Sunil Chhetri's Final Dance: India Eyes World Cup Qualification

Sunil Chhetri, the legendary captain of the Indian men's football team, is preparing for his final outing with the national side. As he faces the media ahead of India's crucial match against Kuwait, emotions run high.

Chhetri, who has scored a record 94 goals in 150 appearances for India, has been a talismanic figure for the team. His retirement announcement 20 days ago sent shockwaves through the footballing community.

"I have been fighting a small battle inside me all along," Chhetri confessed. "Please do not make it worse by asking again and again. We were done with the subject of retirement when I announced it."

The focus now is on the match against Kuwait, which holds immense significance for India's World Cup qualification hopes. "The only thing that I want to focus on is the match against Kuwait," Chhetri emphasized. "We really need to win this game. Once we win it gives us a great chance to go to the third round (of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers), which we have never achieved before."

Chhetri believes that a victory against Kuwait will open doors to greater opportunities. "If we win against Kuwait, we almost qualify to the third round," he said. "And once we qualify, we will be up against some top teams (of the continent). I keep telling the boys about this dream every day. Hopefully, everything will happen according to plan. If we qualify, I will be travelling to watch the matches as a fan."

The Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata is expected to be packed with passionate fans cheering on the Indian team. Chhetri expressed his gratitude for their unwavering support. "We need to go out there with all our might, because the match is not going to be easy," he said. "It is going to be a big battle, but the good thing is that we are all ready. I am sure Kolkata will give us tremendous support as we fight it out on the ground."

As Chhetri prepares to bid farewell to international football, he leaves behind a legacy of inspiration and achievement. His passion, determination, and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the future of Indian football.

Tags: #SunilChhetri, #IndianFootball, #FIFAWorldCup, #Kuwait, #Kolkata