Tag: chhetri

  • Asian Games 2023: India coach Igor Stimac backs his ‘heroes’ regardless of China thrashing

    India coach Igor Stimac backed his gamers regardless of the group struggling a thrashing by the hands of China within the opening match of the Asian Games 2023 on Tuesday, September 19.

    India’s soccer group confronted a difficult match in opposition to China within the Asian Games opener. Despite a spirited efficiency, the group, led by coach Stimac, suffered a 5-1 defeat.

    The group, primarily composed of second-string gamers, was praised by Stimac for his or her efforts, at the same time as they struggled to take care of their power ranges within the second half of the sport. The group’s composition was largely because of the refusal of native golf equipment to launch key gamers, citing ongoing home and Asian competitions.

    As a outcome, an unfamiliar lineup took to the sphere underneath the management of captain Sunil Chhetri, having arrived in China simply hours earlier than the match. The recreation began off on a fair keel on the Huanglong Sports Centre Stadium, however the Indian group discovered themselves wilting underneath difficult circumstances within the second half, conceding 4 targets.

    Despite this, Stimac remained constructive, stating that had they been in a position to discipline their finest group, they’d have posed a major problem to China. Stimac expressed his admiration for the gamers, as quoted by Reuters, referring to them as his “heroes”. He highlighted the group’s grueling journey to China, which noticed them arrive simply after midnight following a 35-hour journey.

    “Still, these players are heroes to me,” Stimac added. “We came here last night at two minutes past midnight after travelling 35 hours to get here.”

    Stimac steered that the group’s exhaustion within the second half contributed to the loss in the long run. Stimac acknowledged the difficulties of assembling a group for a contest outdoors of the FIFA window, however remained optimistic in regards to the group’s prospects.

    “It was obvious that in the second half we ran out of gas, which I didn’t expect to be (any) better,” Stimac mentioned.

    “It would be a very different game with the first choice players which I had on my list, but you all know how difficult is to get players for such a competition which is out of the FIFA window.”

    He emphasised the necessity for a considerably improved efficiency of their upcoming group video games in opposition to Bangladesh and Myanmar, with the highest two groups from every group, together with 4 of the six best-placed third-place groups, set to qualify for the spherical of 16.

    Despite the preliminary setback, Stimac expressed confidence in his group’s means to compete, stating that a number of gamers had confirmed their value and deserved their place within the group. This, he mentioned, was probably the most constructive final result they might take from the match.

    “We are going to compete with our chins up,” Stimac mentioned.

    “I’ve got a few players who proved to me that they deserve to be in the team, which is by far the best thing we can get.”

    Published On:

    Sep 20, 2023

  • India win SAAF Championship for eighth time, Chhetri equals Messi with 80 objectives

    Talisman Sunil Chhetri equalled the long-lasting Lionel Messi together with his eightieth worldwide strike as an impressed India blanked Nepal 3-0 for his or her eighth SAFF Championship title on Saturday.
    India prolonged their domination within the regional event because of second half objectives from Chhetri (forty ninth minute), Suresh Singh (fiftieth) and Sahal Abdul Samad (ninetieth).

    🤩 That Champions Feeling! 🤩#INDNEP ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2021 🏆 #AgainTheBlue 💙 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/3K1yag5pFF
    — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021
    With his strike, the 37-year-old Chhetri equalled Messi and have become the second highest gaol-scorer in worldwide soccer amongst energetic gamers.
    Suresh Singh and Saha then added to the tally and paved the best way for India’s title triumph, a much-needed one after a sequence of mediocre outings.
    Sahal made it 3-0 when he dribbled previous a number of defenders after receiving the ball on the left flank on the stroke of the ultimate whistle.
    India dominated possession within the first-half however failed to interrupt the impasse. However, Chhetri put India forward minutes into the second half and even earlier than Nepal might down quiet down, Suresh made it 2-0.

    50′ BACK-TO-BACK GOALS!
    Yasir cuts it again for Suresh, who fires it house! We have a 2 objective lead!
    🇮🇳 2-0 🇳🇵
    ✍️ https://t.co/Krscpgs4nu#INDNEP ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2021 🏆 #AgainTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/fjoHlXV38d
    — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021
    This is the Indian soccer workforce’s first title triumph underneath head coach Igor Stimac, who confronted criticism in latest occasions for his aspect’s lack of ability to win sufficient video games.
    However, when it mattered probably the most on this version of the regional event, Stimac’s gamers delivered the outcomes the workforce’s followers had been ready for.
    Stimac additionally grew to become the third overseas coach after Jiri Pesek (1993) and Stephen Constantine (2015) to clinch the title with the Indian workforce.
    Chhetri gave India the lead after he charged in to neatly head in a supply from Pritam Kotal on the precise flank, leaving the Nepalese goalkeeper with no likelihood to come back to his workforce’s rescue.
    Barely a minute after Chhetri’s opener, one other assault by India caught Nepal fully off-guard as Suresh discovered the again of the web after Yasir Mohammad brilliantly lower it again for the mid-fielder.
    Their tails up after two fast strikes, India pressed exhausting for extra however couldn’t add to the tally for some time earlier than Sahal fond the again of the web together with his solo effort.

