FIFA World Cup qualifiers: Why losing to Afghanistan is a new-low for Indian football

When he scored in the 37th minute, Sunil Chhetri’s face bore no emotion as he trudged back to his half. When India misplaced the most pedestrian of passes minutes later, his face contorted itself into that familiar mix of abject fury – one that only his Indian teammates seem to elicit. When he was substituted in the 67th minute after scoring a penalty in his 150th game for the Indian national football team, his face on the bench turned to one of concern and urgency. And when thirty minutes later, the referee blew the final whistle, the country’s most recognisable footballer buried his face in between his hands, unable to face the reality of what Indian football truly is.

It was the 2013 SAFF Cup Final where Afghanistan had last beaten India in an international football match. On Tuesday, in Guwahati and in a World Cup qualifier second round match at that, Afghanistan defeated them once again, this time to the sweet tune of two late goals.

Four of Afghanistan’s players do not currently have a club to play (according to their coach Ashley Westwood) and weren’t in the middle of a football season like every Indian player on the pitch was. The Afghans struggled to put a team together for these qualifiers due to disputes between the players and management. India were only able to pick one point from a possible six from these two games against opponents who they should have easily picked apart over two legs.