Operation Greenfield: Team India prepares for a treacherous task in the SAFF Championship

AT FIRST GLANCE, the Trivandrum International Stadium, aka the Greenfield Stadium, looks like a fortress built in the middle of a tropical forest. Walking in from the National Highway 66, the long double-lane pathway takes one through a slideshow of contradictory landscape; on the left there's a reasonably organized neighbourhood with single-story houses, on the right it's a jungle-like scene with thick bushes and trees. Walk a few paces and suddenly the view changes; a 50-foot drop where the depression has formed a small pond of sorts, surrounded by wild overgrowth. It's a reminder that even though this picturesque arena is chock-full of modern amenties, it was built on top of a hilly, treacherous terrain.

This setting for the 2015 SAFF Championship becomes a strangely befitting metaphor for what this tournament has come to mean for India. On the surface, the prevailing assumption is that India should pretty much walk away with it. But in reality things are going to be a lot more challenging for various reasons. 

There are three things about this SAFF Championship that India doesn't usually face. Firstly, in terms of FIFA rankings, India (166) are the third highest in the tournament, with Afghanistan (150) and Maldives (160) sitting comfortably above them. It's hard to remember when was the last time that happened. Even back in 2013, when Afghanistan overcame the Blue Tigers in the final, it was considered an upset. This time, if it happens, it won't even be much of a surprise. India are not coming into this competition as the overwhelming favourites.

Secondly, Stephen Constantine's squad, when compared to the teams India put out in the last couple of SAFF Cups, is younger at least by a few years. Earlier this year when the British coach took charge, the average age in the national team was 32. But now it's filled with the likes of Rowlin Borges, Narayan Das, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Thongkhosiem Haokip and Pritamn Kotal who are all in their early twenties. 

Thirdly, this team has had one of the shortest preparations for the tournament. The training camp held in Kochi saw only a handful of the 40 players named turn up; rest were busy playing in the ISL. When the private tournament got over, most of the players joined the team only over the last few days, meaning Constantine has had about 3-4 days with the full team before the tournament. And two players, Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Rao Desai, did not even show up. Not the most ideal of situations.

Playing a match within days after the end of an intense tournament like the ISL comes with its usual baggage of injuries. And this time, the national team has been hit particularly hard. Sitting on a plastic chair after the morning practice session, Constantine shook his head, threw his hands as he spoke animatedly about the injuries situation in the squad, 

"We've lost Sandesh Jhingan, Cavin Lobo, Seityasen Singh to injuries. Anas Edathodika, too, pulled a hamstring yesterday. We have quite a number of guys that we have to be careful with. I didn't expect anything less. They played, what, 14 games in three and a half weeks or something stupid... Sandesh should never have played for the last 4 weeks of ISL. He had a ligament injury. But he continued to play and aggrevated it. If I play him here he'll lose the next few months of his career. Same with Lobo. He had a small problem that would've gone away with rest. But the team pressured him to keep playing."

Those who are still available, are dealing with fatigue. Overall, the situation is delicate; one wrong foot from the coach or the physio will land the team in a situation of being severely understaffed in more than one positions. 

Still, Constantine does not seem to upset. Rather, he is relishing the prospect of trying out new players. His main goal, he has declared, is to make it to the Asian Cup. The SAFF, to him, is but a stepping stone. He spent only a couple of minutes talking about the team India are to face tomorrow,

"Sri Lanka will play a defensive formation and try to hit us on the counter. They have 3-4 decent players. There's no easy games for us. We can only say it was easy when you've won the game. Sri Lanka have gone through a transitional period as well and they'll give us everything they've got. So we'll have to be patient and play our own game."

Sri Lanka got a win over Nepal the other night. But that shouldn't be very troubling. Everyone could see it was a lucky win facilitated by the wastefulness of Nepal. Perhaps India will push through with a win tomorrow evening. But what then? Nepal has held India to a draw twice this year already. Looking at the overworked, less experienced squad that India will definitely field, they may well fancy their chances in what is likely to be a do-or-die group stage encounter on 27th December. A defeat to Nepal will mean progress to semi-finals will be down to goal-difference, which is a land of uncertainties.

And what if India make it to the next stage? They are likely to face Maldives and Afghanistan in the semi-finals and the final. Maldives put up a dominant performance against Bhutan today to claim a 3-1 win and their squad looks seasoned and well-prepared. Afghanistan, the defending champions, promise to be even tougher as they indulge in this tournament for one last time before joining moving to the Central Asian federation. Are our youngsters and tired superstars ready to face these teams? 

But that is undoubtedly what Constantine wants. The opportunity to try out new players against higher ranked opponents in tough match-ups is something he has been asking for all along. There's little doubt the gaffer will find a constructive use of the next couple of weeks in the hope that it pays dividents later. 

But does he have the time? Many in the AIFF aren't happy with his work. And failing to win the SAFF Championship has been a leading cause for coach-sacking in India in the last couple of decades. Will he be around to reap the seeds he sows here in Trivandrum? 

All these are questions that will be answered, one by one, during the SAFF Cup and its aftermath. But for now, as Constantine and his army of young blood and battle-worn veterans prepare to get their 'Operation Greenfield' underway, they are doing so with the audacity of looking for more than a win from a precarious competition where one mis-step can unravel the entire grand plan that they are following with such bravado. 

To stand by them would require all fans and critics to abandon their idea of the SAFF Championship as a must-win tournament.