New Delhi, August 31: Inspirational skipper Bhaichung Bhutia once again holds the key as India aim for a 2007 encore against Syria to clinch their second successive Nehru Cup title in the final of the five-nation football tournament here tomorrow.
Two years ago at the Ambedkar Stadium, the home team had beaten the Syrians in front of a 20,000-strong crowd to win their maiden Nehru Cup title after losing to the same opponents in their round-robin fixture.
Bob Houghton’s boys will have to take refuge in the history books once again after losing their last round-robin league match to the Syrians, 61 places above India in FIFA rankings at 95th, yesterday.
India did not start with five first XI players, including Bhutia, yesterday and Houghton was satisfied with the performance of his boys but the fact is that Syria had been the better side in the tournament having won all their four matches while the hosts had also lost to Lebanon.
Houghton though is not losing hope and rightly too as the home team will be bolstered by the return of two of the best players in the tournament — Bhaichung Bhutia and Steven Dias — in the starting line-up tomorrow.
Bhutia has been outstanding as he has led from the front in the two matches India won by opening scoring and spearheading the attack admirably well along with Sunil Chhetri. .
—PTI