    🗣️ @sahal_samad: The third objective was a miracle by God 🙌#INDNEP ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2021 🏆 #AgainTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/yw75okeTS3
    — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021
    Before Sahal’s strike, there was an opportunity for Manvir Singh within the 52nd minute after he was performed via, however his left-footed effort was blocked.
    In the 79th minute, there was nice likelihood for Udanta Singh as he was within the clear to take a crack at objective however Rohit Chand got here up with a superb block to disclaim the Indian winger.
    It remained goalless on the break as each India and Nepal couldn’t capitalise on the possibilities that got here their means.
    India might have gone forward minutes earlier than the half-time however the ball that was delivered from the precise flank for Chhetri was not met with correctly because the Indian captain’s his effort went extensive.
    However, India greater than made up for that with their second-half show, a lot to Stimac’s delight.

    What it meant to the boys 💪#INDNEP ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2021 🏆 #AgainTheBlue 💙 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/iKSkXxEJXM
    — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021
    India entered the sport with the psychological benefit over the Himalayan nation as historic or latest statistics cleared favoured Stimac’s aspect to raise the title but once more.
    Having endured a topsy-turvy begin to their marketing campaign, India ended it in model towards the first-time finalists.
    The remaining was the twelfth for India in 13 editions, displaying the domination of the Blue Tigers on this regional event.

  • I hope to maintain enjoying and scoring in foreseeable future: Chhetri after equalling Pele

    Indian talisman Sunil Chhetri says he hopes to proceed enjoying and scoring objectives for the nation within the “foreseeable future”, his battle-hardened physique getting a booster dose within the type of a landmark 77th worldwide strike that drew him stage with King Pele.
    Chhetri, 37, equalled the legendary Pele when his 83rd-minute strike helped India beat Nepal 1-0 and saved his aspect from elimination within the SAFF Championship in Maldives on Sunday.
    Even as his staff goes by means of a chronic lean part, Chhetri’s goal-scoring prowess stays pretty much as good as ever, which is a testomony to his consistency and dedication.
    “I keep getting asked about my consistency, and I wish I had an answer. But the truth is, there is no blueprint. It’s more about wanting to turn up every single day and give it my best, which, thankfully, I’ve never fallen short of,” Chhetri instructed PTI after his newest strike.
    Through his wonderful journey, the lethal poacher from Delhi has performed alongside former stars similar to Bhaichung Bhutia and Renedy Singh within the nationwide staff, apart from well-known worldwide gamers within the ISL and I-League.
    “I have been extremely lucky to have played with some great footballers who don’t get enough credit. I’ve learned something from every single coach I have played for. It’s the coming together of many things — big and small — and I hope to keep doing it in the foreseeable future,” he added.
    Notwithstanding the occasional chatter round his age and his longevity, the Indian captain desires to maintain enjoying in top-flight and has not given his future any thought.
    “It would possibly sound like a lie, however I’ve by no means given my future as a footballer any thought. Like I stated, the one factor I in all probability do the perfect is get up and switch as much as practice and play. I look ahead to it, completely get pleasure from it and haven’t ever needed to cease doing it.
    “My future plan with football is literally what my next training session will look like. I am fortunate enough to have a support system around me that makes sure I don’t need to think or worry about anything that isn’t football. It just makes it all the more easier to love what I do.”
    Playing in his 123rd match for India, Chhetri struck a late aim on Sunday to put himself on a par with the Brazilian nice (77 objectives from 92 matches).
    He is now joint third with UAE’s Ali Mabkhout (77) on the listing of highest scorers amongst lively footballers, behind Cristiano Ronaldo (112) and Lionel Messi (79).
    Despite his innumerable achievements as a top-class striker at each worldwide and membership stage and his success with the groups he has performed for, Chhetri stays as hungry as ever.
    “If there’s a trophy up for grabs, then I need to win it, it’s so simple as that. There’s not too many athletes or groups which might be content material with what’s of their trophy cabinet. I’m no completely different.
    “On an individual level, I am not a big fan of statistics, milestones and accolades. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for all that I’ve got and achieved. But to win with my team — for country and club, that is everything.”
    As with different sports activities, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the plans of most soccer groups and the India and Bengaluru FC striker is glad to be enjoying the sport in the intervening time.
    “Ever since worldwide soccer restarted after the pandemic we’ve got been utilising each FIFA window. Unluckily, I missed out on the matches in opposition to Oman and UAE in March (after testing optimistic for COVID). Those are the type of matches which Indian soccer wants.
    “At the same time, I understand that getting good games is tough owing to all the restrictions that pandemic has brought along with it.”
    There will probably be loads of exercise surrounding ladies’s soccer in India subsequent 12 months (the nation is internet hosting the AFC Asian Cup and FIFA U-17 World Cup), and Chhetri is delighted that the ladies have began getting alternatives to point out their mettle within the sport.
    The day Chhetri scored his 77th worldwide aim, the Indian ladies’s staff gained their first of the 2 friendlies in Bahrain in a convincing method.
    “What additionally pleases me is that the Indian women have been travelling on publicity excursions in preparation for the forthcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup, and it was solely final evening they beat Bahrain 5-0.
    “Like I always say, we need to keep playing better opponents if we are to improve and measure where we are, and how much more we need to do.”

