India vs Afghanistan, World Cup Qualifiers: Igor Stimac Says 'If I Don't Take India To Third Round, I Will Leave'

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Indian football team's head coach Igor Stimac said he will quit his position if he fails to take the national team to the third round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The Croat claimed on the eve of the India vs Afghanistan match in Guwahati on March 26.

"Never mind the contract, If I don't take India to the third round, I will leave," said Igor Stimac at the pre-match press conference. "With my pride, with my honour, with everything that I have done in the last five years. But if we qualify, there's plenty of work that has to be done."

India face Afghanistan in a crucial match with a win necessary to India's ambition to qualify for the third round. The Blue Tigers are currently placed second on the points table with four points with three of their matches left to play in four-team Group A.

While the top two qualify for third round, India are fighting with Kuwait and Afghanistan for the second spot while Asian Champions Qatar (9 points in 3 games) are in a league of their own.

Igor Stimac made a big promise of taking India to the third round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers right after AFC Asian Cup debacle in Qatar back in January. While the Croat always stressed that the Asian Cup was never a goal and the result came as no surprise to him, World Cup Qualifiers were always his target.

India's ambitions were given a big push last November when India defeated Kuwait at their den 1-0 in a historic result. However, things have not worked out well for the Blue Tigers ever since as they failed to win the last five of their matches ever since, including four losses.

In Stimac's defense, the defeats came against some of the best sides in the AFC, including Australia and Qatar. However, the goalless draw last week in Abha against Afghanistan, the lowest-ranked, left doubts in everyone's mind if India can make it through anymore.

Coach Igor Stimac, however, once again reminded that the team and fans will have to make it through together and be patient as the results will not always be in their favour.

"We are a team which is in the creating phase, and is seeing some players playing the last phase of their career while some of the young bloods are entering the team. And as I said it on the first day when I came here (in 2019), in the process to build this team, there will be a lot of suffering and unwanted result but you have to be patient as good things will come eventually," said the Croat.