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Middlesbrough star Sol Bamba has described himself as "lucky" after winning his battle with cancer.

The former Cote d’Ivoire international was out of action for eight months following his chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

After overcoming the health challenge, he was handed a one-year contract by Boro as a player-coach.

The 36-year-old has featured in four league matches for Neil Warnock’s men in the 2021-22 campaign, and when if he still feels hurt by his cancer setback, he said: "I'm someone just moving forward all the time and thinking ahead," Bamba told BBC Tees Sport.

"I don't dwell on the past. Sometimes I think about what I've done or doing as in training and playing games.

"It's crazy, I can't even put it into words. A couple of months ago, after chemo I remember feeling so low and bad I never thought I could have come back and played football again.

"It's just pure joy when I play and I realise how lucky I am."

According to him, the toughest part of his treatment was his decline physically while explaining how the strength of his wife Chloe aided the healing process.

"For four days straight, I didn't get up or go to the toilet, nothing," he continued.

"After four days my missus said it'd been four days, I couldn't believe it. I was just gone. Tired, I couldn't get out of bed.

"I didn't eat, I lost a load of weight. I was doing this every few weeks and after the first one I said I wasn't going to go because I don't want to be like that again.

"People see me and I talk about it comfortably and I smile and that, but it was hard.

"There's no two ways about it. I'm no superhuman, it was difficult. And it's important to talk about it.

"If you've got good support and if you're strong mentally then you can overcome it. It was difficult for me to talk about it because everyone is different.

"I can have no problem with it or beat it easily if I can use that word, whereas other people might suffer. It doesn't mean people don't fight and I'm fighting more than them. Everyone is different and deals with the treatment differently."

The road to World Cup 2022 is well and truly under way, with the qualification stages hotting up ahead of the tournament proper which takes place in December of next year.

And as the map to the finals continues, the identities of the teams participating in the tournament is steadily getting clearer.

Goal has what you need to know about which teams have qualified for World Cup 2022 so far, and this page will continue to be updated as the qualification stages take place.

What teams have qualified for the World Cup 2022?

Qatar became the first nation to qualify for the 2022 World Cup automatically as hosts when they won the bid to host the tournament. It is their first appearance in the competition, never having qualified for the finals in the history of the World Cup.

Germany were the second team to qualify for the tournament after defeating North Macedonia in October 2021 and topping Group J.

How many teams from each association can qualify for World Cup 2022?

AFC (Asia) have an allocation of four of five teams* competing in the World Cup finals.

CAF (Africa) are allocated five teams, with CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean) having three or four.

CONEMBOL (South America) have four or five teams competing.

UEFA (Europe) have the most teams able to qualify, with 13 spots.

OFC (Oceania) have zero or one spot.

*Inter-confederation play-offs are contested at the end of the qualification phase to determine how many teams from each confederation will end up competing in the 2022 finals.

A total of 32 teams will be participating in the tournament.

World Cup 2022 qualification schedule

What dates are World Cup 2022?

World Cup 2022 is set to take place in Qatar from November 21, 2022–December 18, 2022.

Coach Raoul Savoy has blamed Central African Republic’s defeat to Nigeria in Sunday’s 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifier on poor officiating.

Having shocked the Super Eagles 1-0 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, the Wild Beasts were hoping to complete a double over the West Africans.

However, that did not materialise as they suffered a 2-0 defeat inside Douala’s Japoma Stadium, with Leon Balogun and Napoli superstar Victor Osimhen getting the goals.

Although the Central Africans rarely threatened Gernot Rohr’s side's backline, the former Ethiopia and Gambia handler claimed the three-time African champions earned their result because they were helped by Rwandan referee Louis Hakizimana.

“My players did well and I’m very proud of their performance,” Savoy told the media.

“Nigeria played with 12 men because the referee helped them to win.

“The first goal was from an offside position and my goalkeeper was fouled for the second goal.

