AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers Review: India fail to qualify but show promise of better future

The young colts showed commitment and desire despite falling short of their intended mission.

The India U-20 team failed to qualify for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup next year which came as a disappointment to fans. The young colts came into the campaign in good form having won the SAFF U-20 Championship. But their results show the gulf in quality that still exists between India and the rest of the big teams in Asia.

Despite their best efforts, Shanmugam Venkatesh's boys could not overcome the final hurdle in qualifying for the U-20 Asian Cup next year. The side finished with a win in their three games but showed glimpses of their quality and potential. But they could not capitalise on some key moments which eventually led to their failure.

The Matches

The Indians were placed in a tough group against five time U-20 Asian Cup winners Iraq, Australia and Kuwait. The young colts started brightly, leading 2-1 in their opening game against Iraq till the hour mark. but a few individual errors led to a cataclysmic 4-2 defeat.

The same fate continued in the second game against a strong Australian side. Despite being 2-0 down, India pulled one back through Gurkirat Singh. But a few errors led to another defeat, this time a 4-1 result against the Socceroos. India eventually finished on a high with a 2-1 win against Kuwait in their final game.

The campaign proved that the youngsters possessed quality and capability to compete with the best. This was evident in their win against Kuwait. Venkatesh's boys dominated the game and showed the intent to get the three points despite it being a dead rubber. Eventually, it was lack of composure during crunch moments that was the difference. But this qualification tournament would have proven to be a valuable learning experience for the young colts who can take a lot of heart from their performances.

Positives

Never say die attitude

Despite their inability to qualify, the attitude of the Indian players was top notch across their three games. They were committed in what they wanted to do and were strong in their work rate.

Against Iraq and Australia, the youngsters did their best to keep themselves in the game and took the attack to the opposition consistently. Evident when they had a lead against five time U-20 Asian Cup winners Iraq and when they pulled a goal back against Australia, the youngsters showed a lot of heart and never gave up despite difficult opposition and circumstances.

Coordination in midfield and attack

The Indians also showed technical fluidity and cohesion in possession. They dominated possession in good phases in their games and also showed good intent to push ahead with the ball. They rarely tried to be passive on the ball and despite some individual errors, the connection between the midfield and attack was creditable.

Especially in the game against Kuwait, the midfielders Vibin Mohanan and Himanshu Jangra and the attack led by Taison Singh dominated the first half and showed their class with an early goal to take the lead. They never took their foot off the pedal and continued to dominate which speaks volumes of their capability and desire to score, compete and dominate. It bodes well for the future of Indian football and the national team to see technically capable midfielders and forwards make their way through the ranks.

Negatives

Vulnerable defence

India’s backline didn’t look the most secure against intense pressure. The young tigers conceded nine goals across their three games including back-to-back four goal tallies against Iraq and Australia. The two nations dominated the Indian defence in several phases of the game.

There seemed to be some communication issues between the defenders and the goalkeeper as well. Some poor individual mistakes also caused problems for India throughout the competition. While the defenders should improve with more playing time, it’s safe to say that the attacking and ball playing capability of the Indian Colts shone through rather than their defensive exploits.

Top Performers

Gurkirat Singh

Gurkirat continued his exploits from the SAFF U-20 Championship where he scored eight goals. The Mumbai City FC forward was the topscorer once again for India with three goals and one assist. His three strikes include a wonderful curling effort from long range in the 4-1 loss to Australia and a scorching free kick in the 2-1 win against Kuwait. Gurkirat once again showed why he is one of the most capable forwards in Indian football despite his young age.

His movement, link-up play and brilliant finishing ability helped him stand out from the rest. He showed a proper striker's instinct throughout the campaign, always chasing for chances and for a sight at goal.

Himanshu Jangra

Himanshu Jangra too continued his good form from the SAFF U-20 Championship. His quick movement and exhilarating style caused a lot of problems to opposing defenders. The Minerva Punjab Academy graduate used his physique to bully defenders and beat them for pace for most parts. Jangra’s clever work in the final third and efficient final product helped him lead the attack from the front.

He was also very proactive off the ball, looking for chances to get the ball back and always pressing high up. His commitment and work rate were second to none throughout the campaign.

Taison Singh

The Indian team's creditable campaign also comes down to admirable leadership from Taison Singh. The lad scored one goal in the campaign, a delightful finish in India's final game against Kuwait.

Taison showed great composure and is very secure on the ball. Time and again he showcased his class with clever movement and his ability to play himself out of tough situations. Taison also showed his versatility in attack while also dropping back to help his team's build-up and overall gameplay. The youngster possesses a very composed and level head. His calmness and leadership skills make him stand out as a potential leader of the national team or a club in the future.

Coach’s Report Card

Shanmugam Venkatesh had the pressure of leading his charges after a successful campaign at home in the SAFF U-20 Championship. Despite the results, the coach's tactics and intent were praiseworthy as he never set his players up to play passively.

Venkatesh always encouraged his players to play on the front foot and take the attack to the opposition. The players played with a lot of freedom which brought the best out of them. Venkatesh deployed a style including quick interplay, incisive passing and swift movement. This was also implemented in and around the opponent’s box. India used it well to produce some attractive football in the games, scoring some really well-worked goals. What is more important is that these players show no fear in having the ball at their feet and playing with it, which is the biggest positive from coach Venkatesh's work with this young squad.

Lessons Learned

The biggest lesson for the entire team is to work on their defensive structure. India got sliced opened too easily at times which led to them getting punished by better oppositions.

The defenders need to communicate better and be more cohesive in defending. They need to work on closing gaps and passing lanes quickly. Another important aspect that India must learn is defending set-pieces. This was evident in the game against Kuwait where some sloppy fouls and mistakes led to Kuwait causing them problems from free kicks. Kuwait eventually equalized from the same.

Most importantly, the Indian youngsters can look back at this campaign as a valuable learning experience. They got the opportunity to face some of the best young talent and nations in Asia and showed that they can compete and stand their ground. Therefore, as mentioned before, the Indians can take a lot of heart from this campaign The future is bright for Indian football with these players, if they continue to develop and make good on their future opportunities like this.