Sunil Chhetri, who’s third within the listing of lively footballers who’ve scored most targets in worldwide matches, harbours hope to steer India to the FIFA World Cup. His eyes mild up and a broad grin spreads throughout his face as he considers the prospect of India making historical past and qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the primary time.
The Indian group’s highway to the 2026 version of FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and USA begins in November 2023, with the expanded 48-group match providing larger alternatives to groups in all confederations, with eight direct spots obtainable to AFC nations and an extra place open through the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
“When that happens, the country will go mad. As an Indian, it’s going to be one of the best days of my life. I have so many dreams about that day. It is going to be humongous. The anticipation, the hope that it will bring to the complete nation is something that I know I will never forget in my life. There are so many people like me who can’t wait to see that day, and I just hope it comes soon for us,” Sunil Chhetri was quoted as saying by FIFA.
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Chhetri, who holds each the all-time goalscoring and caps data for India, will stay an integral a part of their newest try to achieve the worldwide showpiece, a feat which the world’s second-most populous nation has but to realize.
The first step on that highway is available in spherical two of AFC qualifying, the place India have been drawn in Group A and can come up in opposition to 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar, Kuwait and Afghanistan, who noticed off Mongolia over two legs in spherical one.
To progress to the third spherical, from which six of the AFC’s eight direct qualification spots will be determined, the Blue Tigers want to complete within the high two of their 4-group part, with the primary of six video games coming with an away tie in opposition to Kuwait on November 16.
“When I dream, I dream more as an Indian, more as a fan. Me being there in any capacity, it doesn’t matter, because I know I’ll be a fan. I’ll be watching every game that India plays and rooting for my country.
“Because I’m 39, I don’t have long-term targets as far as me being on the pitch is concerned. I think about the next three months, and then the next three months, and then we see how it goes.
“Right now, I feel really good physically. I can see that I do contribute to the team, both for my country and my club. As long as I’m enjoying it, I will be here. I don’t know how many days, how many months, how many years that will be. The day I stop enjoying, and the day I can’t contribute, I will be done.
“I’m just happy that I’m here. This is the bonus period, I’m just enjoying it, I don’t know when it’s going to end. I just want to enjoy it.”
India, who presently stand 102nd on the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, are coached by Igor Stimac. The former defender helped Croatia upset the chances and attain the France 1998 semi-finals, taking place 2-1 to the hosts earlier than claiming bronze with victory over the Netherlands within the third-place play-off.
Chhetri believes that World Cup pedigree is working in India’s favour and feels Stimac, since taking cost in 2019, has supplied the best basis and help community for his squad to develop and develop.
“Apart from his technical and tactical knowledge, him being in a similar situation with the Croatia team, and doing something extraordinary and amazing, has helped him understand us a lot,” Chhetri stated.
“He is greater than a coach, he’s extra like a father determine – or an elder brother for folks like me who’re fossils – to everybody. He understands and takes that a part of his teaching job very significantly.