“We did not concede against Nigeria over the two legs, they scored with the help of the referee.”

Prior to the game, the Spanish-Swiss tactician claimed that things would have been more difficult for Nigeria if the match was staged in Bangui.

“The Super Eagles are lucky that this match will be played in Cameroon and not Bangui. It would have been tough for them,” he told Goal.

“Nobody comes there to defeat us. The likes of Morocco, Algeria and Cote d’Ivoire have played in Bangui [and they failed to win].

“We are playing in Douala that has a very good pitch, so it will be easier for Nigeria to play us than in Bangui.

“For us, the change of venue will not be a problem for us because long before the stadium issue, we are used to playing away from home.

“Also, we have many of our citizens living in Cameroon, hopefully, if the stadium is open, we will have the support from fans.”

After Sunday's loss, Central African Republic occupy the third position with four points from four outings.   

They are guests of Cape Verde in their next qualification outing slated between November 11-13 at the Estadio Municipal Aderito Sena in Mindelo.

Yakubu Ayegbeni remains optimistic about Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2022 Fifa World Cup despite being stunned by the Central African Republic in Lagos.

Parading a squad dominated by local-based professionals, the Wild Beasts picked up a 1-0 victory over the Super Eagles at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, with super-sub Karl Namnganda getting a last-gasp winner.

On Sunday, however, the three-time African kings avenged their defeat in Douala, subduing Raoul Savoy’s men 2-0 thanks to Leon Balogun and Victor Osimhen, who found the net in the first half.

The result left Rohr’s men as Group C leaders – in contention for a third-round ticket – having accrued nine points from four matches.

And the former Everton and Portsmouth star is confident the three-time African kings will be among the 32 teams to feature in Qatar, citing the depth of quality in Rohr’s squad.

“I think when any country wants to play Nigeria, they always give more and it gets tough,” Ayegbeni told Fifa in a video made available to Goal.

“We might have lost one game, but I still believe we’ve got a chance to qualify for the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

“I think with the players we have in the team like [Wilfred] Ndidi as well as [Victor] Osimhen the striker, we have a chance to qualify.

“I’m not scared but I know we’ll qualify because we’ve got the players. We’ve struggled in the past to qualify for the World Cup, but I think with this team and the way they play now, and the countries they’re playing against now, I think we’ve got chances to pull through.”

Fifa legend Ayegbeni – who is the third-highest goalscorer in Nigeria football history – featured in the 2010 Fifa World Cup, and that experience has stayed with him.

“I worked so hard to be at the South Africa World Cup,” he continued.

“It’s a dream as a player you want to play in those big tournaments. You want to play there at the World Cup and for me, to get the opportunity to be in South Africa – the first African country to host the World Cup is a joy for me.

“I knew that was the last World Cup for me because I was almost 29, 30 and the next one was going to be in four years.

“It’s a great memory for every player all over the world.  You want to play for your country. You see the best players, you play against the best players, the atmosphere is unbelievable.

“For me to be there, it’s a moment I’ll never forget – to play for my country at the World Cup, and score goals as well. I scored one and I missed one, it’s part of the game!”

Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o has admitted that he has been made to suffer with Barcelona's poor results, who are experiencing a difficult period.

The Blaugrana are yet to win a match in the Uefa Champions League this season having suffered defeats to Bayern Munich (3-0) and Benfica (3-0) in their first two games.

In La Liga, Ronald Koeman’s men currently occupy the ninth spot with 12 points after seven games - five points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Eto’o expressed his disappointment with Barcelona’s form and he has called on the players to avoid bowing out of the Champions League in the group stage.

They sit at the bottom of Group E behind Bayern Munich, second-placed Benfica and third-placed Dynamo Kyiv after two games.

"Recently, Barcelona have made me suffer," Eto’o was quoted by Marca. "These are tough times for those of us who love the club.

"It would be hard to accept group stage elimination in the Champions League. I still hope they can go through."

