World Cup qualifiers, India vs Afghanistan: Indian strikers’ goalless conundrum; fire blanks in five matches

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The Indian football team has now gone five matches without any goals. They last scored in their World Cup qualifiers game against Kuwait in November, last year. They have created plenty of chances so far, but goals seem to have eluded the India team.

They are on the verge of making history if they manage to get at least five more points from their next three matches. However, for that, they at least need to get a win against Afghanistan in their next match which is their best bet of getting three points.

This now seems like a tougher job than it should have been with all of their forwards currently out-of-form. India have a reliable ace in their team in the form of Sunil Chhetri who has saved the Blue Tigers time and again.

However, the 39-year-old skipper has not been in form for some time. His last goal came back in October, last year during their international friendly against Malaysia. India have a few other talented forwards in their arsenal, like Manvir Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, and Vikram Pratap Singh.

Against teams, like Afghanistan and Syria, they are creating enough chances. However, the attempts are failing near the opponent's penalty boxes. In the press conference after the draw against Afghanistan, coach Igor Stimac agreed that attacking attempts need to get much better.

The Croat said, “The defense did well but we need to be much better in passing in midfield and much better in attacking in the box when the crosses are coming from the front.”

The coach also said previously that India has a shortage of strikers. So far, it is worrying how they fall through without Chhetri. The available strikers need to do better for now. They still have two home matches against Afghanistan and Kuwait and one away match against Qatar in the World Cup qualifiers.