Subrata Paul, the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) national team director, has voiced concerns about the Indian team's lack of desire during their 2027 Asian Cup qualifier match against Bangladesh. The match, which ended in a 0-0 draw, took place in Shillong on March 25, 2025. Paul's assessment comes as a critical evaluation of the team's spirit and attitude, elements he believes are crucial for success.
Paul, a former India No. 1 and Arjuna award winner, highlighted several key challenges the senior national team faces. These issues, as noted in the technical committee meeting minutes from April 17, include problems related to players' attitudes, patriotism, and overall team spirit. Paul referenced his former teammates like Bhaichung Bhutia, Climax Lawrence, Sameer Naik, and Deepak Mondal, emphasizing the unwavering desire they displayed while representing the national team, often putting the team's needs above personal discomfort or injuries.
Bhutia, a former India captain, has called for Paul to identify the players who did not give their best, so they are not chosen again. Paul emphasized that it is his responsibility as national team director to point out these issues, regardless of whether it makes him unpopular.
The qualifier against Bangladesh marked Paul's first official match since his appointment in February. Prior to the qualifier, India won a friendly match against the Maldives 3-0. However, Paul stated that the performance in the friendly was not up to par and that he had already communicated this to the technical committee.
Team spirit, according to Paul, is a significant challenge. He observed that the current team is a mix of experienced players and those with limited experience. This blend may be contributing to a lack of cohesion within the team, as it is currently in a transitional phase.
Manolo Marquez, who was appointed as the Blue Tigers head coach in July 2024, expressed his disappointment after the match against Bangladesh, stating he was angry with the performance of everyone. He said that maybe this is the reality of Indian football. India's performance against Bangladesh has been described as a "shameful" display, leaving fans stunned by the 0-0 draw. Critics have pointed out the team's inability to exploit Bangladesh's weaknesses, with few clear chances created throughout the match.
The draw against Bangladesh has placed India in a precarious position in their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification campaign. With only the group winners guaranteed a spot in the final tournament in Saudi Arabia, the margin for error is minimal.
The AIFF's efforts to integrate overseas Indian-origin players into the national team have been slow. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey has stated that the organization is working on creating a policy framework to utilize the talent of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) players. However, progress has been slow, especially when compared to neighboring Bangladesh, who have already included players like Hamza Choudhury in their squad.
The AIFF's executive committee is scheduled to meet on July 2 to discuss Manolo Marquez's performance. Despite earlier confusion, the meeting will focus on evaluating Marquez's performance, and he remains the head coach.
