It's always puzzled me that a country the size of India has never made an appearance in the World Cup. Ok so football isn't the most popular sport over there but with a population of over 1.1 billion people (don't even think about trying to count 'em) you'd think they could muster up a decent XI.
The closest the Bhangra Boys have come to making it to the big show was in 1950 when they qualified for the tournament in Brazil without playing a single game after all their prospective regional rivals withdrew. Regardless of the ease of their passage many felt they were deserving of a place after a brief but impressive performance in the 1948 Olympics:
"The Indian team embarked upon its first overseas tour in 1948. The occasion was the 1948 London Olympics. The Indian team thrilled all spectators in their only game against France. Led by legendary captain Sailendra Nath Manna, the team lost a heart breaker to France 1-2, with the winner coming as late as the 89th minute."Sadly they were never to make it to IV Campeonato Mundial de Futebol as the Indian players, who for the most part liked to play barefoot, balked when FIFA informed them that the wearing of football boots was non-negotiable. India decided this requirement was one they could not comply with and promptly withdrew from the competition.
They weren't the only team to decline to appear that year, Turkey and Scotland also chose not to make the trip. The latter did so rather gallantly as, after finishing second in that seasons British Home Nations, the Scots withdrew as they felt they were underserving of a place.
For India, who have never come close to appearing in a another World Cup, their successful qualification (and subsequent disqualification) demonstrated that their football team had plenty of heart but not enough sole.
I bet they thought they were a real shoe-in too!
Sorry... I'm a real heel... And my jokes should be given the boot.
I better stop now before I really put my foot in my mouth.
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