2018 FIFA World Cup Football Qualifiers: India lose five in a row

Match 5 Report: India 0 - 3 Oman

Indian football team's abject humiliation continued as they slumped to their fifth consecutive defeat in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying round, losing 0-3 to Oman in an away game here on Tuesday. For the hosts, Ahmed Kano Mubarak scored in the 55th minute while Abdul Aziz Al Muqbali scored in the 67th and 85th minute to round off the tally. Oman had won the first leg encounter in Bengaluru 2-1. India thus stay at the bottom of the heap having conceded as many as 12 goals in their five games, managing to score only thrice. India did not have a single positive chance save a couple of half chances when Chhetri tried a left footer that went well over horizontal and once Jeje was freed but a timely tackle by the central defender foiled the move at the top of the 18-yard box.

Match 4 Report: India 1 - 2 Turkmenistan

The Indian men’s football team slumped to their fourth straight defeat, losing 1-2 to Turkmenistan in the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in Turkmenistan on Thursday (Oct 08 2015). India thus remain at the bottom of Group D and now have virtually no chance to even qualify for the Asian Cup by finishing third. For the winners, Gubanch Abylov scored the first goal in the 8th minute while Arslanmynat Amanov scored the winner at the stroke of the hour. For India, Jeje Lalpeklhua equalised in the 28th minute. With the team’s training severely hampered due to the Indian Super League (ISL) preparations, the national team players did not have any motivation as they were practically out after losing the first three matches. The defeat also puts national coach Stephen Constantine’s future in doubt as the Indian team under him has gone from bad to worse in the last year or so.

Match 3 Report: India 0 - 3 Iran

India on Tuesday (Sep 08 2015) slumped to their third successive loss in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as they suffered a 0-3 thrashing at the hands of mighty Iran in a group match. Lacking in international exposure and vastly inferior in technique as compared to their more fancied rivals, the Indians put up a gritty fight in the first half but broke down later by conceding two quick goals in the early part of the second session in the Group D match at Kanteerava Stadium. The good work from the central defenders Arnab Mondal and Sandesh Jhingan ensured that India trailed just 0-1 at half time but the Asian heavyweights, the highest ranked team in the continent, pumped in two goals in the space of four minutes to kill the game at that stage itself.

Match 2 Report: India 1 - 2 Guam

India suffered an embarrassing 1-2 defeat to tiny pacific island side Guam, ranked 33 places below them in the FIFA rankings, in their 2018 football World Cup qualifying group match in Tamuning on Tuesday (Jun 30 2015). India captain Sunil Chhetri managed a consolation goal in the last minute of the game after Brandon McDonald put the hosts ahead in the 38th minute and Travis Nicklaw doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute at the GFA National Training Centre. This was only their second World Cup qualifying win, the result coming less than a week after their upset 1-0 verdict over Turkmenistan in Group D.

Match 1 Report: India 1 - 2 Oman

Football can sometimes be a cruel sport. While there are days when a Team can play below par and register a win, there are days when a Team plays stellar and tastes defeat. Down by an early goal the Indian National Team went down 1-2 to Asian powerhouse Oman in the first of the Russia 2018 World Cup Preliminary Joint Qualification match at the Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru. India had a goal disallowed for off-side in the second-half much to the frustration of the 19000 plus fans to chanted, shouted and ‘created the atmosphere.’

2016 AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers: Dismal performance by India U 19 team

Match 3: India U 19 0 - 2 Afghanistan U 19

The Indian U-19 National Team went down 0-2 against Afghanistan in their third and final match of the AFC U-19 Qualifier today (October 06, 2015) at the Faisal Al-Husseini Stadium in Al-Ram, Palestine.

On a cool breezy evening in Al-Ram, the Indian Colts were left reeling for their missed opportunities as Afghanistan led by a solitary goal at half-time and scored against the run-of-play in the second half to take home the three points. However, the match would have been a different complexion altogether had the Indian colts had their goal-scoring boots on. In the 2nd minute, Lallianzuala’s rocket-of-a-shot, which earned an acrobatic save from Moquem Matem rung the attacking bells for India. Six minutes later, Nishu Kumar’s attempt was ricocheted off the Afghan defence for a corner kick.

With India enjoying possession and controlling the tempo of the match, chances to score the opening goal of the match came in plenty. First, an Ashique cross from the left flank was headed wide by Lallianzuala, with the goal at his mercy in the 22nd minute. Next, Bidyananda’s spectacular effort from 25 yards earned an uncanny save from Matem, which fell into Lallianzuala’s stride, who once again failed to blast the ball home from hand-shaking distance. As the Indian colts failed to make the most of their opportunities, Afghanistan capitalized from their single shot on goal in the first half, as they scored from a corner kick in the 44th minute.

Changing over, and the Indian colts fostered another goal scoring opportunity. This time Daniel’s shot, after a tacky one-touch play around the Afghan 18-yard box was saved by Maten in the 46th minute. Two minutes later- déjà vu - as Daniel was once again denied the opportunity to open the goal scoring charts for India by Maten. Even with Afghanistan committing bodies around their 18 yard box, India fostered goal scoring opportunities, however, to no avail. In the 60th minute, Afghanistan’s custodian made a howler as he failed to collect Lallianzuala’s whipped-in cross. However, the cross fell to Ashique, who instead of tapping it home slotted it wide.

Two minutes later, the Indian colts were handed another golden opportunity to equalize their deficit as Nishu Kumar’s shot went inches wide of the post, following a corner kick. Head Coach Lee Johnson shuffled his pack and introduced Milan Basumatary in place of Bidyananda Singh in the 76th. And soon after the substitute came close to equalizing India’s deficit as his shot earned a top-notch save from Maten. Thereafter, Afghanistan doubled their lead in the 79th minute and adopted a defensive stance to see out the match.

The Indian Colts leave for Indian shores tomorrow and will resume their participation in the FAM-FRENZ Asia Champions Trophy 2015 on October 14, 2015 when they clash swords against Thailand’s Chonburi FC, next.

India starting XI against Afghanistan: Sukhadev Patil (GK); Shahabaaz, Mohd Sajid Dhot, Lalthakima, Nishu Kumar; Bidyananda Singh (76’ – Milan Basumatary), Malsawmzuala, Muhammed Ashique (87’ - Suman Sarkar), Lallianzuala, Mawihmingthanga, Daniel Lalhlimpuia (C).

Match 2: India U 19 0 - 7 UAE U 19

The Indian U-19 National Team lost 0-7 against United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the AFC U-19 Qualifiers, today (October 04, 2015) at the Faisal Al-Husseini Stadium in Al-Ram, Palestine.
The Indian colts play Afghanistan in their third and final match of the AFC U-19 Qualifiers on October 06, 2015.

Coming on the back of a solitary goal defeat against hosts Palestine, the Indian contingent started to press their opponents from the opening minutes of the match but fell behind to a Jassim Yaqoob penalty in the 14th minute, against the run of play, following a challenge in the 18 yard box. In the 26th minute of the match, the Indian colts came close to equalizing their deficit as an Amey Ranawade free-kick ricocheted off the UAE defence whiskers past the UAE goal, for a corner kick. However, as soon as the Indian colts started to control the tempo of the match, UAE scored again to double their lead in the 34th minute from a corner kick.

Two quick goals for UAE in the dying minutes of the first half meant that the Indian colts would go into the tunnel trailing 4-0 at half-time. Changing over Head Coach Lee Johnson decided to shuffle his pack as he introduced Muhammed Ashique and Lallianzuala in place of Rakesh Oram and Lalramzuava respectively. In the 50th minute, substitute Lallianzuala’s shot after a blistering run went inches wide of the goal. Three minutes later, UAE were awarded another penalty, which however, was saved by Shivaji Patil. But Hassan followed it up to head and make it 5-0 and thereafter UAE scored two more.

India U 19 Squad: Shivaji Patil (GK); Nishu Kumar, Mohd Sajid Dhot, Lalthakima, Amey Ranawade; Lalramzuava (45’ – Muhammed Ashique), Rakesh Oram (45’ – Lallianzuala), Vinit Rai (80’ - Milan Basumatary), Malsawmzuala, Daniel Lalhlimpuia (C), Mawihmingthanga.

