Teams coached by Zico, Antonio Habas and Marco Matterazzi reached the semi-finals or final of the Indian Super League in 2014 and 2015 and developed formidable reputations. This trio are again active in the 3rd Hero ISL and have been involved in all the three editions.
The 2006 Italian World Cup winner, Matterazzi, and Zico are continuing with the same teams — holders Chennaiyan FC and runners-up FC Goa — respectively. Spain’s Habas has shifted base from Atletico de Kolakata to FC Pune City. Yet at the half way stage of the 2016 ISL, both FC Goa and FC Pune City are at the bottom of the table and chances of reaching the semi-final are slim.
FC Goa have lost five matches and won just twice in the eight games they have played so far. Zico’s team needs to win at least four of their remaining games to be in contention for the semi final.
FC Goa’s lack of success so far in the 3rd ISL is a mystery. They have retained the core of their squad from last year. Yet there is a lack of rhythm and consistency much to the consternation of their vociferous supporters. Wingers Romeo Fernandez and Mandar Desai have not yet provided enough width and pace on the flanks. Strikers Reinaldo and Robin Singh are struggling to score goals.
Habas, known as a hard taskmaster and an astute reader of the game, is struggling to get FC Pune City into shape. They have just one victory in seven matches and are bottom of the table with six points. They were unlucky that marquee player and key striker Eider Gudjohnnsson was injured prior to the start of the ISL and withdrew. So they lack a natural goal scorer and his replacement midfielder Mohammed Lamine Sissoko of Mali is not able to influence the game.
They are also missing dynamic midfielder Eugenson Lyngdoh who is on duty for Bengaluru FC in the AFC Cup. He will only be available next week by which time FC Pune City will have played eight of their 14 league matches. The club co-owned by the Rajesh Wadhawan group and Bollywood star Hrithik Roshen may miss out on a last four berth for the third successive year.
At the half way stage, the ISL is fascinatingly poised as only six points separate table toppers Atletico de Kolkata from last placed team Pune City. Till now no team has shown distinct superiority as is evident in the number of drawn matches.
At one stage 10 of the 27 matches played were drawn. Despite many stalemates Uruguayan striker Emiliano Alfaro (North East United), Brazilian winger Marcelo Leite Pereira (Delhi Dynamos) and Haitian international Sony Norde (Mumbai City FC) have impressed with their thrust and opportunistic goals.
The 2016 ISL is so close that even teams with 19 points from their 14 league matches could reach the knock-out semi finals. This is in contrast to ISL 2015 when both Delhi Dynamos and Chennaiyan FC reached the last four with 22 points while North East United missed out even after getting 20 points.