After the international break, Koeman’s side will aim to turn things around when they host Valencia for a La Liga fixture on Sunday before a cracking league game against Real Madrid on October 24.

Eto’o, who featured in a number of El Clasicos during his playing career, talked up the importance of encounters against the Blancos at the Camp Nou.

“Barcelona have started the season badly, but the Clasico is a unique match and the players must make the most of it to change the dynamic of the season," he added.

“Beating Real Madrid could be worth six points.

"Those of us who have played that fixture know it's the most beautiful game in the world. I have played in Champions League finals, but I can say that the Clasico is unique. There's nothing else like it."

During his five-year stint at Barcelona, Eto'o enjoyed tremendous success with three La Liga titles, two Champions League trophies and other domestic honours.

The 40-year-old recently announced his intention to become the next president of FecaFoot, who has been without a substantive head since 2018.

Cameroon, meanwhile, are getting ready to host the continent for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Louis van Gaal feels that it is typical for Barcelona to put the blame on foreigners when results go against them, amid criticism of Ronald Koeman, Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay.

The Netherlands boss has ridden to the defence of the trio, as they continue to shoulder the brunt of dissatisfaction at Camp Nou following a tough start to the new campaign.

Speaking ahead of his side's final game of the October international break, the veteran manager has weighed in on the matter - and feels it is nothing new for them to be made scapegoats.

What has been said?

“Frenkie de Jong, criticised?” Van Gaal mooted when asked about the attitude towards his countrymen at club level.

“It's typical [at] Barcelona. When you have the great contributions he's had in the past two years, there's not too much to worry about.

“[But] when things go bad, people in Barcelona always look for the foreigners [to blame].”

Van Gaal hails Depay impact

Elsewhere, the 70-year-old took the time to offer further praise for Depay at international level, highlighting how his work rate builds up his results.

“When I look at the data from Memphis, I’ve never had a striker like this,” he added.

“Someone who runs so much, goes deep so many times and gets into the ball so much. That’s commendable.”

The bigger picture

While his players may be catching the ire of Blaugrana fans at club level, they have delivered a strong campaign across their Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers so far.

With seven games gone, they sit atop Group G, just ahead of Norway, and are looking to secure their place at next year's tournament.

They face Gibraltar to round off the October international break, with a victory set to ensure they remain at least two points clear at the summit.

Further reading

Lionel Messi became the first South American player to score 80 international goals after netting in Argentina's 3-0 win against Uruguay on Sunday.

Messi has set unprecedented standards of excellence since making his international debut for Argentina back in 2005, becoming his country's all-time record scorer in the process.

The 34-year-old even broke Brazil legend Pele's South American scoring record of 77 when netting a hat-trick in a World Cup qualifying win over Bolivia at the start of September, and has reached a new mark after adding to his tally against Uruguay.

Record setting Messi

Messi moved up to 79 goals in 154 outings after his stunning performance against Bolivia, and has now reached the milestone of 80 with arguably one of his most unusual efforts yet.

The Paris Saint-Germain superstar opened the scoring at the El Monumental Stadium when his floated through ball evaded everyone, including Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, before nestling into the far corner of the net.

Messi's latest effort was his sixth in 11 2022 World Cup qualifying outings, and he will look to increase his haul when Argentina take on Peru on Thursday.

Messi's praise for Martinez

Goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martinez wrapped up a comfortable win for Argentina against Uruguay, but Emiliano Martinez was also in inspired form at the other end of the pitch to keep a clean sheet.

Messi reserved special praise for the Aston Villa goalkeeper after the match, telling reporters: "Dibu (Martinez) is fundamental. When the opponents come, he is always ready.

"He showed up again after the impressive Copa America, and we have without a doubt one of the world's best goalkeepers, and we benefit greatly from that."

The six-time Ballon d'Or winner added on Argentina's overall display: "We played a great game. Everything worked out perfectly. Uruguay wait for you and they generate danger.