Match 1: India U 19 0 - 1 Palestine U 19

The Indian U-19 National Team went down fighting 0-1 against hosts Palestine at the Faisal Al-Hussieni Stadium in Al-Ram, Palestine in their opening match of the AFC U-19 Qualifiers on October 02, 2015.

A Mohammed Yousef goal in the 15th minute proved to be the difference between the two sides and led Palestine to garner their first win of the qualifying campaign. Speaking in the official post match press conference, Head Coach of the Indian U-19 National Team Lee Johnson said, “We lost the match because we gave Palestine too much respect in the opening minutes of the first half and that is when they punished us.”

“We were the better Team in the second half and I am proud of the Players as they showed great character to get back in the game”. “However in Football goals win you games it is as simple as that,” Lee added.

Meanwhile, Head Coach of the Palestinian National Team, Ayman Sandouka praised the charismatic never-say-die attitude of the Indian players and said, “India were very hard to break down. They were making it very difficult for us to keep possession and play our game”

On a relatively cool night in Al-Ram, the Indian colts showcased defensive solidity as they thwarted their Palestinian opponents with composure and organization for most of the match. However a moment of complacency allowed the Palestinians to take the decisive lead against the run of play in the 15th minute when Mohammed Yousef slotted home his chance, past a diving Shivaji Patil. Not the be deterred, the Indian colts jotted down their attacking opportunities with sheer finesse and in the 22nd minute, Daniel’s shot was saved by the Palestinian custodian after a tacky one-touch play around the 18 yard box.

With the 12th man - the fans – inhibiting an intimidating and electrifying atmosphere through chants of their own, the Palestinian opponents started to conduct raids on the Indian citadel, but to no avail.
Nishu Kumar’s radar disrupted as many as two Palestinian attacks, while safeguarding the Indian defence. Both Teams cancelled each other out, as they entwined in a raging battle for midfield and at half-time the Indian colts trailed by a solitary goal against Palestine.

Changing over and the Indian contingent were straight out of their blocks as they adopted an attacking stance. A glitzy move in the 48th minute which saw Daniel onto goal was sweeped away by the Palestinian custodian. Nine minutes later, Ming’s exquisite long defense piercing ball found Rakesh Oram clear onto goal, but the latter was flagged offside. In the 79th minute of the match Ming burst onto the left asphalt but and would’ve been clear onto goal, had Palestine’s last defender not made an inch-perfect tackle.

In an attempt to churn points from the match, the Indian colts attacked all-out, but to no avail. And at the end of full-time the score-line read 1-0 in favor of the Palestinian National Team.

India starting XI against Palestine: Shivaji Patil (GK); Nishu Kumar, Sarthak Golui, Amey Ranawade, Lalthakima (82’ – Vinit Rai); Lalramzuava, Malsawmzuala, Rakesh Oram (88’ – Suman Sarkar), Daniel Lalhlimpuia (C), Lallianzuala Chhangte (66’ – Milan Basumatary), Mawihmingthanga.

Courtesy: AIFF (www.the-aiff.com)

ISL 2015 Match Report Day 3 to Day 8

Day 3: FC Pune City 3 - 1  Mumbai City FC

FC Pune City ride a Tuncay Sanli brace and a goal from Israil Gurung to put one over Mumbai City FC in the Maharashtra derby at Pune’s Shree Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex on Monday. Two headers from Sanli and a Gurung shot was enough to see off neighbours Mumbai in a passionate encounter. The combination of Sanli and Gurung ultimately led to Mumbai’s downfall after a Frederic Piquionne goal had put the away side level.

Day 4: Kerala Blasters FC 3 - 1  NorthEast United FC

Three goals in the second half saw a convincing Kerala Blasters FC come out as worthy winners in their opening game of Hero Indian Super League 2015 in front of 60,017 spectators at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Tuesday. A brilliant volley from Josu Currias broke the deadlock four minutes into the second half. Goals from Mohammed Rafi and impact substitute Sanchez Watt soon after put the game beyond reach for NorthEast United FC, who got a consolation goal late on through a stunning Nicolas Velez strike.

Day 5: FC Goa 1 - 1  Atlético de Kolkata

FC Goa and Atlético de Kolkata share the spoils to make it four draws out of five when these two sides have met in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL). A first-half goal by Arata Izumi was cancelled out by a brilliant Keenan Almeida strike after the defending champions were reduced to 10 men with Baljit Sahni being given his marching orders. In a thoroughly entertaining clash between two of India’s footballing superpowers, Kolkata coach Antonio Habas will be happy to take a point home against a strong Goan side that will be ruing they didn’t make their man advantage count to take all three points.

Day 6: Delhi Dynamos FC 1 - 0  Chennaiyin FC

A Chicao penalty inside the opening 10 minutes was enough to hand Delhi Dynamos FC their first win of Hero Indian Super League Season 2 against Chennaiyin FC in front of a 19,453-strong crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on Thursday. Chicao’s calmly converted spot-kick made the difference in an otherwise even and thoroughly enjoyable tie.

Day 7: FC Pune City 1 - 0  NorthEast United FC

FC Pune City registered their second successive Hero Indian Super League 2015 win on Friday, beating NorthEast United FC 1-0 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium in Pune. With Zohmingliana Ralte conceding an own goal in the 73rd minute, FC Pune City moved top of the league. The stadium was witness to a goalless first half. Cesar Farias’ men were quite effective in midfield and dominated possession. Silas and Diomansy Kamara were instrumental in that but both teams were getting intercepted quite a few times. FC Pune City’s marquee signing Adrian Mutu seemed very much in form, compared to his stint in the first match against Mumbai City FC. He entered the NEUFC box quite a few times and tried to lob the ball home, but to no avail.

Day 8: Kerala Blasters FC 0 - 0  Mumbai City FC

Mumbai City FC hold Kerala Blasters FC to a goalless draw in front of a 61,483-strong crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Saturday. Both sides started the game cautiously with Mumbai City FC looking for their first points of the season. There were chances galore but the teams failed to convert them into goals and that resulted in the first goalless draw of Hero Indian Super League Season 2.

Courtesy: Indian Super League (http://www.indiansuperleague.com/)

India U-16 Spanish Tour: India U 16 team lose to Levante U 16 and Levanta International teams

Match Report: India U 16 0 - 1 Levante U 16

India U-16 colts went down to Levante U-16 by a solitary goal in a practice match on their ongoing exposure Tour to Spain.

The goal came in the first half when Levante scored from the spot. The spot kick was awarded after Rahul had brought down a rival Player inside the box.

The Indian colts next play Levanta International on Saturday (October 3) at 2.30pm.

Match Report: India U 16 2 - 3 Levante International 

Down by two goals by the 46^th minute, a spirited India U-16 went down 2-3 against U-19 Levante International in their last practice match on their exposure Tour to Spain.

Goals from Komal in the 50^th minute, and a penalty conversion from Amarjit in the 80^th minute had helped the Indian colts restore parity in the second half, most of which they dominated.

The Spanish side who lead 1-0 at the interval sealed the fate in the 90^th minute.

The game brought to an end over a two-month exposure Tour of the future World Cup squad to Germany, Iran and Spain.

Courtesy: AIFF (www.the-aiff.com)

ISL 2015 Match Report Day 1 and Day 2

Day 1: Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) 3 - 2  Chennaiyin FC

Portuguese striker Helder Postiga scored twice as defending champions Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) started their campaign on a winning note beating Chennaiyin FC 3-2 in an exciting lung opener of the cash-rich Hero Indian Super League (ISL) in Chennai on Saturday.

The former Portugal frontman and Cristiano Ronaldo's one-time teammate Postiga showed his predatory skills with two opportunistic strikes in the 13th and 70th minute while substitute Spanish striker Valdo also found his name on the scoresheet. For Chennaiyin FC, Jeje Lalpeklhua hit one in the 31st minute while their main player and skipper Elano Blumer got one back converting a controversial penalty in the 89th minute when the referee awarded penalty with the ball rebounding off ATK stopper Arnab Mondal's stomach.

Day 2: FC Goa 2 - 0 Delhi Dynamos

Zico's side began their campaign on a winning note as they dispatched the Delhi franchise 2-0. FC Goa began their Indian Super League (ISL) campaign in convincing fashion with a 2-0 win over Delhi Dynamos at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday evening. An own goal from Souvik Chakraborty (3') opened the scoring before Reinaldo (45'+2') added a second on the stroke of half-time.

