Landmark Sunil Chhetri will be the center of all attention as India look to overcome their woes in front of goal in the second leg of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Afghanistan in Guwahati on Tuesday. Igor Stimac’s India continued their scoreless run with a disappointing draw against lower-ranked opponents in their Group A away match in Abha, Saudi Arabia on March 22. Record. The last time India scored a goal was against Kuwait in November 2023.
Against this backdrop, from India’s perspective, Chhetri, who is about to play his 150th international match, must step up to the plate and deliver a memorable milestone at the Indira Gandhi Stadium.
Since making his international debut in 2005, he has so far made 149 appearances for his country, scoring 93 goals and winning 11 trophies, and his team will be delighted to see him score again to lead them to success Victory and brightening their national team prospects. Qualifying for the third round of the World Cup is something they have never achieved.
While Chhetri has been hoping to live up to the expectations placed on him, his teammates understand it would be unfair to rely solely on a 39-year-old talisman if the 58th-ranked team is to excel. , they need to make useful contributions and stay in contention for the third round.
Stimac has prioritized progressing to the third round of World Cup qualifying and ensuring direct entry into the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, but with his side’s disappointing performance in their last continental competition, the Croatian will be under pressure and Hopefully his team will show more desperation, composure and urgency up front.
The Blue Tigers currently sit second in the group with four points from three games, one ahead of Kuwait, who have three points from as many games.
India can still advance to the third round, but the task has become tougher after last week’s stalemate in which they managed just one point.
India needs at least four points from their next three games – against Afghanistan (Tuesday), Kuwait (June 6) and Qatar (June 11) – to remain in control of their destiny.
Stimac hopes Chhetri can make this landmark match even more special with a performance befitting his stature in Indian football.
“Being selected to represent the national team is a dream for millions of kids when they first start playing football, and only the GOAT (the greatest player of all time) has the possibility of playing 150 times,” Stimac said.
“We hope our captain can make this day memorable for all Indian fans and himself on March 26.” Stimac tried almost all options in the first leg, but none worked and the team ultimately failed Goal.
He admitted there were areas where the team needed to improve, particularly in attack, and he was unhappy with the way his defense complicated things rather than keeping them smiling in the final third.
“We need to be better at passing the ball, creating chances and attacking the penalty area when crosses come in from the wings,” he said.
The Blue Tigers last played in Guwahati five years ago when they lost 1-2 to Oman in the joint 2022 World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
The match starts at 7 pm (IST). PTI Ah, what, what?
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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