News
India Wins Group And Maldives Go Through After Drawing Lots
9 September 2018
India beat Maldives 2-0 in the SAFF Suzuki Championship's last group game.
India's two first half goals were scored by Nikhil Poojari, Manvir singh, which condemned Maldives to await drawing of lots.
India tops the group and booked a place in semi finals against Pakistan. Maldives Qualifies as second team after winning on drawing of lot. Maldives and Sri Lanka finish level on points and same goal difference. Maldives will play against the Group A winners Nepal in the semi-finals.
Maldives won on flip of a coin. The question is, has our football sunk to this level?
Photo: ImagesMV
India Maldives Sri Lanka SAFF 2018
We went through a large period in the last 15 years or so when we didn't give our youth development any importance at all. Other SAFF nations have either overtaken or caught up with us. Sri Lanka, after getting humiliated by us in 2013, doubled down on their efforts in an effort to include more players from remote parts of the country in their youth development program. And it has only taken them 4 years to catch up with us. Maldives go to every tournament believing it to be their divine right to win it. Other teams work hard and prepare for it. Also, we should have played more friendlies during the training camp, but the boys played just one match in over a month and it's clear that they lack match sharpness.
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