Zico’s side deservedly won the game while Carlos will have to find a solution to his team’s defensive vulnerability as they had Sanjiban Ghosh to thank for. Goa next face Atletico de Kolkata in another home match on October 7 while Dynamos play against Chennaiyin FC in their home match a day later.

ISL 2015 Opening Ceremony: AR Rahman, Aishwarya Rai steal show in opening ceremony

Indian Super League opening ceremony was attended by, among others, Sachin Tendulkar, Rajnikanth, Mukesh and Nita Ambani, besides the Bachchan family.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s breathtaking moves complemented A R Rahman’s soulful music as the country’s who’s who from various fields got together for football to kick off the second season of Indian Super League (ISL) with a brief opening ceremony in Chennai on Saturday. Even as the beautiful Aishwarya sparkled by dancing to her hit numbers such as Dola Re Dola, Dhoom Dhoom, the highlight of the evening was music maestro Rahman performing the national anthem at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The 45-minute programme was attended by, among others, Sachin Tendulkar, Rajnikanth, Mukesh and Nita Ambani, besides the Bachchan family. The initial part of the programme saw a performance by Bansi Kaul’s troop. Young bollywood actor Alia Bhatt gyrated to some of her hits from movies like Student of the Year, besides performing to the ISL theme song ‘Let’s Football’. The franchises owners of opening day fixture between Atletico de Kolkata and Chennaiyin FC were called on to the stage and introduced by host Arjun Kapoor, following which Aishwarya entered the scene.
Amitabh Bachchan couldn’t stop clapping as her daughter-in-law performed.

“Together with your support we will make ISL a success,” said Nita Ambani, the inspiration behind the initiative and founder chairperson of Football Sports Development. Heartthrob Rajnikanth hugging cricket legend and Kerala Blasters’ co-owner Tendulkar and cine star Aishwarya were some of the worthy moments of the show. The noise level reached a crescendo as two of India’s greatest icons — Rajnikanth and Bachchan — took centre stage in front of 15,000-20,000 people and shared a word or two.

Earlier, after a few hundred kids unfurled the team banners of all the eight outfits of the ISL out on the pitch  — choreographed wonderfully, it was Alia’s time. Alia, with a little help from the Master of Ceremony of the evening, Arjun Kapoor, kicked things off with a brief performance, dancing to some of her famous hits, which included ‘Radha’ and ‘Disco Deewane’ before finishing her performance with the song that has been ringing in all ears for the past couple of months ‘C’mon India, Let’s Football’.

Aishwarya, with her husband Abhishek and father-in-law Amitabh watching from the VIP section, came and danced gracefully, with a Tamil number, particularly, cranking up the decibel level.
However, it was an altogether different ball game when Tendulkar and Rajnikanth entered the stage.
Nita Ambani then declared the second season open.

Courtesy: The Indian Express

ISL 2015 Opening Ceremony: Aishwarya Rai and AR Rahman to perform

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, AR Rahman and much more – the ISL 2015 Opening Ceremony promises to be the perfect hors d'oeuvre to the main course that is the first match of the new season between Chennaiyin FC and Atletico de Kolkata at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.

ISL has been billed, and successfully it must be said, as a tournament that merges entertainment with its bread and butter – the sport of football – and with the star-studded lineup that the ISL has to offer, expect another big-time Opening Ceremony to mark the league's second year.

ISL 2014 was a great success, marched towards superstardom by an Opening Ceremony to remember, and with Aishwarya Rai headlining the list of acts for ISL 2015 Opening Ceremony, there is little doubt that this one will be something for the audience to remember for a long time again as well. Aishwarya Rai already has a pretty big stake in the ISL, considering her husband Abhishek Bachchan is one of the co-owners of Chennaiyin FC.

With the Bollywood star already expected to be in Chennai to cheer her husband's team on for the opening match of ISL 2015, drafting in the 41-year-old to perform a medley of her hits was a no-brainer. As if a dance performance to remember form Aishwarya Rai wasn't enough, we will also have the music maestro AR Rahman performing, and with the music director quite popular in Chennai, expect the crowd to give him a huge ovation.

There will be several other performances as well, with lights, colours and fireworks set to go off on Saturday in Chennai, in more ways than one.

Where to Watch Live

The IPL 2015 Opening Ceremony is scheduled to start around an hour to an hour-and-a-half before the first match between Chennaiyin FC and Atletico de Kolkata, which will begin at 7 pm IST (2.30 pm BST, 9.30 am ET).

Live coverage of the entire Opening Ceremony will be on the Star Sports network in India and the rest of the sub-continent. Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2, Star Sports 3 and its HD channels, as well as Star Gold, Star Utsav (both Hindi), Jalsha Movies (Bengali), Suvarna TV (Kannada), Jaya Max (Tamil) and Asianet Movies (Malayalam) will show the performance live.

The live streaming online option for the ISL 2015 Opening Ceremony is on Hotstar and Starsports.com.

Courtesy: http://www.ibtimes.co.in/

ISL 2015 Team Profile: Atletico de Kolkata

Defending champions Atletico de Kolkata target double delight!!!!

In a country like India, to be boasting of a league fourth most attended in the world is an achievement by itself, not to mention its popularity in Asia that garners quite a lot of attention for not being a particularly great footballing region.

The grand success of the Indian Super League (ISL) in its inaugural season had a lot of talking points around the world – from improving the standards of the game in India to the future of Indian football.
Football in India, immensely popular at one point of time but now confined to a few pockets of the country, has taken giant leaps towards restoring some of its lost pride. The result of the first ISL season has also somewhere contributed in generating the kind of fan-following that the one-year-old league now commands.

One of the most popular franchises in the league, Atletico de Kolkata lifted the trophy last year beating another powerhouse Kerala Blasters FC at Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium. The team, co-owned by former Indian cricket captain and a self-confessed football fan Sourav Ganguly, was the first franchise to be officially launched in the ISL and also the most expensive of the eight.

The team also shares a blood line with former La Liga champions Atletico Madrid. ATK set the tone of the tournament with a 3-0 win over Mumbai City FC in the opening match of the ISL in front of 60,000 odd fans at the Salt Lake Stadium in the City of Joy. Their Spanish DNA soon made them the team to beat, and despite suffering a few hiccups during the middle stages of the league, ATK emerged as the deserving winners.

The city of Kolkata and the 'Beautiful Game' share a long history. Football has always been a big passion for this sport-obsessed city and is deeply rooted in its vast cultural heritage. Local neighbourhoods, corridors, clubs, even the roadside tea stalls are not left untouched by football madness.

Football is not just a sport or religion in Kolkata but faith and obsession. When football takes over, you just cannot escape without beholding the sight of the city.

With a strong backing from football great Pele, who has committed his support to the club, ATK will be looking to emulate their first year's success and give the city another reason to love their beautiful game.

Let's take a look at their overall team structure for ISL 2.

Marquee Player

Helder Postiga: The Portugal international, who played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, is probably the best marquee signing in this year's edition. Postiga brings with him a wealth of high-class experience and can be expected to finish as one of the top scorers this season. The 32-year-old has represented Portugal in two World Cups and three European Championships, helping his team reach the Euro 2004 final. Postiga last played for Spanish club Deportivo de La Coruna as a striker. The prolific forward has earlier turned up for clubs like Porto, Valencia, Lazio, Sporting Lisbon and Tottenham Hotspur. The presence of Postiga will definitely bolster the team for this season and his sheer ability to score goals can lead ATK to their second triumph.

Goalkeeping

The ATK goal will be marked by Spainiard Juan Calatayud. He most recently played for Hungarian club Videoton FC and will replace Apoula Edima Edel Bete who switched allegiance to Chennaiyin FC. The 35-year-old Calatayud represented Andalusians' first team and went on to appear in 36 La Liga games in two separate seasons. In July 2008, Calatayud joined second-tier side Hercules CF on a two-year deal. Calatayud was again an undisputed starter in the 2010-11 season, but Valencian were immediately relegated. In July he returned to the top division, signing with RCD Mallorca for two years. Being a graduate of Malaga CF's youth syatem, Calatayud spent a considerable time playing with Malaga, Mallorca and Getafe. He brings with him the experience of playing against the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, there is a lack of good back-up goalkeeper. Indian shot-stopper Amrinder Singh has not been in the best of forms of late and young Kunzang Bhutia lacks competitive experience.

