India vs Afghanistan, Fifa World Cup qualifiers: Igor Stimac’s toothless Blue Tigers disappoint again in front of goal

There are peaks and troughs and then there is the Indian national football team.

A predictable nil-nil draw in Abha, Saudi Arabia against Afghanistan, ranked 158 to India’s 117, in a World Cup qualifier second-round match once again highlighted the one consistent trait in this Indian team – their inconsistency. The scoreless draw meant that the national team hasn’t scored a goal since a 0-1 away win against Kuwait in November 2023.

The lack of goals against the Afghans, on the back of a poor Asian Cup where India let in six goals but didn’t get a single one of their own over three group games, puts further pressure on coach Igor Stimac. The Croatian had, after all, put all his eggs into one basket and waived the continental tournament off in the hopes of pulling the country into the third round of the WCQ and with it, qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup directly.

That dream might still be on the table, but it has become a lot tougher after only a point was gained when three easy ones were on offer on Thursday night. India will need at least four points from their next three matches – against Afghanistan (March 26), Kuwait (June 6) and Qatar (June 11) to remain in control of their fate.

India under Stimac has become predictable.

It’s clear especially when facing Afghanistan, a team they routinely outrank yet routinely falter against. This is the fourth time in five years that they have faced them and the scorelines read 1-1, 1-1, 2-1 and 0-0. The solitary win came in Kolkata thanks to a late, late winner from Sahal Abdul Samad.

On Thursday, chances were barely mustered. Crosses came in deep from the flanks and were directed at players smaller than the defenders they were up against. It led to easy clearances and little to