footballers

 

[KingKhanWC]

well I dont really care for your made up stories which you cannot back

What I do know is actual evidence

The likes of Zesh Rehman and Adnan Ahmed (Huddersfield Town back when they were in League One) have played for Pakistan and not made much difference

That is factual. Your fantasy stories aren't

Am American Pakistani telling me Im making up stories about football, ironic.

The league is rubbish, what do you expect them to do?

Name one Pakistani footballer who in your world is the next Messi?

 

[Muhammad10]

Since the discussion seems to be about Desi footballers in general, this Easah Suliman kid seems to be a decent British Pakistani talent.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...es-for-England-in-Euro-U19-Championship-Final

Interesting article about how he received encouragement from Moeen Ali, who seems to be a family friend:

http://www.thefa.com/news/2015/may/...liham-hoping-to-inspire-british-asians-120515

 

[Slog]

Am American Pakistani telling me Im making up stories about football, ironic.

The league is rubbish, what do you expect them to do?

Name one Pakistani footballer who in your world is the next Messi?

Firstly. Im not a Pakistani American.

I am basically saying that your opinion that Pakistan would become a decent level team if British born Pakistani folks were brought to play in it is false and has been proven so. Simply because the British Pakistan footballers arent any good either. Which tbh lends credence to my own view that it has sth to do with genetics

 

[KingKhanWC]

Firstly. Im not a Pakistani American.

I am basically saying that your opinion that Pakistan would become a decent level team if British born Pakistani folks were brought to play in it is false and has been proven so. Simply because the British Pakistan footballers arent any good either. Which tbh lends credence to my own view that it has sth to do with genetics

Ive not read any detailed posts from you in any football thread so please refrain from saying im making up stories when you dont know me at all and have little knowledge of football yourself.

Name Pakistans best footballer? Google it if you like.

 

[kaayal]

ISL are hiring most foreign from Liga Secunda or Championship etc.Plus the likes of Elano Berbatov Robbie Keane Forlan etc means that it will help Indian players raise their standards.Even if India is able to field 15 players who are of Liga Secunda or championship level i believe we will have a good chance of qualifying for WCs.

We are just hoping that the Kerala blasters management sign Dimitar Berbatov asap. Along with Wes Brown and coach Rene mulensteen, he will be a good asset for our team.

 

[Nostalgic]

I'm curious, were these British-Pakistanis active in the Championship or Division 1 etc of the English pyramid? If so, I would've thought they would've been good enough to make quite a bit of difference to the Pakistan national side. If it were simply genetics, they wouldn't have made it to the clubs they played for (assuming they really were in the second or third tier of English football).

 

[CanadianG00se]

Bengal has got a huge football fanbase but people equally like cricket as well....
But people from Northeast dont give a damn about cricket.... They are mad football supporters.
And most of the south Indian states also have a lot of passion for football

Cricket craze dwarfs all other sports craze combined and thats Fact!

Northeast historically never were into cricket which is why they hardy produce a cricketer, they are more into atheletics, hockey, and soccer. Football is mere a timepass sport for majority of the Indian population. Kids in metro cities play soccer mostly during monsoon in field mostly without any protective gears or soccer shoes, you may call it street soccer. Those kids just play for the sake to enjoy the monsoon. Most of the kids want to be Kohli or Tendulkar and pursue career in cricket.
Soccer was, is, and will always be just a minority sport in India. Kids love to follow European clubs and are passionate about it, but hardly any of them will want to pursue career in soccer and play for India.
In south, only Kerala is football crazy state, almost every state of India is cricket crazy nation. I dont see any sport will ever make inroads in to India as long as cricket is there.

 

[cricketjoshila]

We are just hoping that the Kerala blasters management sign Dimitar Berbatov asap. Along with Wes Brown and coach Rene mulensteen, he will be a good asset for our team.

Hopefully you do.

That kerala team owner list is star studded.

PS:ATK still rules!!!!!