Defence

ATK possessed a stellar defence in season one and it was one of the primary reasons why they were the champions. Considering first year's performance, the club's thinktank retained the core of their defence in Josemi, Arnab and Denzil. Rahim Nabi, often known as India’s ‘Mr Versatile’, can play as a defender, midfielder or striker and has essayed all these roles with equal application and consistency. Apart from these four, the defence will revolve around Nallapan Mohanraj, Augustin Fernandes and Luis Espinosa Arroyo. The opponents are expected to have a tough time breaking ATK's strong defence.

Midfield

The game of football is won and lost in the midfield as it is one such place where the heart of the team lies. ATK's defence is commanded by Spainards and this year they have added 29-year-old Spanish midfielder Javi Lara from La Liga side Eibar, bolstering coach Antonio Lopez Habas' foreign options for the upcoming season. A multi-faceted midfielder who operates from the left of the field, Lara has scored 20 goals in his career and is widely regarded as a fine spot-kick specialist. In addition to that, ATK have Jaime Gavilan and Borja Fernandez, Botswana's Ofentse Nato, India's Jewel Raja, Clifford Miranda, Arata Izumi, South Africa's Sameehg Doutie and Cape Verde's Valmiro Lopes to complete their roster. Overall, the ATK midfield wears a versatile look and the team woould hope that the absence of Jofre and former Marquee player Luis Garcia won't hurt their chances this year.

Forward

ATK's attack features two of the best strikers in the league - Postiga and Iain Hume. Ace Canadian striker Hume, who played with the Kerala Blasters last season, will now don the red and white jersey for the second edition of the tournament. Hume was the hero of last edition and was awarded the Golden Ball for his stellar performances for Kerala Blasters. It doesn't require much of a mathematics to know that the combination of Postiga and Hume can tear apart any defence on their day. Apart from the duo, Indian forwards Baljit Sahni, Sushil Kumar Singh and Nadong Bhutia will share the goal-scoring responsibilities. However, ATK fans will surely miss the somersaults of Fikru Teferra, who will now be seen with the Chennaiyin FC.

Players to watch out for

Juan Calatayud, Rahim Nabi, Helder Postiga, Iain Hume and Javi Lara.

Chances this season

With their intelligent picks, ATK look a strong side on paper and are expected to defend their title. ATK have strengthened their squad by bringing in some talented players like Postiga, Hume, Lara and by retaining strong performers like Arnab Mondal, Borja and Nato. However, a busy schedule and lack of a good second-choice goalkeeper and quality Indian strikers can hurt their chances in the long run. ATK were at the forefront of both ISL auction as well as draft, as they picked up six players to fill their domestic quota of 13 players. ATK managed to bag two players in the ISL auction in Arata Izumi and Rino Anto besides Amrinder Singh, Augustin Fernandes, Lalchawnkima and Kunzang Bhutia in the draft. The new signings are expected to bolster ATK's bench strength and hopefully the fans will find more reasons to cheer for their new stars and support them in their quest to defend the title.

ISL 2015 Team Profile: Kerala Blasters

Kerala Blasters were not among the favourites to win the inaugural season of the Indian Super League (ISL); but after a poor start, they made a brilliant comeback and shocked Chennaiyin FC in the semis before Atletico de Kolkata defeated them in the final with a last-minute winner.

Kerala had won only one of their first five matches in the league and were expected to be knocked out but the team, co-owned by star Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, fought back and peaked at the right time to end up as runners-up of ISL 2014.

Kerala Blasters have been the most active club from the league during the summer and have made a flurry of new signings to make them a strong contender for the title. They begin their campaign under British coach Peter Taylor in this edition of the ISL and their opening encounter will be at home against NorthEast United FC on October 6 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

Here is a look at the Kerala Blasters’ squad before the start of ISL season 2:

Strengths: The new signings they have made during the summer will add more speed to their midfield and players from Europe and South America will raise the standard of their game. The club completed the signing of former Barcelona youth academy player Josue Currais Prieto in the last week of August. The Spanish midfielder is not their only signing this summer. He joins the list players which include former Newcastle defender Peter Ramage, former QPR youth player Antonio German, ex-Benfica midfielder Joao Coimbra, former Arsenal winger/striker Sanchez Watt, Brazilian defender Bruno Perone and English striker Chris Dagnall.

Peter Taylor, the new head coach of Kerala Blasters, brings in a huge experience of playing and managing at the top level. Other than managing teams in the English Premier League, Taylor has also managed the England Under-20 and Under-21 teams and has been the coach of the senior England national team for a match. The former Leicester City and Hull City coach took over the team's managerial position from the joint stewardship of David James and Trevor Morgan.

Another strong point for the club is their huge fanbase. Kerala Blasters are one of the most popular clubs in the league and their home stadium in Kochi, which has a seating capacity of 75,000, was almost full on most of the occasions. The Kerala fans also came out in big numbers in their team’s away matches and were a big reason in Kerala Blasters making a comeback last season.

Weaknesses: One of the major problems for the Blasters last season was their inconsistency. They could manage to win only two matches in a row and after losing their first three, they were expected to be knocked out. They made a good fightback to reach the knockout stages but were still an unpredictable side that could defeat big teams on their day; but there was no surety if they could repeat their performance match after match. After taking a 3-0 lead against Chennaiyin FC in the first leg of the semis, Kerala Blasters conceded three goals in the second leg and were in big trouble before Paul Pearson's 117th minute strike sealed their spot in the final.

Iain Hume was their star performer last year and his stunning show in the forward line helped Kerala Blasters turn the tables in their favour. The Canadian striker, who was awarded with the Golden Ball last season for his brilliant performance, has been signed by last year’s winner Atletico de Kolkata and his former team is going to miss him badly. They have signed a few good strikers in the form of Mohammed Rafi, Sanchez Watt and Chris Dagnall but they may still not be able to fill Hume’s shoes.

Last year Kerala Blasters’ goalkeepers David James and Sandeep Nandy were both above 40 and the agility needed near the goalpost was missing. They had let the opposition make a comeback by conceding goals at crucial moments. This year the club has signed Mohun Bagan’s 27-year-old Shilton Paul and 34-year-old English goalkeeper Stephen Bywater. They are still new in the team and it will take some matches to see how well they gel with the squad.

Marquee player: After their player-coach and marquee player David James decided not to participate in the second edition of ISL, Kerala Blasters signed Spain’s World Cup-winning member Carlos Marchena a day before the deadline for signing the marquee players ended. The former Valencia central defender has an attacking style of play and can also play in the midfield. He was a regular member of the Spanish national side from 2002 to 2011 and has won two La Liga titles during his nine-year stint at Valencia.

Other players to watch out for

Sanchez Watt: The 24-year-old is a product of Arsenal’s youth academy and can play as a centre forward and also on the wings. He was a key member of the Arsenal’s under-18 double win during 2008-09 and has played on loans for Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday. In Hume's absence, he will have a key role to play for the team in ISL second edition.

Jossue Currais Prieto: The former Barcelona youth academy player, who plays in the midfield, was at the La Masia academy for two years between 2009 and 2011. His last club was the Polish top division side Gornik Leczna. The 22-year-old will add more pace to Kerala Blasters midfield and will also help them create more chances for the strikers.

Mohammed Rafi: Rafi has been a regular member if Indian national football team and was also part of Atletico de Kolkata that defeated Kerala Blasters to win the inaugural edition of ISL. The 33-year-old will be one of the the main strikers for Kerala this season. He has played for clubs like Churchill Brothers, Mahindra United and Mumbai FC.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Stephen Bywater, Shilton Paul

Defenders: Carlos Marchena (Marquee Player), Bruno Perone, Sandesh Jhingan, Peter Ramage, Marcus Williams, Gurwinder Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Saumik Dey.

Midfielders: Jossue Currais Prieto, Mehtab Hossein, Joao Coimbra, Calvin Lobo, Shankar Sampingiraj, Ishfaq Ahmed, Peter Carvalho, Victor Herrero Forcada.

Forwards: Mohammed Rafi, Sanchez Watt, Antonio German, CK Vineeth, Chris Dagnall, Mandeep Singh.

