Football: Sunil Chhetri will lead India for the last time, the team would like to bid farewell with a win

Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri will lead the Indian team for the last time on Thursday. India will face Kuwait in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match. The team players will try to bid farewell to their captain with a victory. This match is a do or die situation for the Indian team. If the team wins this match, it will be in a much better position to qualify for the final stage of the 18-team qualifiers for the first time.

Chhetri had announced retirement

Chhetri, one of the most decorated footballers of India, had recently announced his retirement from football and said that he will play for India for the last time on June 6 against Kuwait. Chhetri has been the flag bearer of Indian football for the last 19 years and the 39-year-old player himself will be ready to give his all for the team. The top two teams from the nine groups of four teams each will advance to the third stage of qualification. FIFA has increased Asia’s quota by eight berths in the World Cup and the winners will be decided only after the third stage.

Chhetri is third in terms of scoring international goals

Chhetri has scored 94 goals in 150 matches and is third in the list of highest international goal scorers among active players after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Chhetri’s career flourished in this ground after joining Mohun Bagan in 2000, so Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium will be packed with spectators to see their favorite player in the Indian team jersey for the last time. Chhetri’s memorable moments include the 2023 SAFF Championship match against Kuwait where Sahal Abdul Samad scored the equaliser with his help and then India won the match 5-4 in the shootout.

India is in second place

India is in second place in Group A after Qatar (12 points) with four points from four matches. Afghanistan is in third place due to goal difference. Kuwait is in last place with three points. If the Indian team manages to defeat Kuwait, it can take lead over Afghanistan. Afghanistan will face Qatar on Thursday itself. Afghanistan is seven goals behind India in terms of goal difference and after India’s victory, it will be very difficult for them to bridge this gap.