Igor Stimac apologises after India's defeat to Afghanistan: Everything the coach said after the unexpected loss

Indian men’s football Igor Stimac put on a brave face despite Blue Tigers suffering their first defeat to Afghanistan in over 10 years in the FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC Qualifiers Round 2 match on Tuesday at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati.

India, who were profligate and listless during a large part of the game, took the lead through Sunil Chhetri. Afghanistan, however, were more determined and roared back with goals from Rahmat Akbari (70’) and Sharif Muhammad (88’) to secure a famous 2-1 win.

India are still alive in the race to reach Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, but the dip in form since the AFC Asian Cup 2023 is alarming. The same team that won three international trophies at home last year is now looking a pale shadow of their former self.

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After the shambolic defeat, Stimac apologised for the result and took responsibility. Yet, he added that he remains confident India can still qualify for the third round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, something they have never done.

Here’s everything Stimac said after India’s defeat to Afghanistan:

On what he told his players after the loss to Afghanistan

“We had a meeting with the players – quiet meeting. Losses are part of our life. They need to look forward," Stimac said in the post-match press conference. “I explained to them what is expected of them in May. They will all need to come to the camp. We’ll be raising the fitness level which was last said to them. We’re going to raise the bar now and whoever doesn’t come with the expected level of fitness will be sent home.

“We’re going to have two weeks of preparation in Odisha and then the final week in Kolkata if we are playing the game there and that’s our plan for now. Players need to make sure that they work really hard for the rest of the season and stay away from injuries as well.

“Yes, we lost the game, of course. I accept the responsibility. I’m the coach at the end of the day. But we are second in our group. And look what we are creating. We are not playing poor football. We are playing decent football. We need much more support as a team, and as a unit, to provide more. As I said two days ago, we’re going to qualify.”

Stimac says sorry for the result

“The result is not difficult, it’s unpleasant. I need to say sorry in front of my staff and players. We did many good things, but some things were poor and that cost us. We conceded two goals after being in control for most of the game. But there are some points in the game when we give something away and then there is a chance for the opposition and then as a team, we are frozen for 5-6 minutes at least which is inexplicable.”

Stimac is confident India can still qualify

“Of course, I feel we can qualify and I told you at the press conference prior to this, we’re going to be a different team after the long camp. You could see that half of our players are not bringing the intensity that is needed to keep the game going. And I cannot change that in five days. I’m sorry, I need to repeat myself again and again and again. I hope you all remember all these players from June, July and May. They are the same players, but they cannot bring the same intensity to the game. Afghanistan is not a better team than Kuwait and Lebanon and the teams we defeated and dominated.

“It’s about the intensity of work you can obtain during a certain period of time, which can help the players maintain the self-confidence at the level needed for such games and suppress that pressure which is coming along with such games when you need to win. But obviously, we’re going to hope that the game from tonight, Kuwait vs Qatar, will go our way and then start working really hard and prepare everything for May and June and hopefully make things right.

“Draw or loss, it is practically the same. Draw or loss doesn’t change much, but it would be nicer if we did finish 1-1. It would be even nicer if we kept 1-0. But that’s less important now. The most important thing is how we are going to get to the point where we want to be. Because it’s not only about trying to qualify for the third round, it’s about what we’re going to do there when we get there. That’s the main point. We lost one match. We’re going to have another one in June and we need to use it. Otherwise, we’re gonna stay where we were in the last eight years – qualifying against Myanmar, Guam, and all these teams.

Stimac was asked if the team and he are not on the same page

“When you say such a thing ’not on the same page with the players’, that’s a harsh word. I ask you not to use these words because all my team, myself, and the players are on the same page from the very first day. Do not even think about that. And we are together in wins, in draws, in losses. Like we are tonight. It hurts, it’s unpleasant, it’s not easy. Believe me, I hate losing much more than I love winning and it is what it is. The only way out is hard work.”

On lack of goals

“Even when we create, in the first phase you need to bring the ball over the half line. In the second phase, you need to prepare the areas from which you’re going to execute either a good cross or a shot on goal. But you can see tonight, even when we come to a position, when we have a situation where we can shoot, we pass the ball back. We run away from situations and that’s the same old story that has been haunting us for many years. We don’t have many players in our team who are taking shots from outside the box. So it’s not easy.”

On whether India were tactically outwitted by Afghanistan

“No, I don’t (think so). When you concede goals from individual mistakes, then that’s got nothing to do with the tactical work. For most of the game, we had the control, so I don’t see any tactical problem there in that regard. Being defeated from the penalty like we conceded a penalty, it’s another story. These things shouldn’t happen to us. We have enough experience already in these situations. We shouldn’t concede these penalties, such goals. It’s too easy.

“We worked so hard to score one goal. We need four or five clear chances to score one goal. This means that we are creating chances. We had enough chances today to win the game. But we didn’t win it. I cannot go on the pitch to score goals for our players. I accept the tactical problems if we are not creating chances, not playing nice football, progressive football, if we are not having it mentioned, I would accept responsibility without any problem. You can concede silly goals against Australia, against South Korea, but not against Afghanistan.”

On missing Sandesh Jhingan

“Of course, I miss Sandesh. You know how much he means to our defenders, to our boys there and how much stability he brings there. He’s not with us, so what are we going to say about that? He’s not there, someone needs to step up, and cover his position.”

Were India overconfident?

“The boys were very calm, humble, and patient the last couple of days, working really hard on everything. No overconfidence was seen there. Some of them were sad for not starting the game, but there is always a point to prove when you enter the pitch. I think that we were somehow handicapped tonight with three early bookings that didn’t help us at all.

“I don’t mind Brandon’s yellow card, but two players from the back-four were booked too early and that was kind of a risk for us so we started thinking of either making changes in the backline or at least changing one of the players. Subhasish was giving us so much confidence in passing and he was so stable and composed on the ball in the first half. So we said we were going to take a risk with him in the second half and thus, we didn’t make these changes. But yes, it was not easy for them to play with the bookings.”

On where India lost the game

“There were few critical situations during the game. We warned about one that destroyed us tonight. Farid destroyed our centre-backs with long balls. When you speak about losing a game in such a way, then you need to be worried. How can you not handle long balls against one player who is there and always with the same way winning the ball against two centre-backs. That was the biggest problem we had tonight.

“They were not coming at us with five, six, seven, eight great passes. No, 90% of the cases, they were coming at us with long balls from the back. We warned our players, we told them what to do, don’t go wrestle with him. Try to drop a little bit, get in front of him, one in front, one behind, but we still didn’t do it. We still didn’t manage it. So we need to learn these things.

“The other point is we opened the game brilliantly, and missing the opening goal in the beginning of the game once again was costly to us. But then again we opened the score from the penalty. Then you need to rise in confidence, then you need to show a certain attitude that will bring your opponent down – let’s not start giving simple passes away to the opponent and lift up their game. That’s what’s happening to us.”

On fans chanting "Stimac out"

“Somebody instructing that, so I appreciate that, but I have a mission to fulfill here. Only a few months back, that was an absolutely different story. I have a certain opinion about that and will not comment. I will finish my job in June here. Until then we don’t need to discuss. I will finish my job in June and then we’re going to see where we stand.”