"Once we got the first goal we started to find space and the goals appeared."

Further reading

Tite jumped to the defence of Neymar after Brazil's 0-0 draw with Colombia, insisting that the "exceptional" star "can't make the difference all the time".

Brazil lost their 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifying on Sunday, playing out a disappointing stalemate with Colombia at the Metropolitano Stadium.

Neymar struggled to have any meaningful impact on the game and misplaced 15 passes during the contest, but Tite refused to criticise the Paris Saint-Germain forward for his performance.

What's been said?

The Brazil boss has warned that they can't rely on Neymar to be decisive in every game, telling a post-match press conference: "Neymar was good and so were the whole team.

"Maybe he's expected to do exceptional things all the time and make a difference all the time. 

"He's an exceptional player because he produces exceptional moments, but not all the time. He's a different player, we know that.

"But today he was very well marked, sometimes with two players on him."

Is Neymar still motivated for success with Brazil?

Neymar has represented Brazil at two World Cups and two Copa Americas, but has only lifted one piece of silverware during his international career - the 2013 Confederations Cup.

The 29-year-old is determined to lead his country to football's biggest prize at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but has also admitted that it could be his last appearance at the tournament .

"I think it's my last World Cup," Neymar told DAZN. "I see it as my last because I don't know if I have the strength of mind to deal with football anymore.

"So I'll do everything to turn up well, do everything to win with my country, to realise my greatest dream since I was little. And I hope I can do it."

Neymar's overall Brazil record

Neymar has won 114 caps for Brazil since making his international debut back in 2010, scoring 69 goals, which puts him second in their all-time scorers list behind Pele - who notched 77 in 92 games.

Six of the PSG talisman's efforts have come during the Selecao's latest World Cup qualifying campaign, and he could have another chance to add to his tally when they take on Uruguay on Thursday.

Further reading

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For most of the players on the pitch, a good pair of football boots and a sturdy set of shin pads are the only pieces of kit they need to worry about choosing. But for goalkeepers, there is another piece of gear that must be thought of: the gloves. 

Goalkeeper gloves don’t just exist to help keep warm in the winter or to add an extra layer of style to a player’s kit – most importantly, they’re there to provide support to a goalkeeper’s best asset, their hands. 

During a game, all a goalkeeper should need to think about is stopping the goal. They shouldn't have to be thinking about protecting their hands. Luckily, that's exactly what a good pair of goalkeeping gloves does: allows the player to focus on the task at hand without having to worry about potential injury. 

When a goalkeeper raises their hands to try and stop a goal there needs to be cushioning, there needs to be a certain level of structure so their fingers don’t bend back, and there needs to be grip. What these elite gloves have in common is that they put the goalkeeper’s needs first – helping to clear any obstacles from a keeper's mind while improving their goalkeeping abilities.

With all that in mind, here are 8 of the very best goalkeeper gloves currently available, alongside four budget alternatives. 

Italian goalkeeper, and winner of the coveted Euros Golden Glove, Gianluigi Donnarumma wears these negative cut gloves, so you’ll be in safe hands with these spiked Predator Pro gloves from Adidas. The back of the hand is cradled with a flexible knit and the Demonskin 2.0 spikes get you the perfect traction when punching the ball. Plus, they look awesome.

Get them from Adidas for £82.50

For those who still want the futuristic look of the Predator Pro gloves but prefer a wrist strap to feel secure, the Ultimate edition is for you. There's a reason why German number one Manuel Neuer wears these negative cut gloves as he stands guard for Bayern Munich. The wrist and finger reinforcements are removable so you can control the level of support you receive from the glove.

Get them from Adidas for £112.00

If you don’t fancy paying over £100, these negative cut grippy gloves are the perfect alternative. The shocking pink colour is just like that of the elite gloves, and so are the Demonskin 2.0 elements that adorn the top. Thick URG 3.0 foam helps protect your palms when stopping those all-important shots.

