Milestone man Sunil Chhetri will be the cynosure of all eyes as India hopes to overcome their struggles in front of goal in the second leg of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Afghanistan in Guwahati on Tuesday. Igor Stimac’s India fired a clean sheet in a disappointing away Group A draw in Abha, Saudi Arabia on March 22 against their lower-placed opponents, extending their goalless run. India last scored a goal in November 2023 against Kuwait.
Against this backdrop, it will be imperative from India’s point of view that Chhetri, who will be playing in his 150th international match, rises to the occasion and makes his landmark match at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium unforgettable.
After his first international appearance in 2005, he has so far earned 149 international caps, 93 goals and 11 trophies for the country, and his team would be only too happy to see him score again, leading them to victory and improve their prospects for success. reaching the third round of World Cup qualifying, something they failed to achieve.
While Chhetri has always strived to deliver what is expected of him, his teammates understand that it is not fair to rely solely on a 39-year-old talisman and that they will have to make useful contributions if the 58-ranked side is to excel. and remain in the reckoning for a spot in the third round.
Stimac has prioritized qualifying for the third round of the World Cup qualifiers and secured a direct entry into the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, but with his team having endured a disappointing campaign in the final continental showpiece, the Croatian will are under pressure and he wants his departments to do the same. show much more desperation, calmness and urgency beforehand.
The Blue Tigers are currently second in the group with four points from three games, one ahead of Kuwait who are on three points from as many games.
India can still advance to the third round, but the task has become a lot tougher after last week’s deadlock, from which they managed just one point.
India will need at least four points from their next three matches – against Afghanistan (Tuesday), Kuwait (June 6) and Qatar (June 11) – to control their fate.
Stimac hoped Chhetri could make his historic match all the more special with a performance befitting his stature in Indian football.
“Being chosen to represent your country is a dream of millions of kids when they start kicking the ball, and making it 150 times is only possible for the GOATs (greatest of all time),” Stimac said.
“We hope that our captain will make it unforgettable for all Indian fans and himself on March 26.” Stimac tried almost all options in advance in the first leg, but they did not work and a goal eluded the team.
He admitted that the team needs improvements in a number of areas, especially in attack, and was unhappy with the way his departments were complicating things rather than keeping them laughing in the final third.
“We need to be better at passing, creating chances and attacking the penalty area when the crosses come from the flanks,” he said.
The Blue Tigers last played in Guwahati five years ago when they suffered a 1-2 defeat to Oman in the preliminary joint qualifiers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
The match starts at 7:00 PM IST. PTI AH AH APA APA
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