Skip to main content

Constantine quits as India coach after Asian Cup exit

Stephen Constantine resigned as the head coach of the Indian football team after the team crashed out of the AFC Asian Cup in Sharjah on Monday. India needed a draw against Bahrain in their final group match to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time ever in their history. However, their hearts were broken in cruel fashion as a 91st minute penalty from Jamal Rashed handed Bahrain all three points.

Immediately after the defeat, Constantine announced that he has decided to step down from his position.

"Stephen Constantine is stepping down after this game. I was here for four years. My objective from day 1 was to qualify for the Asian Cup. I have done that and we have broken a few records. I am proud of the players for what they have given. I have to thank the AIFF for the support. My cycle has finished. It's time for me to move on," he told reporters at the post match press conference.

India got off to a flying start with an emphatic 4-1 win over Thailand. But defeats to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain saw them finish last in their group.

Constantine took over as the coach of the Indian team in 2015 in his second stint and managed to guide them into the Asian Cup after a hiatus of eight years. Earlier, Constantine had coached India from 2002 to 2005.

Under Constantine, India broke into the top 100 of the FIFA rankings last year from the 173rd spot in 2015.

"I am bitterly disappointed. To go out in the 90th minute due to a penalty is really tough. The boys gave everything. We perhaps did not create enough chances as we did in the previous two games. We go home," the coach signed off reflecting on the game.



via Sify.com http://bit.ly/2FuOfPa
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

India withdraw Smith protest as boards make peace in DRS row

India have withdrawn an official protest about the actions of Australia captain Steve Smith in the second test as the governing bodies of both countries moved to bring an end to the acrimony surrounding the ongoing four-match series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier registered a complaint to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over Smith looking to the dressing room for guidance on whether to review an lbw decision during the Bengaluru match. Despite the hosts winning the test to level the series at 1-1 on Tuesday, India skipper Virat Kohli alleged the tourists had indulged in the practice throughout the match, sparking a war of words in the media and a robust response from Australia. The boards released a joint statement on Friday saying the chief executives of both bodies had met in Mumbai on Thursday and agreed to try and bring the focus "back to the game" ahead of next week's third test in Ranchi. "India has always cherished a c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pogba is one of best players when in form: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Leeds [UK], Dec 7 (ANI): Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has praised midfielder Paul Pogba, saying that he is one of the best players in the world when he is in good touch. "Paul is going to play when he gets his fitness. He is one of the best players in the world when he's in form and we just need to give him time to be 100 per cent fit," Goal.com quoted Solskjaer as saying. Pogba has endured a frustrating 2019-20 campaign to date, having only managed five Premier League appearances in total due to a string of fitness issues. He is currently recovering from an ankle injury and last played for the club on September 30 against Arsenal. Solskjaer had said that the France international will be out of action till December. "It might be 45 minutes in the first game, it might be half an hour, it might be 90. It depends on what game he comes back in and I'm looking back to get Paul back to where I had him about a year ago," Solskjaer said. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Virat Kohli and co. leave for West Indies

The Virat Kohli led Indian team left for the West Indies for the four-Test series starting July 21st. The team was accompanied by its newly appointed head coach Anil Kumble and other support staff. The 16-member squad will play a tour game against the West Indies Cricket Board President's XI at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts on July 9 and 10. The journey begins. #TeamIndia leaves for the tour of West Indies. #WIvIND http://pic.twitter.com/ebK1jkoFiN -BCCI (@BCCI) July 5, 2016 That will be followed by a three-day warm-up fixture at the same venue from July 14 to 16. The first Test match will be held at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua from July 21 to 25. The other three Test matches will be held at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica (Jul 30-Aug 3), Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia (Aug 9-13) and Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad (Aug 18-22). When India last toured West Indies in 2011, the visitors won the series 1-0....
Post a Comment
Read more