Sunil Chhetri turns 38: 5 best moments of the Indian Football Captain for the national team
Sunil Chhetri turns 38: 5 best moments, Sunil Chhetri broke into the Indian footballing scene in 2005. He scored his first international goal against Pakistan in a friendly. The friendly match took place at Ayub National Stadium, Quetta.
He gave seventeen years to the country. He scored 83 international goals in the journey. Chhetri is from Secunderabad.
Chhetri turned 38 years old on August 3. It would not seem like an exaggeration to say that he has defined Indian football for an entire generation.
Chhetri proudly carries the burden of expectations of his with a humble smile.
For years, there has been speculation about when Chhetri will decide to retire. But the skipper continues to be the fiercest Blue Tiger whenever he wears the Indian outfit.
Iconic Moments
Chhetri has the most iconic moments for the national team.
2007 Nehru Cup
Just after a year of his appointment, head coach Bob Houghton faced the first real challenge. The challenge was the 2007 Nehru Cup. The Blue Tigers moved on with their campaign against a young Cambodian team. Right from the first whistle, India established itself as a champion in the game.
Chhetri was leading the attacking line with the great Bhaichung Bhutia. In the last minutes of the game, the prolific forward sent waves across the audience in Ambedkar Stadium. He scored two quickfire goals. The first goal came from a delicate chip from outside the box. Chhetri doubled his score with a first-time header.
He continued his goalscoring talent.
In the next game with Syria, he bagged the opening goal. The hosts suffered a 3-2 defeat.
Chhetri scored again in the next encounter against Kyrgyzstan.
In the finals, India faced Syria again. The Indian team replicated its win. Chhetri was not able to score in the game. But he was involved in the process of the build-up to Pappachen Pradeep’s winning goal.
India held the trophy of the first championship in 1997.
India vs Tajikistan, The AFC Challenge Cup 2008 – the final match
India made its way to the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008. Houghton’s side hoped to break into the Asian Cup for the first time since 1984.
In the summit clash, the Indian team faced Tajikistan at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi.
The way in which Chhetri performed that night would go on to define a generation of Indian football.
He went on to score a scintillating hat-trick in the national capital. India won the game by a 4-1 margin and bagged the title.
Intercontinental Cup 2018
With no international matches, India had reached their lowest FIFA ranking position of 173 by March 2015. The country lost its footing steadily among the other Asian nations.
In this context, Stephen Constantine revived the lost splendor during his second stint. In the Intercontinental Cup, India started favorably to conquer the title. Chhetri led the attacking line. He bagged his third international hat-trick against Chinese Taipei.
In his 100th international match against Kenya, he scored a second-half penalty. He then set up Jeje Lalpekhlua’s goal.
Sunil Chhetri added two more goals to his goal history against Kenya. India celebrated the win of the Intercontinental Cup.
India vs Thailand, The AFC Asian Cup 2019
India failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2018. The Indian team managed to book a berth in the AFC Asian Cup 2019.
The AFC Cup was one of the most crucial strings of matches. Chhetri contributed hugely in guiding India to its first-ever victory in 55 years.
The Blue Tigers caught Thailand off guard. Thailand stabilized itself before half-time. But India roared back in the second half. Chhetri restored India’s lead right after the interval. India registered their biggest ever win at the Asian Cup.
India’s statement victory against Thailand was a moment of pride for the country.
The plea to the fans in 2018
Chhetri thrashed Chinese Taipei in the Intercontinental Cup 2018. The fans, however, did not turn in numbers to cheer the Indian team forward.
So a vulnerable, earnest Chhetri posted a video on his social media handle. He made an emotional appeal to all football fans across the country. He asked them to come to the stadiums. Chhetri requested support from his fans for the national team.
His words resonated with the citizens. The fans flocked in numbers to the stadiums for the upcoming game. It created a revolution.
Chhetri’s legacy in Indian football is preserved forever.
Chhetri thrived when there was a period of nothingness in Indian football. When the rankings plummeted, the fans stopped caring. The results dried down, but Chhetri pushed the national team ahead.
Whenever Chhetri decides to hang up his golden boots, he is the one in the country to have left the sport in a better position than he found it in.