Talking Points: Were India overdependent on their defensive capabilities?

The Blue Colts conceded only one goal in the entire tournament.

The Indian U-16 boys had impressed so far in the AFC U-16 Championship being held in Malaysia, reaching the quartfinals after a gap of sixteen years and had dealt with teams like Vietnam, mighty Iran and Indonesia on their way to qualification from the group.

They met another powerhouse of Asian football in Korea Republic in the last eight of the tournament. A win would have ensured a berth in the FIFA  U-17 World Cup to be held in Peru next year and a semi-final spot to go with it. However, the Koreans proved to be a challenge too hard for the young guns to conquer. A solitary goal was enough to crush the dreams of the young Indian squad on the field and millions of Indian fans beyond it.

Watch: Korea Republic 1-0 India highlights

Here are the top five talking points that caught the eye from a spectacular fixture played at the Petaling Jaya Stadium in Selangor, Malaysia.

5. Lack of composure and calmness on the ball cost India dearlyThe young players were full of enthusiasm, but lacked maturity when on the ball, which separated the two sides. Korea Republic dominated possession. Their midfielders were able to manipulate the game with ease largely due to the fact that India gave the ball away too cheaply.The Blue Colts defended deep inside their own half, hoping to catch the slow Korean defenders on the counter. However, on most occasions, the recovered ball was cheaply gifted back by hasteful decisions, lack of coordination and individual errors. This led to forwards like Vikram Pratap Singh and Melvin Demello cutting isolated figures; as a result, the opponents were able to unleash attack after attack.

4. Collectively brilliant India U-16 hold lessons for senior national teamAn area where the Blue Colts excelled was the collective effort from the whole squad. They defended as a unit in every fixture and conceded just a single goal in four matches. Moreover, the individual errors were swiftly covered up by supporting teammates. Attackers dropped back deep to assist the defence and the collective will of the squad and their unflinching attitude stood out.

Selflessness and the teamwork on display can very well serve as an example for the senior players of the Indian football team to follow. Limiting a team such as South Korea to a single goal is no small feat.

3. Defensive brilliance a sign of good times to come for Indian football

Bibiano Fernandes deserves the highest praise for instilling a strong structure in the squad. The defensive capabilities of the Colts were a shining example of the hard-work put in by the manager and the belief he has in his players. India only conceded one goal in four matches and emerged as one of the toughest sides to penetrate in the whole competition. They almost held back a South Korean team who had demolished Australia by three goals, Afghanistan by seven and Iraq by two; a total of 12 goals in merely three matches.

Historically, Indian football teams of different generations have been ailed by the leakage of goals, especially against top teams from the continent. However, if recent performances are any indication, the future of Indian football is heading in the right direction. Solidity at the back and exceptional levels of fitness displayed by the U-16 squad has impressed fans all over the country.

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2. Niraj Kumar will be a sought-after star in the future

By far the biggest discovery from the AFC U-16 Championship, is custodian Niraj Kumar. The Punjab-born youngster was central to India's march to the quarterfinals. He displayed maturity way beyond his years, commanded his backline well, showed composure in aerial duels and made countless last-ditch saves that earned him three clean-sheets in three group matches.

Niraj will definitely mature into a top goalkeeper and vie for a place in the senior national team in the coming years. Along with that, he will be a hot property among Indian Super League clubs, who would be competing to get his signature. Rest assured the shot-stopper has immense potential and is vital for the future of Indian football.

1. Were India too reliant on counter-attacking football?

One of the key observations made from this tournament was the way the team was setup by Bibiano Fernandes. Defending deep and soaking up pressure was a trend that was repeated game after game. India sat back in order to catch the opposition off-guard on the counter. However, this lead to sacrificing possession and it let the opposition manipulate the ball with much ease. The attackers failed to leave any lasting impression and managed only one goal in four games; a penalty converted by Vikram Pratap Singh against Vietnam.

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As such, the Blue Colts would be well advised to defend higher up the pitch and press the opposition with more intensity. They looked to produce more scoring opportunities with that approach in mind, especially against Iran, where they could have easily won the match had they capitalized late on their chances.

This could probably be an area where the gaffer may need to look into and alter the structure of the squad to suit their pace and quality going forward.