Nehru Cup and SAFF Championships triumphs, a new man at the helm of the national body after two decades and an unprecedented expulsion of the country's iconic captain Bhaichung Bhutia by his club marked an eventful year in Indian football.

Subrata Paul's heroics lit up the dramatic summit clash as defending champions India tamed Syria 6-5 via tie-breaker to win the Nehru Cup International Football Tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Monday.

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 in New Delhi on Monday.

Captain Bhaichung Bhutia and his regular strike partner Sunil Chhetri will be rested to preserve them for the all-important summit clash when India play Syria in their last round-robin fixture of the Nehru Cup international football tournament in New Delhi on Saturday.

Defending champions India unleashed an impressive show of attacking football to beat Sri Lanka 3-1 in a thrilling round-robin match and place themselves in a strong position for booking a final berth in the Nehru Cup international tournament in New Delhi on Wednesday.

With India winning the Nehru Cup and AFC Challenge Cup in the last two years, captain Bhaichung Bhutia said the national team has evolved as a competitive side in the Asian circuit and feels now it would be tough for continent's top football playing nations to beat his men.

Bhaichung Bhutia celebrated his 100th match appearance for the country by scoring one and setting up another goal in India's 2-1 win over Kyrgyzstan in a round-robin fixture of the Nehru Cup International football tournament here on Sunday.

'God's gift to Indian football' and an 'icon of his generation' was how the country's former greats described national captain Bhaichung Bhutia who on Sunday became the first Indian player to compete in 100 international matches.

Aiming for a title hat-trick under coach Bob Houghton but hampered by lack of international match exposure, defending champions India will bid for a second consecutive Nehru Cup, taking on Lebanon in a tricky opener of the five-nation tournament in New Delhi on Wednesday.

After rain played spoilsport on the first day, Indian footballers had their first outdoor training session of the Spanish sojourn as they were put to the paces by chief coach Bob Houghton on the same pitch the European champions FC Barcelona players used this year.

Breaking his silence over the six-month suspension Mohun Bagan slapped on him, Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia Tuesday said he would sit out for 12 months rather than play for a club "managed by a couple of egoistic and publicity crazy officials.

The Indian football team has not played a single international match after the AFC Challenge Cup triumph last August but captain Bhaichung Bhutia expects a number of games after the I-League finishes.

He was inspirational in India's win in the AFC Challenge Cup that fetched him the most valuable player award and it came as no surprise when Bhaichung Bhutia was chosen the All India Football Federation's Player of the Year.

Mohun Bagan skipper and star striker Bhaichung Bhutia was on Friday ruled out for 15-20 days due to knee and ankle injury dealing a serious blow to the green-and-maroons bid to add to their 12 Federation Cup titles.

The All India Football Federation on Tuesday, while respecting national soccer captain Bhaichung Bhutia's refusal to carry the Olympic torch, expressed its support to the Beijing Games.

Defending his decision to pull out of the Olympic torch relay, Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Tuesday said he abhors violence and it was his way of showing solidarity with the people of Tibet.