  • India submit 2-1 win over Nepal in second worldwide pleasant in Kathmandu

    In attempting circumstances and after a barren first half, India discovered their scoring talents after the hour mark for an unlikely 2-1 away win over hosts Nepal within the second worldwide pleasant at Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu earlier than a vacation crowd on Sunday night.
    National coach Igor Stimac made seven adjustments within the taking part in XI which performed a 1-1 drawn match on Thursday and even dropped first-choice goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu amongst others. Only captain Sunil Chhetri, his strike accomplice Manvir Singh, defenders Chinglensana Singh, and Subhasish Bose have been retained.

    A tireless efficiency in midfield 💪An help to the Captain! 🤩And a Man of the Match Award to point out for all of it 🙌
    Congratulations @AnirudhThapa 👏👏#NEPIND ⚔️ #AgainTheBlue 💙 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/pPvuDTTFkE
    — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 5, 2021
    And captain Chhetri proved his value once more together with his workman-like aim within the eightieth minute after substitute Farukh Choudhary broke the impasse within the 62nd minute.
    The first aim resulted after Sana despatched in a protracted ball into the rival field, the place captain Chhetri was ready. The striker leaped to go it to an unmarked Farukh, who made no mistake by rattling the online from shut vary and silencing the house followers.
    Chhetri had different plans too as he scored his seventy fifth worldwide aim and the winner for the guests when Anirudh Thapa, who discovered the equaliser within the drawn match, squared the ball which the Indian skipper slotted previous Nepal goalkeeper Kiran Lambu with 10 minutes wanting regulation time.
    Rahim Ali, who gained the Man of the Match award in his debut on Thursday, did an encore on Sunday too and gained the Man of the Series accolade though he was changed after nearly 80 minutes of play.

    Man of the Series in his first outing for the #BlueTigers! 🏆👏
    Take a bow, Rahim Ali! 🙌#NEPIND ⚔️ #AgainTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/CkL1CHZ3BI
    — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) September 5, 2021
    On eve of the friendlies, Chettri has promised that India wish to begin the season with a win and within the first worldwide performed beneath moist circumstances, they have been held to a 1-1 draw by Nepal however as he wished, they managed to cling to a effectively earned win within the second pleasant held after six months.
    For the house staff, Tej Tamang struck within the 87th minute to scale back the margin with a stunner from outdoors the field elevating faint hopes for house followers of one other draw however Indians defended effectively within the subsequent eight minutes together with the added on 5 minute.
    The friendlies have been performed to arrange the India staff for SAFF Championships to be held from October 3-13 on the National Stadium in Male, the Maldives. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and hosts Maldives are the opposite three groups.
    India XI: Amrinder Singh, Seriton Fernandes, Chinglensana Singh, Pritam Kotal, Subhasish Bose, Bipin Singh (Farukh Choudhary forty sixth), Anirudh Thapa, Lalengmawia, Rahim Ali (Glan Martins 78′); Sunil Chhetri, Manvir Singh.
    Nepal XI: Kiran Kumar Lambu, Dinesh Rajbanshi, Gautam Shreshta, Manish Dangi, Ananta Tamang, Suman Lama), Tej Tamang, Pujan Uparkoti, Aasish Lama, Ayush Ghalan, Sujal Shrestha

  • Nepal are a troublesome workforce however we wish to begin season with a win: Sunil Chhetri