 

[KingKhanWC]

I'm curious, were these British-Pakistanis active in the Championship or Division 1 etc of the English pyramid? If so, I would've thought they would've been good enough to make quite a bit of difference to the Pakistan national side. If it were simply genetics, they wouldn't have made it to the clubs they played for (assuming they really were in the second or third tier of English football).

English Premier League is the most competitive league in the world. Not just the top division but the lower diversion. There are over 90 professional clubs with over thousands of full time professional footballers. English white players find it difficult to get into the Premier League as it brings in players from all over the world. So for Asians it's very difficult, many choose other career paths for this reason. But many play for fun in Sunday leagues and are good enough to play for the current Pakistan team which is in serious decline with very average players.

 

[kaayal]

Hopefully you do.

That kerala team owner list is star studded.

PS:ATK still rules!!!!!

This time we will take revenge for all that final losses with Kolkata.

Last final was really heart breaking....i was crying lol

 

[Nostalgic]

English Premier League is the most competitive league in the world. Not just the top division but the lower diversion. There are over 90 professional clubs with over thousands of full time professional footballers. English white players find it difficult to get into the Premier League as it brings in players from all over the world. So for Asians it's very difficult, many choose other career paths for this reason. But many play for fun in Sunday leagues and are good enough to play for the current Pakistan team which is in serious decline with very average players.

But which tier were the players who did play for Pakistan in? Did we get any from Division 1 or 2 (Premiership and Championship are probably too much to ask for), or were they all from the Sunday leagues?

 

[Napa]

The lowest common denominator will always be greater in number. Get hold of the average football fan and try explaining the concepts of a draw, follow-on or powerplay and he won't be able to take it beyond five minutes.

Football is about passion, the drive to get to the ball, to get past the defender, to score, for a goalkeeper to punch out that shot, etc. Go to youtube and see the passion on the face of Buffon when he punched out a potential game-winner from Zidane. You will never get that passion in cricket.

After playing football, in the evenings I would study calculus and mechanics. I got my passion from football and my intellectual stimulation from my studies. No need to confuse their separate purposes.

Please don't say you believe cricket is more intellectually challenging than multivariate calculus.

 

[Syed1]

The lowest common denominator will always be greater in number. Get hold of the average football fan and try explaining the concepts of a draw, follow-on or powerplay and he won't be able to take it beyond five minutes.

By the same definition, ask the fittest cricketer to run non-stop for 90 minutes and he won't go past the 30 minute mark.

 

[Abdul]

By the same definition, ask the fittest cricketer to run non-stop for 90 minutes and he won't go past the 30 minute mark.

Imagine or .

 

[SandyB]

So truly delusional posts by a few Indians here. !Football may be some pretentious hobby for the rich urban kids in the north, but there are quite a few states which treat football with tremendous love and passion. that too since the 60s and 70's . Especially Kerala and the entire Northeast.

You will find more posters and cut-outs for Brazil and Argentina during the football worldcup here in Kerala than you will find for India during the Cricket world cups. And apart from Sachin few Indian sportspersons can match the adoration the people here have for Maradona or Messi or Ronaldo

Wasn't IM Vijayan a mallu?

Kerala, Bengal, Sikkim and the north east have been responsible for whatever success we have had in footie.

In the words of Baichung Bhutia himself, Vijayan was one India's greatest ever players , an international quality striker who was let down by our lack of even a half decent system to nurture and guide his great natural talent. But those were the golden days of Kerala football. The sport was in decline in our state for the past 10-15 years.

The ISL has led to a huge resurgence in the sport here, the passion and fan following was always there, but now the people have a team to root for and the boys here can dream for playing for it some day. !

My only concern is the management/investors of the team , who are mostly rich business men/celebs with not much passion for developing the game (Sachin may be an exception). They could sell of the team to some other big Indian city if the team starts doing too badly. Our state can't offer the same amount of business potential as the bigger cities.