Courtesy: IBNLive Sports (www.ibnlive.com/footballnext)

ISL 2015 Team Profile: Chennaiyin FC

Chennaiyin FC were one of the most impressive teams from the inaugural season of the Indian Super League (ISL), but that is not sufficient to win the trophy as they found out, falling two steps short of reaching the podium. Kerala Blasters ended Chenniayin FC's almost perfect run in the semis, that must have hurt the franchise after sitting top of the table with six wins, five draws and just three losses before the knockout phase started.

Their 3-0 loss in the first leg of the semi-final was shocking but they made a brilliant fightback in the second with three goals before Kerala scored the winner in the dying moments to break hearts in Chennai. Elano Blumer turned out to be the star performer for them last year and was also the top scorer in the league. The MS Dhoni and Abhishek Bachchan co-owned team scored the most goals in the league and were the favourites to clinch the title but the slump in their form at a crucial moment saw them getting knocked out of the tournament.

The team returned to Chennai to a warm welcome earlier this week after completing their pre-season training in Perugia, Italy. They played four games there, out of which they won two and lost the other two matches. They will open their ISL-2 campaign against Atletico de Kolkata on October 3 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai.

Here is a look at the club’s squad before the start of ISL season 2:

Strengths: Chennai’s strength last year was their free-flowing game that involved short and quick passes and having maximum possession of the ball. They had one of the best midfield during the first season and this year they have retained the core of their team while trying to further improve their already strong defence. Their marquee player Elano is the most complete midfielder in the league and their manager, Marco Materazzi, is a brilliant tactician and analyses the opponents very well.
Despite having many world-class players in the team, Elano is still their main strength and last year the playmaker almost single-handedly took Chennai to the last four. Last season the only time Chennai were seen struggling was during the period when Elano was injured and by retaining him they have made it clear that the Brazilian is going to be their main player this year also.

Chennai’s defence was rock solid in the first season and by retaining Bernard Mendy and signing defenders like Raphael Augusto, Alessandro Potenza and Mailson Alves they have made a statement that they are going to capitalise on their strength. Their star-studded defensive line has players who have been playing in Europe’s top league and they give Chennaiyin FC’s midfield the confidence to play freely and create more chances for the strikers.

Weaknesses: The biggest weakness that came out during the last season was that Chennai were not able to convert the opportunities created by the midfield into goals. Elano’s role is not that of a finisher but he had to the maximum leg work and then had to try to convert those chances into goals. The amount of goals scored by the team would suggest otherwise, though, because the midfield had done an outstanding job in creating chances while most of the shots taken by the forwards were off target. Balwant Singh showed some promise with his speed and ball control but he wasn’t consistent.
This year they have roped in Fikru Teferra, who was the best finisher for champions Atletico de Kolkata last year. He, along with Stiven Mendoza and Jeje Lalpekhlua, will have a huge responsibility to improve Chennai’s attack. If they start scoring, then it will also take some pressure off Elano and he will be able to do his job as a midfielder.

One more cause of concern for Chennai could be their inability to perform under pressure situations. Last year they were the table-toppers and were favourites to win the title but their 3-0 loss in the first leg of the semis was a shocker. They should also get rid of their habit of over-dependence on a single player and other players also need to step up and perform in big matches.

Marquee player: Elano, undoubtedly, is going to be Chennai’s key player. His ball passing and prowess in centre of the field makes him one of the most valuable players in the league. The 34-year-old Brazilian joined Chennaiyin FC last year and scored some sensational goals to win the Golden Boot. Best known for his accurate set pieces, Elano has played with big European clubs like Manchester City, Shakhtar Donetsk and Galatasaray before returning to Brazilian Club Santos in 2011.

Other players to watch out for:

Fikru Teferra: Fikru became a popular face among ISL fans due to his style of celebration after scoring a goal. The former Ethiopian captain, who has scored 10 international goals, was Kolkata’s main striker last season before he and Apoula Edel Bete were roped in by Chennaiyin FC in July this year. Fikru scored five goals in 12 matches before getting sidelined with a hamstring injury during the later part of the tournament.

Bernard Mendy: Mendy's brilliant goal with a bicycle kick against Kerala Blasters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai was one of the biggest highlights of ISL's opening season. The 34 year-old French defender was an integral part of European football giant Paris Saint-Germain and won the Coupe de France twice in 2004 and 2006 with the club before joining English Premier League's Hull City. A solid defender who plays with an attacking approach, Mendy was retained by Chennaiyin FC.

Jeje Lalpekhlua: Jeje Lalpekhlua is among the most promising names in Indian football and is also one of the best strikers in the country. He made an impressive start to his international career by scoring four goals in his first three matches and played a major role in India's 2011 SAFF Cup championship victory. Jeje was the top-scoring Indian player in the ISL last year with four goals. The 24-year-old has played for Indian clubs like Mohun Bagan, Dempo and Pune before moving to Chennai.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Apoula Edel Bete, Nidhin Lal, Karanjit Singh,

Defenders: Bernard Mendy, Abhishek Das, Justin Stephen, Alessandro Potenza, Lalhmangaihsanga Ralte, Eder Monteiro, Mailson, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Dhanachandra Singh

Midfielders: Elano Blumer (marquee player), Harmanjot Khabra, Dhanapal Ganesh, Bruno Pelissari, Raphael Augusto, Manuele Blasi, Thoi Singh, Godwin Franco, Zakeer Mundampara

Forwards: Jeje Lalpekhlua, Balwant Singh, Jayesh Rane, Fikru Teferra, Stiven Mendoza

Courtesy: IBNLive Sports (www.ibnlive.com/footballnext)

ISL 2015 Team Profile: FC GOA

Coached by the legendary Zico, FC Goa, who made it to the semi-finals of the inaugural Indian Super League (ISL), will be one of the teams to watch in ISL-2. The legendary Brazilian is leaving no stone unturned to make Goa a champion side in his second season with the franchise having himself selected all the foreign players in the team and the Brazilian flavour gives the squad an edge over others. There are seven Brazilian players in FC Goa team this time, while the others, including Spanish midfielder Jofre Mateu, have proven track record.

Goa selected Lucio as their marquee player for the new season and the Brazilian has won everything in the past. From World Cup to league titles, he brings with him experience in abundance. However, the team will be without Arsenal legend Robert Pires - who was one of the biggest crowd puller last time around. Last season, Goa were slow off the blocks but this season Zico will want to hit the ground running from the word go.

Strengths: Domestic talent plays a massive role and the local lads are one of FC Goa’s strengths. Adding to that, the Samba flavour drilled in by coach Zico and the marquee signing of Lucio make Goa a force to reckon with this time as well.

The crowd support might also play a key role for them - as we saw last time that all the games in their home stadium were jam packed. Goa have added a number of Brazilians to their squad - so the the players and team chemistry is surely going to work in their favour as well.

Weaknesses: FC Goa have lost quite a few players. Arsenal legend Pires is not the only notable loss. Goa's star player of last season Andre Santos will also not be part of ISL this time around and another noticeable is that of Afghanistan captain Zohib Amiri. Another big weakness for the Goa franchisee is that majority of the foreign players are in their late 30s, which means fitness could become a problem area at some stage in the 79-day tournament.

Their pre-seaon record is not that great. Goa players spent their pre-season in the United Arab Emirates, where they trained hard under the watchful eyes of Zico and Lucio. But of the four practice games the team played, they won only one, drew two and lost one.

Players to watch

Jofre Mateu: FC Goa have brought in Mateu from Atletico de Kolkata. It can be one of the key signings for them. He lends immense stability to this team and will be the playmaker for them this season. A product of Barcelona’s famed youth academy, Mateu surely has enviable passing skills that can be worry for any opposition. He started his career at the famed La Masia academy in Barcelona and made his first-team debut in the final game of the 1997-98 season, wherein he scored the lone goal for his side in a 4-1 loss.

Romeo Fernandes: During the inaugural season of Indian Super League, Romeo had a fantastic time and was seen as one of the new Indian stars thrown up by ISL. The 22-year Goan was loaned to the Brazilian club Paranaense amidst plenty of hype in January after some noteworthy performances in the ISL. It was said he was personally recommended by coach Zico. And this season he should be on the pitch as an even better player.

