The national football team and coach Khalid Jamil will not have too many fond memories of 2026.Appointed last year, Jamil, the first full-time domestic coach since Sukhvinder Singh in almost two decades, was expected to herald a new era. But after more than a year, the team has rarely looked convincing.Jamil will end 2026 with just one win, against Hong Kong, in an inconsequential tie, after India were knocked out of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. His lone other win was in his first game in-charge: a gritty 2-1 triumph against hosts Tajikistan in the CAFA Cup. Since then, it has all gone south.After conceding five in the first international friendly against New Zealand in Auckland, India were expected to fare better in the second friendly. They did, but only with the scoreline, as the All Whites scored another comfortable 3-0 win at the One NZ Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday.This was India’s fourth loss in a row, all against much higher-ranked teams, those who featured at the last FIFA World Cup.In the second friendly, there was always going to be only one winner from start to finish. New Zealand, ranked 50 places higher, scored three times in the first half through Finn Surman (‘22), James McGarry (‘40) and captain Chris Wood (‘42). The hosts could have scored more in the second but misfired with debutant goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari also making a couple of good saves.“It was a different kind of a game,” said departing New Zealand coach Darren Bazeley. “We wanted to score more goals, but India defended deep.”Largely influenced by proceedings of the first game, Jamil opted for safety first.He left Pramveer and Bijoy Varghese, regular centre-backs, on the bench. They were joined by Liston Colaco, Jithin MS and Lalremtluanga Fanai. Mehtab Singh and Jay Gupta, a regular left back for his club, were first choice centre-backs for the second friendly. Ashique Kuruniya, a winger, played in midfield, while Roshan Naorem was used as wing-back in a five-man defence.At least initially, the numbers at the back frustrated the New Zealand attack at times in the early stages of the opening half. Not for long. In the 22nd minute, goalkeeper Vishal Kaith was unable to gather a Callum McCowatt corner, with the ball falling to Surman, whose header sailed into the back of the net.It was not until the closing stages of the first half that New Zealand added two more.Following another corner, this time a short one, McGarry’s shot from distance made it 2-0, while Nottingham Forest striker Wood finished with a simple tap-in to end the first half with a three-goal advantage.Jamil made four changes at half time, shuffling the defence again and handing Tiwari his debut. New Zealand came close but could not extend their lead.India never really had a sniff of goal. It was not until the 65th minute that the visitors had a touch inside the New Zealand box, and goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, never threatened, had one of his most comfortable nights.
