After an embarrassing 3-0 defeat against Mauritius, a tight duel against Kenya in a 1-0 loss following another comical performance against Djibouti resulting in a 3-1 vanquish, Pakistan failed to outscore their opponents on all three occasions. But I would still beg to differ that the Four-nation Cup was anything but a failure.
What Went Wrong:
The importance of chemistry between the players showed its true essence throughout the tournament. Lack of communication made sure Pakistan never went comfortable during any phase. Induction of diaspora players came with a sacrifice, with players joining the camp only one day prior to the start, this conundrum was inevitable.
One of the basics of analyzing the game is studying the zones where the ball is not being played. A quick glance at the first game against Mauritius, we’d be quick to blame Haseeb for the defensive mistakes, however, this problem was deep-rooted in the defense. An overload was made on the left flank, then immediately shifted over to the right-wing exploiting Haseeb who was guarding it alone.
Weak off-the-ball positioning led to the game being put to bed. All the backline seems to mindlessly push the winger.
Who then easily switched and provided open space for the other winger to exploit and provide an easy assist.
Instilling compactness during the counter, you’d have your answer on how to tackle this. This would also reduce other passing options and would enforce the opposition to carry the ball more, increasing the chances of winning the ball with keeping in mind they are too not that technically sound.
A few holes in the frontline need to be addressed. We’d certainly be opting for Hassan Bashir as our striker, whose leadership skills and decision making is invaluable, however old age would force us to sacrifice pace and young blood for experience. He was unable to press and put pressure limited our control over the game and allowed the opposition to dictate. Quickly out of stamina and rarely dropping down are alarming signs for any coach.
Also read: José Mourinho: The Special One’s not so Special Principles
What did we achieve:
Minutes. Players received invaluable game time, crucial for the busiest summer for the National Team in years.
Otis Khan and Harun Hamid were visibly our best players with the ball and were pretty successful in providing threatening inputs which were unfortunately not converted.
We also seem to develop a sustainable playstyle revolving around the players available. Abdul Samad, Haroon Bashir, and Otis Khan would be responsible for the front line where Rahis Nabi, Haroon Hamid, and Ali Uzair to fulfill the midfield duties. The backline is up for debate however, I feel Mamoon Musa and Abdullah Shah are a must start attributing to their perilous physique, decision-making, and the guts to put in a challenge whenever necessary. With Muhammad Iqbal and Easah Suliman showing what they could offer, this solidifies our backline to its extent.
Moreover, we saw in this Four-nation cup how the team was gelling up. Since the origins of the players are contrasting, this was mandatory. Albeit mistakes, the players were backing each other and were coming to support the opponent’s tough tackles. Wholesome social media presence was also seen which is the foremost of off-the-field unity.
What’s Next:
Pakistan looks to enter the penultimate phase of their new Football era by proving a point at the SAFF championship. With kickstarting the tournament against the arch-rivals, India, they’d be making sure no mistakes are repeated. An essential step towards the mission of the Fifa World Cup 2026, each game is worth gold at this point.
India coming on the back of an emphatic intercontinental cup would be riding on sky-high confidence. Kuwait would be looking on to continue their good form and maintain their 5-match unbeaten streak. Like Pakistan, Nepal failed to earn a spot in the AFC Asian Cup thus coming into the tournament with nothing to lose.
Another problem that lies before the Shaheens is the delayed visa provision that halts the technical practice for the tournament. Due to late arrival in India, acclimatizing to the condition would be hampered.
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