Denson Devadas: Devadas played almost every game for Chennaiyin FC in the first season of the tournament and he is expected to be in Goa's starting eleven right away. Devadas, who cites midfielders Zinedine Zidane and Andres Iniesta as his footballing idols, will hope to make an impact for his new club. As a central attacking midfielder, he could be the focal point for Zico's men.

Marquee player: Lucimar Ferreira da Silva, popularly known as Lucio, signed up with FC Goa as marquee player. Lucio, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and was part of 2006 and 2010 finals, was recommended by the side's legendary coach Zico and brings with him a bundle of top-flight experience. The Brazilian defender started his football career with Internacional at home before heading to Germany where he played for Bayern Leverkusen and Bayern Munich and won three Bundesliga titles.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Andrade, Laxmikant Kattimani, Luis Barreto, Keenan Almeida

Defenders: Nicolau Colaco, Lúcio, Grégory Arnolin, Raju Gaikwad, Narayan Das, Roy Debabrata.

Midfielders: Bikramjit Singh, Jonatan Lucca, Pronay Halder, Leo Moura, Jofre, Mandar Rao Desai, Léo Rocha, Denson Devadas, Romeo Fernandes

Forwards: Joaquim Abranches, Darryl Duffy, Victorino Fernandes, Victor Simões, Chinadorai Sabeeth, Reinaldo, Thongkhosiem Haokip

Courtesy: IBNLive Sports (www.ibnlive.com/footballnext)

ISL 2015 Team Profile: Delhi Dynamos

After missing out on the semi-finals spot last time around, Delhi Dynamos have strengthened heavily this time around with a new coach, new marquee player and a new look team to find a place at the top of the charts.

After announcing the massive signing of Roberto Carlos as their marquee player-cum manager, Delhi managed to acquire big names like Indian ace striker Robin Singh alongside the foreign duo of Florent Malouda and John Arne Riise.

Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero was their marquee player last season - but the former Juventus striker found it hard to get going on his ageing legs, and hence Delhi set their sights on Carlos.

Delhi finished fifth last time around and that was due to their inconsistent performances throughout the season.

The team from the Indian capital started with two draws and then thumped Chennaiyin FC. But after that win their performance went downhill and there was even a time when they were bottom of the league for a few days. However, they did make a strong comeback towards the end of the season as they registered four wins in their final six outings but that was not enough to help them finish in top four.

The Dynamos had a memorable jersey launch this season in front of the historic Taj Mahal in Agra. The team, including big players Malouda, Riise, Adil Nabi, Robin and Ravi Kumar, along with Brazil legend Carlos, unveiled the white jersey.

And they will hope the Taj brings their way that slice of luck which was missing for Delhi in the inaugural season.

Strengths

With the signings of two experienced men in Malouda and Riise, Delhi have arguably one of the strongest attacks in the tournament along with stability and balance. The sight of Riise and Malouda down the left side will indeed be one to behold; and if the duo can find the understanding between them, then the opposition defence will be under big pressure to contain the former EPL duo. The Delhi management has also done well to retain the likes of Hans Mulder, Gustavo Dos Santos, Anwar Ali and Shylo Malswamtlunga. These players were the core of the team last time around and their influence will be a big boost for the dressing room.

Another big strength for the team will be their marquee player-cum-manager Carlos. The Brazilian is a highly respectable figure in the world of football and will demand a lot from his players; and the players will surely improve under his guidance. Although Carlos isn't very experienced when it comes the manager's role, he did well to recruit new players and now it's down to him to make them click and help Delhi to go all the way this time around.

Weaknesses

The biggest weakness that came out during the last season was Delhi's inconsistency. The team could not put together a string of wins and when they did it was too late. With other teams too strengthening their squads, Delhi players need to set the ball rolling right from the start. Hans Mulder and Brazilian Gustavo were the only two players who impressed last season. Also a worry is Delhi's defence, which didn't show much improvement in the pre-season games.

Marquee player-cum-manager: When it comes to big former football stars playing in India, it can't get better than Roberto 'The Galactico' Carlos. The former Real Madrid star was snapped up by Delhi Dynamos as their manager-cum-marquee-player for the second season of the league. One of the best left-back of his time and a dead-ball specialist, Carlos will look to showcase his outstanding skills in the ISL as well. Having Carlos in the dugout will give the young Indian players an opportunity to pick his brains and surely Delhi Dynamos will be a team to watch out for this time around just for that reason alone. Carlos replaces Alexandro Del Piero as the marquee signing for the team from the capital city.

Players to watch:

Robin Singh: He is touted as the next big thing of Indian football and hopefully the game's flag-bearer for the country in the coming years. Born and raised in Delhi, Robin will surely be delighted after being picked by Delhi Dynamos for the second season of the ISL. The on-loan Bengaluru FC forward is an opportunistic striker. It was unfortunate for him to not feature in the first edition of ISL as his I-League club refused to release him, but this time around he will surely be excited to play alongside some big names and make his mark in the tournament.

John Arne Riise: Delhi Dynamos won the race to sign the former Liverpool left-back who was also linked to Kerala Blasters. Having won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and the Carling Cup with Liverpool, Riise will be a big asset for Carlos' team. He brings with him a bundle of experience, which Delhi dearly wanted this season. Despite being a left-back, Risse has scored some brilliant goals in the past and is a handful on free-kicks as well.

Florent Malouda: The former Chelsea winger is one of the only two players in the ISL with an English Premier League winners' medal. The left-footed French footballer is known for his tricky dribbles and creativity. The winger has not only been the key player for his teams in the past but also pitched in with crucial goals throughout his illustrious career with Lyon and Chelsea. He was also part of the French national team to finish runners-up in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Subhasish Roy Chowdury, Toni Doblas, Ravi Kumar

Defenders: Roberto Carlos (Coach), John Arne Riise, Cichao, Anwar Ali, Anas, Prabir Das, Naoba Singh, Robert Lathlamanua,

Midfielders: Serginho Greene, Hans Mulder, Francis Fernandes, G Vignesh, Zodingliana Ralte, Souvik Chakraborty, Snehaj Singh, Gustavo, Florent Malouda

Forwards: Vincius Ferreria, Robin Singh, Adil Nabi, Seminlen Doungel, Richard Gadze

Courtesy: IBNLive Sports (www.ibnlive.com/footballnext)

ISL 2015 Team Profile: FC Pune City

October holds a special place in Pune's calendar - the city of Deccan. Fresh from celebrating the Ganesh Chaturthi, the Hindu festival celebrated in honour of the elephant-headed God, the city braces itself for the onset of winter. It is also that time of the year when Puneites look forward to embrace the beautiful game. The first edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) proved to be a massive success for Indian football; and for the majority of Indian lovers of the beautiful game, the ISL was their first encounter with a domestic tournament where the quality of play at times matched international standards. And the city of Pune is no different. Ruled by different dynasties over the centuries, the next two months will see the city gripped in football fever.

Following a disappointing performance in the inaugural season of the league, a revamped FC Pune City is all geared up to prove a point when the second edition starts on October 3. The club will be managed by David Platt, a former assistant coach of English football giants Manchester City and someone who is widely respected worldwide. It can be said that his vast experience at the club level will surely come handy for the Orange and Purple franchise.

The club, which managed to win just four matches out of 14 in the first season, has completely rebuilt their side and have a star-studded line-up this time around with quality Indian and foreign players.
Foreign signings like former Chelsea star Adrian Mutu; Didier Zokora, the most capped player for Ivory Coast; Turkish footballer Tuncay Sanli; England's Roger Johnson; and promising Indian players like Eugenesin Lyngdoh and Jackichand Singh form the core of the team and can pose a real threat to the opposition.

Pune had their pre-season training in Turkey in world-class facilities which helped the Indian players gel with the foreign players ahead of the second season.Pune will begin their campaign in a derby clash at home against rivals Mumbai City FC on October 5 at the Balewadi Stadium.