Get them from Adidas for £40.00

Champions League goalkeeper of the tournament Eduardo Mendy wears these gloves. The Chelsea shot-stopper chooses these gloves week in, week out in the Premier League too which is a vote of confidence. These gloves have an easy slip-on style as well as a strap to secure the wrists. The glove body is made from structured airprene which is the same stuff they use on support braces. A special offer from Sports Direct knocks over £50.00 from the original price.

Get them from Sports Direct for £66.00

These gloves from UhlSport use patented AbsolutGrip which gives an outstanding grip in all weather conditions. The gloves are made from neoprene which has for a long time been used to make wetsuits, so you can imagine that snug, protective feel.

Get them from Sports Direct for £57.00

These classic-cut gloves are made from soft latex and are the best choice for comfort. They are totally padded for shock absorption and the embossed rebound zone is designed to help punch balls away.

Get them from Sports Direct for £28.00

Tottenham and France’s top goalkeeper Hugo Lloris wears these Reusch Guardian gloves. These gloves wear their technology on their sleeve and are perfect for all weather conditions. The black specks are high resistance focused latex and the blue specks are special wet weather latex. They come with removable Ortho-Tec spines to stop your fingers from bending too far backwards.

Get them from Pro:Direct Soccer for £150.00

These elite negative cut gloves use Reusch’s ergonomic support system which combines a snug fit with direct control of the ball. They have ventilation channels so your hands don’t get too sweaty and a rolled thumb with a 3D thumb crotch. The back is made from lightweight latex to aid that streamlined feel.

Get them from Pro:Direct Soccer for £120.00

This glove uses an Expanse cut which sits like a flat palm but slightly wraps around the thumb for increased ball control. It uses a standard elastic full wrist strap and lightweight PVC for increased power on punches.

Get them from Pro:Direct Soccer for £30.00 

Top goalkeepers like Thibaut Courtois and Alisson Becker like wearing Nike Vapor Grip3 gloves.

Thanks to the All Conditions Control, they’re designed to be worn in wet and dry conditions which is ideal. They have an adjustable strap with foam cushioning which helps the gloves feel secure. 

Get them from Nike for £84.95

The Grip3 technology wraps around the thumb, forefinger and little finger for a secure grip. The foam cushioning absorbs impact and means you don’t have to shy from difficult or tough saves. 

Get them from Nike for £44.95

At less than £20, these are a great budget alternative to the Grip3. The palms on these gloves are cushioned with plush foam which helps protect your hands from powerful shots, while the smooth surface gives you grip come rain or shine.

Get them from Nike for £16.95

Looking for more football gear?

Lautaro Martinez was left in tears during Argentina’s latest World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, with the Inter striker spotted crying on the bench after finding the target in a 3-0 win.

The 24-year-old was replaced shortly after netting the Albiceleste’s third of a productive evening, with Lionel Scaloni introducing Joaquin Correa in the 65th minute.

Emotions got the better of Lautaro after taking a seat on the bench, with questions quickly asked of why the highly-rated frontman had broken down.

Why was Lautaro crying?

Having sat out a goalless draw with Paraguay due to a muscular complaint, there were suggestions that Lautaro had suffered an injury setback.

He was, however, quick to shoot down those rumours at the final whistle.

His tears were those of joy, not sadness, with Lautaro delighted to have scored in front of his family in the stands.

His strike against Uruguay, in a contest played out at El Monumental, was a first for the Buenos Aires native in his home town as a senior international.

Asked to explain why he was crying after a comfortable win for Argentina, Lautaro told reporters: “For my daughter, my family, more than anything for that.

“I thought of my family who were at the stadium, that's why I got emotional. That is sacrifice, to leave many things aside. My family has always accompanied me and I will forever be grateful for that."

Reasons to be cheerful for Lautaro

Lautaro has little cause for concern at present as he is enjoying a memorable moment in a blossoming career.