    The new season will kick off with neighbours and footballing rivals Nepal and India assembly at Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu for 2 back-to-back worldwide friendlies on Thursday and Sunday.
    Rain adopted the Sunil Chhetri-led Indian workforce after they reached Kathmandu on Monday from New Delhi after a two-week preparatory camp in Kolkata.
    The two sides will likely be dealing with one another after a niche of six years. The final time they met was in 2015 in Kathmandu within the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier play-offs. Only Sunil Chhetri, Pritam Kotal and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu are nonetheless within the present squad.
    India and Nepal have met a minimum of 19 instances with the guests successful 13 instances and hosts successful twice whereas the remainder had been attracts.
    “Firstly, it (camp) helped us to get back into shape and we gained a lot of technical insights,” mentioned Pronay Halder, the defensive midfielder. “The training sessions were gaining more info and the gym sessions surely helped us gain more strength.”
    Striker Rahim Ali and defender Seriton Fernandes are the brand new faces within the 25-member workforce. As at all times, Chhetri w/sick lead the assault with Manvir Singh and Farukh Choudhary whereas Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is anticipated to begin in objective.
    For the primary time, Indians will miss defender Sandesh Jhingan who moved to Croatian top-tier aspect Prva HNL two weeks in the past however suffered an harm and is but to renew coaching. Others who’ve been axed from the workforce embody Ashique Kuruniyan, Udanta Singh and Rowllin Borges.
    “The two international friendlies will help us prepare for the forthcoming SAFF Championship in the Maldives next month…,” nationwide head coach Igor Stimac instructed the-aiff.com. “We have analysed Nepal as an opponent and the kind of progress they made in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. They have put on display that they can play quality football and can defend as a team. My colleague has done a good job and there are a lot of young players in the squad.”
    It has been raining for the previous week within the Himalayan nation. “I hope that we don’t suffer heavy rains during the matches so that we can play some exciting football,” Stimac added.
    About the gamers from ATK Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC who missed the camp, the coach mentioned, “They have been playing AFC Cup matches for their clubs and are in good physical condition”.
    Chhetri whereas thanking hosts All Nepal Football Association and the Government of Nepal for the invitation mentioned, “… the opportunity to play international football is soothing for us. Nepal are a tough opponent but we want to start the season with a win,” mentioned Sunil whose mom is from Nepal.
    Abdullah Almutairi, nationwide coach of Nepal, mentioned he has been engaged on “changing the mentality of his players.”
    “I want to make the players proud rather than being happy. We have been training for the last two months and there are a lot of youngsters in the squad. Our target is to win the SAFF Championship in the Maldives, and eventually qualify for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 and we don’t care about FIFA Rankings,” mentioned the Kuwaiti who additionally coached Kyrgyzstan U-16 workforce aside from golf equipment in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
    The kick-off on Thursday (September 2) is from 5.15 pm (IST) and the match will likely be telecast stay on the Indian Football workforce’s official Facebook web page.

  • Sunil Chhetri overtakes Lionel Messi with important brace in India’s win over Bangladesh

    India’s Sunil Chhetri, who struck a brace in his crew’s 2-0 win over Bangladesh in Doha, overtook Argentina’s Lionel Messi on Monday to turn into the second-highest energetic worldwide goalscorer with 74 objectives.
    The 36-year-old striker, who helped India register a primary win within the FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifiers, is barely behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (103) within the energetic worldwide goalscorer record.

    🤩 He’s now acquired greater than Messi! Sunil Chhetri’s double earns the Blue Tigers a 2-0 win in #WCQ and strikes him on to 74 worldwide objectives – above Lionel Messi and one off coming into world soccer’s all-time prime 10 🧗‍♂️@chetrisunil11 | @IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/sCCd6BgS9H
    — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 7, 2021
    Chhetri additionally moved up within the males’s all-time record of worldwide goalscorers and is now on eleventh. He is simply behind the trio of Hungary’s Sandor Kocsis, Japan’s Kunishige Kamamoto, and Kuwait’s Bashar Abdullah, who all have 75 objectives.
    Sitting simply behind him on the record, UAE’s Ali Mabkhout took his tally to 73 after scoring in opposition to Malaysia final week. On the opposite hand, Messi scored his 72nd worldwide objective in opposition to Chile final Thursday.
    India’s late present punishes Bangladesh in Doha
    Sunil Chhetri in motion in opposition to Bangladesh within the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. (AIFF)
    India recorded their first win in FIFA World Cup qualifiers in six years after talisman Sunil Chhetri struck twice for a 2-0 victory over Bangladesh within the joint preliminary spherical match on the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Monday.
    Chhetri first discovered the again of the online within the 79th minute to maintain his crew heading in the right direction for entry into the third qualifying spherical of the 2023 Asian Cup.
    Starting the match on the bench, second-half substitute Ashique Kuruniyan delivered a cross from the left for Chhetri, after a long term and from a good angle, headed in brilliantly from behind Topu Barman on the Al Sadd Stadium.
    It was that man Chhetri once more as he rounded off his night time with one other tremendous strike in additional time (90+2) after receiving the ball from Suresh Singh from the precise flank.

    𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧! 😍
    Skipper @chetrisunil11 appreciating the love from the followers after one other prime draw efficiency! 💪
    🇮🇳 𝟐-𝟎 🇧🇩#BANIND ⚔️ #WCQ 🏆 #AgainTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/RbHsnxMXxp
    — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 7, 2021
    The double strikes meant India registered their first win in what was turning out to be one among their worst World Cup qualifying campaigns in a few years. It was additionally their first victory in World Cup qualifiers away from residence in 20 years.
    A assured India discovered themselves urgent within the opposition half after Chhetri’s 73rd objective in worldwide soccer and the transfer labored for beleaguered coach Igor Stimac because the captain scored his and the crew’s second simply earlier than the ultimate whistle.
    Despite being forward, India seemed so as to add to their tally with each Ashique and Chhetri linking up properly, at the same time as many of the Bangladesh gamers moved up in quest of an equaliser.

    🗣️ @chetrisunil11: “To win 3⃣ points, win a full game is sweet! I’m really happy that we also kept a clean sheet” 👊
    How do you fee that effort from the #BlueTigers on each ends of the sphere?#BANIND ⚔️ #WCQ 🏆 #AgainTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/RsemCez8qg
    — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 7, 2021
    In the top, the equaliser didn’t materialise however India absolutely ended on a excessive, giving their marketing campaign the much-needed enhance after a sequence of winless outings.
    With his two objectives, Chhetri, worldwide soccer’s second highest scorer amongst energetic gamers, greater than made up for the fumble within the 63rd minute when the unmarked captain missed a free header after a tremendous ball from Brandon Fernandes.
    (with inputs from PTI)

  • Sunil Chhetri shortlisted alongside 13 strikers for AFC Cup’s all-time greatest three

    India captain Sunil Chhetri was on Saturday named amongst 13 strikers for the followers to select the all-time greatest three within the AFC Cup, the continent’s second-tier membership competitors.
    The 36-year-old Chhetri has scored 18 objectives in 4 editions of the AFC Cup since 2013 when he appeared for Churchill Brothers. He then performed for Bengaluru FC within the AFC Cup in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
    His greatest achievement was to captain Bengaluru FC to a runners-up end within the 2016 AFC Cup, shedding to Air Force Club of Iraq within the closing.

    Who is your favorite all-time #AFCCup striker? 🤔
    Hammadi AhmedBienvenido MarańonAli AshfaqAleksandar DuricMohamad GhaddarSunil ChhetriMahmoud ShelbaiehAmjad RadhiRicoIssam JemaaAbdelhadi Al MaharmehRaja RafeManuchehr Dzhalilov
    🗳 VOTE: https://t.co/D6hamKTvw0 pic.twitter.com/oNlbygqIjJ
    — #AFCCup2021 (@AFCCup) March 27, 2021
    “An iconic figure of the modern Indian game, and a player whose 72 national team goals have given him an international profile, Sunil Chhetri has also regularly shown his ample quality on the continental club stage in the AFC Cup,” the AFC stated on its web site.
    “Despite not showing within the competitors till his late twenties, Chhetri’s affect has lasted one of the best a part of a decade.
    “He captained Bengaluru to the 2016 final, his personal high point coming when he scored twice in a classic semi-final performance to eliminate defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim.”
    Chhetri is at the moment the second-highest worldwide objective scorer amongst lively gamers simply behind Portugal famous person Cristiano Ronaldo with 72 strikes from 115 matches.
    A number of high strikers from completely different international locations, together with Maldives legend Ali Ashfaq, made up the 13 nominations out of whom the followers will select three strikers by means of a ballot through web.
    “Three locations stay in our All-time AFC Cup XI, with a few of Asian soccer’s most iconic objective scorers to vie for a spot in our followers’ dream choice.
    “Football lovers from every corner of Asia have selected a goalkeeper, three defenders and a four-man midfield in previous weeks, now it’s time to crown the tournament’s greatest ever forwards, with countless worthy contenders to choose from,” the AFC stated.
    With a staggering 344 AFC Cup objectives between them, the 13 nominated strikers hailed from Europe, Africa, South America, and naturally Asia.