Marquee Player

Adrian Mutu: FC Pune City have signed former Fiorentina and Chelsea winger as their marquee player to bolster the attack for the second season. The 36-year-old Romanian, who was a part of the Juventus side that won the Serie A title twice in 2004-05 and 2005-06, was also the Coppa Italia top scorer in 2009-10. He last played for Romanian club Petrolul Ploiesti. The talismanic winger began his career with Romanian club Arges Pitesti and has also played for big clubs like Inter Milan and Juventus. Mutu has scored more than 160 goals and was the Romanian Footballer of the Year for a record four times. Mutu is Romania's joint top international goal-scorer having netted 35 times in 77 internationals, the same goal tally as the great Gheorghe Hagi. His prolific form with Parma brought him a 22.5 million euros transfer to Chelsea in 2003. The much-travelled player was also at the centre of controversy when he was fired by Chelsea in 2004 following a positive test for cocaine. However, all said and done, Mutu will find a fresh lease of life in FC Pune City and the Maharashtra side will also depend a lot on his goal-scoring ability.

Goalkeeping

Pune have three quality goalkeepers at their disposal - England's Steve Simonsen and the Indian duo of Arindam Bhattacharya and Lalit Thapa. Stevenson, 36, earlier played for top English clubs Everton and Stoke City and by 2012, the 6-feet-two shot-stopper was playing for another English club, Preston North End FC, before moving to Scotland with Dundee FC in the Scottish Premier League. He eventually joined Rangers in 2013 where he played for a couple of years. Stevenson adds variety to the goalkeeping trio.

Arindam can be Pune's regular goalkeeper as he has a long and fruitful experience of playing for Churchill Brothers. Hailing from a well-qualified family, Arindam has made five appearances for the senior national team. However, his finest moment came in the under-23 colours at the SAFF Cup final of 2009 when his incredible saves during regulation time and two in the tie-breaker helped India prevail over defending champions Maldives 3-1 on penalties.

The last in the line, Thapa, has also represented Churchill Brothers playing second fiddle to Arindam for a few seasons. However, he soon rose to become the first choice keeper for the Goan giants. With quick reflexes and a commanding presence, Thapa can be a deciding factor if given an opportunity besides adding strength to the Pune bench.

Defence

The highlight of Pune's signings this year has been balance and the defence is no different with an amalgamation of good Indian and foreign players. The team's defence will be led by Gouramangi Singh, who is widely regarded as one of the best central defenders in the country. Gouramangi stands out with his tall and tough built and has played for some of the leading clubs in India. To back Gouramangi, the side has other experienced Indian defenders in Dharamaraj Ravanan, Govin Singh Moirangthem, Gurjinder Singh and Pritam Kotal besides foreign recruits Diego Colotto, Nicky Shorey and Roger Johnson. Left-back Shorey is another man to watch out for at the back. The Englishman has played for Portsmouth FC last year and has the experience of appearing for several EPL clubs including Reading, West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa.

Midfield

FC Pune City have one of the best midfields in the competition. They have plenty of talent that can dictate terms to the oppostion and can be the deciding factor. The midfield will be led by Zokora. The defensive midfielder is the most capped Ivorian international having made 123 appearances before his retirement in 2014. Zokora has already played for seven clubs in his career, including French Ligue 1 side St Etienne and EPL outfit Tottenham. Zokora is most likely to play the role of a holding midfielder and will add variety to the side with his wealth of experience. Besides Zokora, talented Indians Lyngdoh and Jackichand are the ones to look out for.

Following an impressive two-year stint with Shillong Lajong, Lyngdoh returned to Rangdajied United and made his I-League debut. Bengaluru FC soon drafted him into their squad in 2014 and the Meghalaya-based player did not disappoint, doing well in the Durand Cup and the Federation Cup. Lyngdoh made his debut for India in the FIFA World Cup pre-qualifier match against Nepal and consequently cemented his place in the national squad as coach Stephen Constantine’s first-choice central midfielder.

Manipur-born Jackichand also comes with an impressive CV, having started his career at Royal Wahingdoh in 2005. He stands out with his impressive pace and ball control and was awarded the I-League Player of the Season in 2014-15. The young winger made his debut for the national team in a friendly against Nepal and consequently went on to feature in all 5 matches for India in the 2018 FIFA WC Qualifiers.

Attack

Pune City's attack will be spearheaded by Mutu and the Romanian forward will be supported by Nigerian Kalu Uche and Costa Rica's Yendrick Ruiz. Winner of EPL with Chelsea, the side will bank heavily on Mutu's exploits in the league. Nigeria's Uche, who has 37 goals in 148 appearances in the La Liga for Almeria, Espanyol Barcelona and Levante, is expected to partner Mutu on the front while Ruiz is slated to play the role of a third-choice striker and can come into effect in case of any injury to either Mutu or Uche.

Manager

David Platt: The former England captain has been appointed as the new manager of FC Pune. The 48-year-old has been out of football since leaving his post as assistant to Roberto Mancini at Manchester City in 2013 but previously was in charge of Nottingham Forest and England Under-21s. Known as a strategist, Platt, who won 62 England caps, played for Aston Villa, Arsenal, Juventus, Sampdoria, Bari, Nottingham Forest and Crewe Alexandra.

Players to watch

Adrian Mutu, Didier Zokora, Eugeneson Lyngdoh and Jackichand Singh.

Chances

Looking at the team, Pune certainly look strong on paper and can surely finish in top four if they can be consistent enough in the tiring competition.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Arindham Bhattacharya, Steve Simonsen, Lalit Thapa

Defenders: Govin Singh, Diego Colotto, Roger Johnson, Pritam Kotal, Dharmaraj Ravanan, Gurjinder Kumar, Gouramangi Singh, Nicky Shorey

Midfielders: Didier Zokora, Manish Maithani, James Bailey, Israil Gurung, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Sushanth Matthew, Bikash Jairu, Lenny Rodrigues, Fanai Lalrempuia

Forwards: Yendrick Ruiz, Kalu Uche, Adrian Mutu, Jackichand Singh, Tuncay Sanli, Wesley Verhoek

Courtesy: IBNLive Sports (www.ibnlive.com/footballnext)

ISL 2015 Team Profile: Mumbai City FC

Based in the commercial capital of India, Mumbai City FC have a lot to prove in the second season of the Indian Super League (ISL) following a timid and below par performance in the inaugural edition.
Co-owned by Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor, the club's hopes were dashed last season as they finished second from the bottom of the table in the eight-team competition. However, having assembled a squad of powerful, attacking players for the second season, the club looks a rejuvenated side aiming to finish their unfinished business.

The team is led and coached by none other than Talismanic French footballer Nicolas Anelka. Mumbai City FC were injected with that extra impetus when they bagged Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri in this year's player's auction. The move will guarantee the club of a tremendous rise in fan following.

Much was expected of Mumbai City FC's star-studded line-up last year, including the likes of Anelka, Fredrik Ljungberg, Andre Moritz but it won't be wrong to say that they finished up as duds, with being one of the least creative sides in the league. This year, Mumbai may not be regarded as favourites, but have the quality and depth to rout their opponents on their day.

Having managed to line up a much more balanced squad this time around, Mumbai will hope for a turnaround in their fortunes. The club retained Moritz and centre-back Pavel Cmovs, who will be accompanied by former Celtic centre-back Darren O’Dea. Former English Premier League striker Frederic Piquionne joins the front line with ex-Paris Saint-Germain and Malaga attacking midfielder Selim Benachour. Apart from them, Mohun Bagan’s Sony Norde has also been roped in to further strengthen the attack.

Mumbai also managed to hold onto talented goalkeeper Subrata Paul, with Subhash Singh and Lalrindika Ralte the other Indian players to have been retained by the club. Chhetri was grabbed by the club at a massive price of Rs. 1.2 crore to add venom and versatility to their attack alongside Anelka.

Strengths

India skipper Chhetri's presence alongside former Chelsea forward Anelka, who is mainly in the side for his experience, makes attack the biggest strength of the team and will surely be a treat to watch for the fans.

The other notable player who forms the core strength of the team is Andre Moritz - a Brazilian of Italian and German descent. The 29-year-old holds the record for the only hat-trick in the ISL, when he netted thrice against state rivals FC Pune City in a 5-0 routing last year. Haitian striker Norde is well versed with the Indian conditions after playing for reigning I-League champions Mohun Bagan for quite some time.

The side also looks in shape with Indian starts Lalrindika Ralte, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai, Gabriel Fernandes and Kingshuk Debnath in the mix

Weaknesses

What is Mumbai City FC's biggest strength can be their weakness as well. The appointment of Anelka as their player-manager doesn't seem a forward decision as of now. The Frenchman is no stranger to controversy as a look-back at his chequered past shows. Anelka has also been questioned on his leadership skills during his prime at some of the top clubs of the world. The added managerial responsibility may affect his play.

