India men’s national team head coach, Igor Stimac has opened up on the Blue Tigers’ 2-0 loss to Jordan in an international friendly on Saturday, revealing that, “the boys were good throughout most of the game”.
The game against Jordan was India’s last prepatory game before the upcoming 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers and Stimac’s side looked sluggish and bereft of ideas on the pitch – with Munther Abu Amarah and Mohammed Abu Zrayq scored in the second half to give Jordan an easy win on the night.
Stimac for his part claimed that his side were “compact” and played with a “good energy” throughout the full 90 minutes.
“We were compact, and with good energy throughout the 90 minutes, putting Jordan under pressure in the second-half looking to score first. The boys were good throughout most of the game, and I feel sorry that we couldn’t score first. That would have definitely helped. There are some issues at the defending front which we faced, and need to be changed,” he said post the game.
The Blue Tigers will now focus on the upcoming 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, where they have been in drawn in Group D alongside Hong Kong, Afghanistan, and Cambodia. They will start their qualifier campaign on June 8 when they face Cambodia at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.