PANJIM: Former Indian football captain and striker Baichung Bhutia felt that India has a big opportunity to qualify for the World Cup 2026 as the participating countries in the tournament will be increased from 32 to 48.
“At present we have four Asian teams in the World Cup. We are hoping to get eight teams in 2026 so hopefully India can try and make it at that time”, Bhutia said.
It may be recalled that FIFA Council had unanimously voted to expand the number of countries from 32 to a 48-team of which the Asian countries were increased to eight. The body favoured a joint North American bid put forward by the three countries as the host for the World Cup. The US, Canada and Mexico will host the same.
“We still got to work a lot to participate. It is not easy as the competition is getting tougher. Asian countries like Japan, Iran and Saudi Arabia are playing good quality football at the World Cup and to reach to that level we need to improve ourselves”.
“Yes there are challenges in terms of football in India but we need to fight them. Success doesn’t come immediately”, he added.
When asked about the present scenario at World Cup 2018, Bhutia said, “The first round was very interesting as there were many upsets right from the beginning of the tournament. Germany lost its first match to Mexico while Argentina, who were the finalist, also suffered a humiliating defeat against Croatia. But overall it is a very good World Cup”, Bhutia said.
“In every World Cup there are one to two upsets and some good teams have even bowed out in round one itself. There are lot of surprises seen in every World Cup and this year too there will be surprises”, he added.
Although the underdogs are shining at the World Cup, Bhutia was reluctant to say that they will take home the Cup.
“This is just the first round for the underdogs and every team is technically strong. There will be a lot of frustrating moments as they want to just get positive result; not to win but atleast earn a point”, he said.
“I don’t think this is a World Cup of underdogs. This is just the beginning and you still have big teams like Spain, Brazil, Germany, France at the end. One or two underdogs will make it to the quarterfinals or semi-finals but eventually it is the big guns who will win”, he said.
Speaking about his most favourite star Lionel Messi, Bhutia said he was sad as his (Messi’s) team Argentina lost.
“I am supporting Argentina only because I am a big Messi fan. It was very sad to see the way Argentina played and lost by a big margin 3-0 against Croatia”.
When asked if Messi needs a World Cup to be called genuinely the greatest player of all time, Bhutia said World Cup is not the all in football.
“It is not the World Cup that can make one greatest player of all time and get a tag of it. There are many players like George Best and Ryan Giggs who have never played in World Cup but are still called the greatest players”, he concluded.