His goal against Uruguay was his 16th for his country through just 32 appearances, with other notable number nines being kept on the sidelines at present.

He has also registered five efforts through eight outings for Inter this season, with the defending Serie A champions back in the hunt for another domestic crown.

Lautaro now has 54 goals for the Nerazzurri to his name and has seen the impressive progress he has made in recent years recognised by inclusion on the 30-man longlist for the 2021 Ballon d’Or.

Further reading

Gregory van der Wiel was once a star at Paris Saint-Germain, but the Dutchman says he grew “sick of football” while playing alongside Zlatan Ibrahoimovic, Edinson Cavani and Marco Verratti.

The former Netherlands international was hot property when leaving Ajax for Parc des Princes in 2012, but a dream switch to France turned into a nightmare for the right-back.

He made 134 appearances for PSG, claiming four Ligue 1 titles as part of a star-studded squad, but fell out of love with the game during that time and, despite being just 33, has been without a club since leaving MLS side Toronto FC in 2018.

What has been said?

Explaining his struggles in Paris to Kick’t Net, van der Wiel said: "You land in France, with different players, different coaches, different tactics. I arrived in a team full of stars, guys that you often play with on Playstation. I arrived as a young guy, with my eyes wide open, shaking their hands. It was crazy, really incredible.

"I received an offer to extend my contract by three years, that's true, but I decided not to extend it. I wasn't very happy there. I wasn't always playing. I didn't have the security of playing regularly.

"There were also some incidents in my last season [2015-16] that annoyed me. Serge Aurier's live Periscope video, for example, where he spoke about the coach [Laurent Blanc] and about me in particular, two or three days before an important Champions League match against Chelsea. He was punished for that.

"Everyone sent me messages of 'Get ready, you're the one who will be playing'. Of course, it was an opportunity for me. In the end, I didn't even play. They put Marquinhos in my position even though he is a central defender.

"They were difficult moments to experience, where you feel bad, and you say 'Guys, do you think I'm that bad that I am second choice at right-back with a central defender in my position?' It made me not want to stay there. To be honest, at that time I was sick of football."

Where did Van der Wiel go?

Van der Wiel left PSG as a free agent in the summer of 2016. He would struggle to put down roots anywhere else and made just 17 appearances for Fenerbahce after heading for Turkey.

Only six outings were made for Serie A side Cagliari in 2017-18, before taking a new challenge outside of Europe with Toronto FC.

He was handed the No 9 shirt in Canada, despite being a defender, and made 34 appearances in all competitions before becoming a free agent again.

Van der Wiel spent time on trial at RKC Waalwijk back in his homeland after expressing a desire to return to football in 2020, but no deal was done and he remains in professional limbo for now.

Further reading

Igor Stimac was a relieved man after India beat Nepal 1-0 in their third match of the SAFF Championship 2021 at the National Football Stadium in Male, on Sunday. The win put them in the third position in the table with five points from three matches and in contention for a spot in the finals. 

However, the Croatian was visibly concerned with the way the forwards missed chances throughout the match. Even Sunil Chhetri wasted a couple of them until he scored in the 82nd minute. 

What did Igor Stimac say?

"I am very happy with the three points, which is keeping us until the very end with a great possibility of finishing in the finals. I am very happy and grateful for how our boys responded today, in nearly everything. I say nearly because scoring is an area where we need to improve. From chances like that we need to score. Otherwise, you have to suffer until the very end. But we need to be patient," he stated. 

What did Stimac say about Sunil Chhetri's performance? 

The Indian skipper missed two golden opportunities, one in each half. However, he did redeem himself after scoring the winner in the 82-minute. With that goal, he equalled Brazilian legend Pele's tally of 77 strikes. 

"He could have made the difference earlier (laughs). He kept us all nervous till the end. We are all very happy for him and for the record. All the team are working so that he can score more goals."