The other weakness of the club seems their lack of good second-choice goalkeeper. In Subrata Paul, they have a match-winner but in case of any injury to him, the lack of experience from other 'keepers Debjit Majumder and Albino Gomes might cost them dear.

Marquee Player

The Mumbai franchise announced Anelka to be the team's player-manager for the second season. Anelka has been part of the coaching staff of a club during his stint with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua in 2012. He was named the ISL's fifth best player at the end of the first season, where he scored twice with two assists. Anelka has played 69 times for France and has nearly 500 club appearances at the top level and was one of the first stars from the inagaugural season to confirm his return for ISL 2015. The Euro 2000 winner has played for top clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Juventus.

Players to watch

Sunil Chhetri: With 50 goals to his credit at the international level, 31-year-old Chhetri's zeal and enthusiasm for the game is unparalleled. He has undoubtedly been the poster boy of Indian football since the retirement of Baichung Bhutia and commands tremendous respect and fan-following in the country. His addition not only gives Mumbai an edge in attack but also adds on the popularity quotient of the team.

Andre Francisco Moritz: Brazilian striker Moritz's hat-trick was instrumental in Mumbai's first win of the tournament last year. Moritz was born in the small town of Florianopolis in Brazil and came up via the youth system at local club Avai FC, after which he signed his first professional contract with SC Internacional. Playing as an attacking midfielder, he turned out for various clubs in Turkey and England, most notably Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace, helping the latter gain promotion to the Premier League. He finally settled with the Korean side Pohang Steelers from where Mumbai City FC loaned him for the inaugural season. Anelka may be the team's marquee signing but it is Moritz who has to step up for the team's cause this season.

Subrata Paul: Regarded as India's number one shot-stopper, Subrata Paul is surely someone to watch out for whenever he plays. With a wealth of both club and country experience behind him, Paul is no stranger to big-match situations. He was the first Indian player to join a first division side in Europe after he played for Danish top tier club FC Vestsjaelland. Paul, who was called 'Indian Spiderman' by South Korean media during 2011 Asian Cup in Doha for his impressive show in the Indian post, is a tough man to beat and can be Mumbai City FC's key player.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Subrata Pal, Debjit Majumder, Albino Gomes

Defenders: Frantz Bertin, Ashutosh Mehta, Darren O'Dea, Keegan Pereira, Pavel Cmov, Kingshuk Debnath, Rowilson Rodrigues, Aitor Fernandez Lopez

Midfielders: Juan Aguilera, Cristian Bustos, Selim Benachour, Pratesh Shirodkar, Andre Moritz, Brandon Fernandes, Gabriel Fernandes, Lalrindika Ralte, Lalchhuanmawia Fanai, Sampath Kuttymani

Forwards: Frederic Piquionne, Sunil Chhetri, Subhash Singh, Nicolas Anelka, Sony Norde

Head coach: Nicolas Anelka

Assistant Coach: Oscar Bruzon

Courtesy: IBNLive Sports (www.ibnlive.com/footballnext)

ISL 2015 Team Profile: NorthEast United FC

The last-place finish in the inaugural season of Indian Super League (ISL) doesn’t justify the amount of talent NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) have got. They are one club which represents an entire region of the country and have a huge fanbase in the eight north-eastern states of India.

One unique thing about the club during the first season was that while others were going for big foreign players, NEUFC signed big names from the region and focused on developing the young squad. And they aren't deviating from it in Season 2.

The team, led by Spain’s World Cup-winning member Joan Capdevila, made a good start last season by defeating eventual runners-up Kerala Blasters FC in their opening match but after that their performance saw a huge dip and they finished bottom of the table with just three wins, five losses and six draws.

The club showed some good football in patches but were not able to produce wins consistently. They got a huge support at home in Guwahati where the stadium was almost full in every match. Their 3-0 win at home against last year’s semi-finalist Chennaiyin FC was their best performance in the first season.

NEUFC had a creative midfield and they got a good backing from their defenders but their forward line lacked the firepower and failed to convert many good chances into goals at very crucial moments. The failure to score goals hurt them badly and the inexperience in the team was clearly visible as they lost some games in the dying moments of the match after taking the lead. Their striker Koke was the top scorer for the team with four goals as they finished the league with 15 points.

Despite the poor show last year, the 'Highlanders' have not made drastic changes in their squad and have retained seven players, including two foreigners, from last year. During the auction they didn't make big purchases and the biggest player they signed was the highly-rated Manipuri winger Seityasen Singh.

The club, though, has made some big signings from Europe and Latin America and have got a very experienced Venezuelan coach Cesar Farias as their new team manager.
NEUFC begin their ISL 2015 campaign away from home when they take on Kerala Blasters at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on October 6.

Here is a look at the club’s squad before the start of ISL season 2:

Strengths: The biggest strength of the club is that most of the players know each other well and have played together. This will help them coordinate on the field knowing each other's strengths and weaknesses. The huge crowd support will also work in their favour and the fans from north-east showed last year that they come out in large numbers to support the local heroes no matter how the result.

NEUFC's new coach, Farias - who guided Venezuela to the semis of Copa America, could turn things around for the team this year. Farias, 52, has the distinction of taking Venezuela to their first win over Brazil and he also guided Venezuala to FIFA U-20 World Cup qualification in 2009. The decision to replace Ricki Herbert with Farias could work in team's favour because the Venezuelan is a big fan of Latin American style of football and his playing style, which involves possession play, will be suitable for the team.

NEUFC made some major signings and announced former Portuguese star Simao Sabrosa as their marquee player for the second season. They also roped in former Newcastle United and Fulham poacher Diomansy Kamara, Ghana's Francis Dadzie and Argentine Nicolas Velez. One major transfer they made this season was to get French goalkeeper Gennaro Bracigliano, who had an impressive season last year with Chennaiyin FC.

Weaknesses: Lack of experienced players is still their biggest weakness. The club's policy of buying young players from north-east regions is a good move to develop young talent but it is hurting their chances of winning in ISL. The average age of the team is only 24 and although the club has signed some experienced foreign player this season, there are very few senior Indian players in the team.

Signings of Diomansy Kamara and Nicolas Velez will add some class to their forward line but their attack stands nowhere when compared to clubs like Atletico de Kolkata, Delhi Dynamos and Chennaiyin FC. Converting opportunities created by the midfield into goals and not conceding goals during crucial moments will be a major task for NEUFC.

Marquee Player: NEUFC's new marquee player, Sabrosa, brings in a huge experience of playing at the club and international levels. The 35-year-old left-winger from Portugal has played for Spanish football giants Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Simao signed for Atletico for five years in 2007 and won the Europa Cup and UEFA Super League with the club. He was a regular member in the Portuguese squad and has played 85 matches and scored 22 goals. He has appeared in 486 club matches and has scored an impressive 102 goals.

Other players to watch out for:

Nicolas Velez: The River Plate academy product is coming to NEUFC from the S League of Singapore. The 25-year-old Velez was a big star in the S League where he scored 29 goals in 38 appearances last year. His playing style is very similar to that of Arsenal's star player Alexis Sanchez and the two-footed Argentine will help the club improve its weak attack.

Boithang Haokip: 24-year-old Haokip is regarded as one of the most talented Indian footballers and his role in the centre midfield will be crucial for the club. Haokip played for Shillong Lajong in the I-League and is known as a free-kick specialist. He likes to play in the centre of the midfield but can play on the wings and also as a full-back.

Full squad

Goalkeepers: Gennaro Bracigliano, Lalthuammawia Ralte, Rehenesh TP

Defenders: Cédric Hengbart, Miguel Garcia, Marlangki Suting, Reagan Singh, Robin Gurung, Aiborlang Khongjee, Yumnam Raju, Zohmingliana Ralte

Midfielders: Simao Sabrosa (Marquee), Silas, Boithang Haokip, Seityasen Singh, Siam Hangal, Alan Deory, Kondwani Mtonga, Bruno Herrero Arias, Sanju Pradhan

Forwards: Diomansy Kamara, Boubacar Sanogo, Nicolas Velez, Holicharan Narzary, Francis Dadzie.

Courtesy: IBNLive Sports