Indian Football Hits Rock Bottom with Historic Loss to Bangladesh
The Indian football team has reached its lowest point in nearly a decade, plunging to 142nd position in the FIFA rankings following an embarrassing 0-1 defeat against Bangladesh. This marks India's worst ranking performance in almost ten years and represents their first loss to Bangladesh in over two decades.
Coach Jamil Accepts Full Responsibility
Head coach Khalid Jamil stepped forward to take complete ownership of the team's disappointing performance. Speaking at a press interaction on Saturday, Jamil stated, "Last match result I don't blame Shabbir Ali sir, IM Vijayan, Kalyan Chaubey sir who supported me. I take the full responsibility."
The defeat came during the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers in Dhaka on Tuesday, marking Bangladesh's first victory over India since 2003. This loss compounds India's football woes, coming just weeks after the team was eliminated from Asian Cup contention following a defeat to Singapore in Goa last month.
Urgent Call for Early ISL Start
Jamil emphasized the critical need for the Indian Super League to begin as soon as possible to halt the team's downward spiral. "I feel ISL jitna jaldi start hoga utna achha hai (the sooner it starts, the better it is)," the coach asserted, highlighting how the delayed league schedule has impacted player preparation and performance.
While refusing to use the ISL delay as an excuse, Jamil acknowledged that timely league matches would have significantly benefited the national team's preparation. "We shouldn't give any excuse but it would have been better if the ISL happened on time," he added, stressing the importance of maintaining positivity despite the challenging circumstances.
Structural Issues and Long-term Solutions
Former India captain Shabbir Ali, who joined Jamil during the interaction, pointed to deeper structural problems within Indian football. Ali emphasized the crucial need for robust grassroots and youth development programs, stating "It's a must thing" for the sport's revival in the country.
Ali also highlighted a significant issue in player selection, noting that "in the last 10 years no coach selected any I-League players — may be one or two." He revealed that the current management is actively working to provide more opportunities for domestic players, at least in training camps.
Addressing the team's dismal FIFA ranking, Jamil offered a sobering perspective: "Ranking is a reflection of our last five years' performance, ranking doesn't matter but we must win which didn't happen in the last game. We must try very hard."
The coach's comments reflect the growing concern within Indian football circles about the national team's consistent decline over recent years. With the Asian Cup dream already shattered and FIFA rankings at a decade-low, the pressure mounts on the All India Football Federation and team management to implement effective turnaround strategies.