Stimac hits back at Nepal's coach Abdullah Almutairi

Igor Stimac was seen doing a little jig immediately after after India took the lead through Sunil Chhetri. Although it was all in jest, Abdullah Almutairi perceived it as being 'shameful'. The Croatian responded to him in kind. 

"I’m not sure what’s wrong with my celebration. Can you tell me? I think he should ask himself what he meant when he said India is 95 per cent favourite. That’s disrespectful to his team. He shouldn’t be thinking about myself and my celebration. I’m sorry that he mentioned this because nothing was wrong with my celebration. Or maybe, I don’t have the right to celebrate.

“I’m doing my job and I’m a professional doing the best I can. I’m trying to stay concentrated on what my players are doing on the pitch, not about how I’m going to celebrate my goals. Maybe, some other coaches think about how they celebrate goals. They’re becoming like players,” Stimac expressed. 

Igor Stimac was witnessed doing a bit of jig after Sunil Chhetri finally sent the ball to the back of the net to give India the lead against a gritty Nepal in their SAFF Championship fixture on Sunday. And immediately after the final whistle, there was a fist pump as he embraced his assistant Shanmugam Venkatesh. 

Although the Croatian wouldn't acknowledge that he is under any kind of pressure, his reaction to the goal spoke volumes. He made five changes to the starting XI that took the pitch against Sri Lanka and there was evidently more intent and purpose in the display of the Blue Tigers. 

On the way to pick up their first win in the SAFF Championship, India did create a few chances but profligacy in front of goal only built more pressure until Sunil Chhetri scored the eventual winner in the 82nd minute of the match. Let us take a look at the three key points of the match. 

Visible improvements but far from convincing

After two successive lacklustre displays against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the performance against Nepal was definitely an upgrade. India were dominating in possession, were making inroads in the attacking third, and looked more fluid in passing around the ball. More importantly, they created at least three to four goalscoring opportunities against a Nepal side that had set themselves up in a 5-4-1 formation and were defending with two banks of five and four.

However, the finishing was poor and there was hardly any coordination in the opposition box amongst the forwards that troubled the Gorkhali defence.  Manvir Singh had hardly any impact, apart from a header which was kept out by Kiran Limbu, as he was well contained by Nepal's defensive mainstay Rohit Chand. In fact, he had to be subbed off even when India were desperately looking for a goal. So, while Stimac would be relieved after picking up the three points, the attacking woes continue to plague him.

Sunil Chhetri steals limelight both for right and wrong reasons

The Indian skipper was seen kicking the woodwork after he failed to score in an open net from a handshaking distance of goal. In the second half, he missed another header even though he was unmarked. Given the high standards that he has set for himself, it was unacceptable for him to miss those chances. Although he did redeem himself by scoring the winner to equal Brazilian legend Pele'sinternational goal tally, overall it was an average day in the office. 

Meanwhile, it also became evident once again that if Chhetri fails to produce the goods, there is hardly anyone who can step up and fill in his shoes. India has scored just two goals in the competition so far, and both of them have come from the boots of the 37-year-old.

India's defence looked nervy under pressure

For almost 80 minutes in the match, India's defence had hardly any significant threat to deal with. The Gorkhalis were soaking in the pressure and could barely move out of their defensive cocoon. However, after falling behind, they threw caution to the wind and started pushing more men in the attacking third. They had just 12 minutes, including additional time, to equalise and they made the most of it. It was shocking how easily Abdullah Almutairi's men opened up India's defence and even had a couple of goalscoring opportunities in that short span of time. 

Against Maldives, the likes of Pritam Kotal, Subhasish Bose must remain on their toes throughout the 90 minutes. The Red Snappers will take the game to India and in Ali Ashfaq, they have one of the most clinical strikers in the SAFF region. The attacking trident of Ali Fasir, Hamza Mohammed, and Ashfaq would not be easy to contain, and the Indian defenders must take their game a notch higher to get the better of them.