Football

Former Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri has expressed his support for defender Anwar Ali, who recently faced a four-month ban for contract violations. Chhetri urged players to avoid controversies and focus on their performance.Ali's ban stemmed from his termination of a contract with Mohun Bagan and subsequent signing with East Bengal. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) deemed his actions unjust and imposed a ban along with a compensation demand of Rs 12.90 crore.Despite the controversy, Chhetri believes Ali is a valuable asset to the national team. "He's one of the assets of the national team. I would want him to stay away from controversies as much as possible," Chhetri said.Chhetri emphasized the importance of avoiding distractions for young players. "All the national team boys, especially the ones who are upcoming and young, I want them to stay away from controversies as much as possible," he said.Chhetri also discussed his retirement from international football in June. He admitted to missing the game but is still adjusting to his new life. "It's not been nice, I miss it," he said.Chhetri expressed confidence in India head coach Manolo Marquez's ability to balance his roles with the national team and FC Goa. "He'll be able to handle it," he said. "He will know exactly what team to pick."Chhetri shared his experiences of fatherhood with fellow athlete Virat Kohli. "We talk a lot about kids, that's a common topic now," he said. However, they have not yet discussed post-retirement plans.Chhetri remains committed to playing in the Indian Super League as long as he can contribute to his club, Bengaluru FC. "As long as I'm enjoying, as long as I'm adding value to the club, I'm here," he said.

Five years ago, Vinith Venkatesh was a mere ballboy, witnessing Bengaluru FC's Indian Super League campaign from the sidelines. On Saturday, he etched his name into the club's history, scoring the match-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over East Bengal FC.Making his debut at the iconic Sree Kanteerava Stadium, the 19-year-old Venkatesh emerged as the hero. In the 25th minute, Edgar Mendez's pinpoint assist found an unmarked Venkatesh inside the box. With a deft first touch and a powerful low strike to the far post, he sent the home crowd into raptures.Senior statesman Sunil Chhetri, a veteran of Indian football, rushed to celebrate with the local lad. Venkatesh, who joined the club academy at the tender age of eight, had come full circle.The match was a scrappy affair, with nearly 12,000 spectators witnessing a physical and cynical encounter. Six players received yellow cards, while East Bengal's Lalchungnunga was sent off for a second booking. Tempers flared at times, forcing referee Crystal John to intervene.East Bengal remained in the hunt for an equalizer, pressing forward with intent. Their best chance came late when substitute Cleiton Silva fired over the crossbar from close range. In the first half, Jeakson Singh tried his luck from long range, but Bengaluru FC goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh was up to the task.Mendez, making his BFC debut, nearly got on the scoresheet with a crisp shot that narrowly missed the target. A few minutes later, Mendez and Venkatesh combined to ensure that Bengaluru FC started its ISL season on a winning note.The result: Bengaluru FC 1 (Venkatesh 25) bt East Bengal FC 0.

Manolo Marquez, the newly appointed coach of the Indian men's football team, faces a daunting task. With the departure of Igor Stimac and the retirement of Sunil Chhetri, Marquez inherits a team in transition. However, the Spaniard is undeterred, vowing to improve the team's mentality and performance.Marquez, who also coaches ISL club FC Goa, acknowledges the potential conflict of interest but believes in professionalism. He draws inspiration from renowned coaches like Guus Hiddink and Rinus Michels, who successfully managed both club and country.Marquez's appointment stems from his impressive work in the ISL. After initially dismissing the possibility of coaching in India, he has come to appreciate the country's footballing potential. He believes that Indian players have improved but need to develop a stronger mentality."They are improving, but it is the Indian mentality," Marquez observed. "We need to improve in this aspect. They have to be stronger mentally. In football, technique, tactics, physical condition are important, but if the head doesn't work, you can do nothing."Marquez's immediate goal is to enhance the individual and collective abilities of Indian players. He recognizes the importance of overseas experience and encourages players to seek opportunities abroad."The level of Indian players is better than what it was five years ago. But it can be better and improve faster," said Marquez. "My feeling is that Indian players are very comfortable in ISL. You will grow when you play abroad."Marquez understands the challenges ahead but remains optimistic. He believes that with the right attitude and collective effort, the Indian team can achieve positive results.

Bengaluru FC kicked off their Durand Cup campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory over Indian Navy FT in a Group B encounter at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Argentine striker Jorge Pereyra Díaz was the star of the show, scoring a brace in the second half to seal the win.The Blues took the lead in the 10th minute through Rahul Bheke, who headed home a cross from the left flank. Bengaluru doubled their advantage in the 41st minute when captain Sunil Chhetri converted a penalty after Indian Navy defender was sent off for a red card.After the break, Díaz came on as a substitute and made an immediate impact. He scored his first goal in the 79th minute, finishing off a cross from Udanta Singh. The Argentine striker then added his second in the 90th minute, tapping in from close range after a good run by Chhetri.In another Group B match, Mohammedan Sporting Club defeated TRAU FC 2-0. Trinidadian striker Willis Plaza scored both goals for the Kolkata-based club.In Group D, Indian Army FT pulled off a surprise 1-0 victory over former ISL champion Chennaiyin FC. Liton Shil scored the only goal of the match in the 42nd minute.The win puts Indian Army FT level on points with host Jamshedpur FC at the top of the Group D standings.

Sunil Chhetri, the legendary Indian footballer, has shifted his focus to representing his club, Bengaluru FC, after retiring from international football. Chhetri's popularity remains undiminished, as evidenced by the thunderous cheers he received during the club's open training session at the Bangalore Football Stadium.The 39-year-old striker declined to specify when he would retire from club football, stating that he would continue playing as long as he could contribute to the team. "A lot depends on what value I bring to the team. That is a very important criteria," Chhetri said. "I do not want to be here if I don't add value. I want to give my very best to this team."Chhetri expressed his joy at the Indian cricket team's victory in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, particularly for his close friend Virat Kohli. "I love the fact that he (Kohli) won the tournament. It was long overdue. I know that he genuinely wanted to win it. To see the tears, as a sportsperson myself, I understood the emotions," Chhetri said.Like all Indian fans, Chhetri's heart skipped a beat when David Miller nearly hit a maximum in the final over of the match. "When Miller hit the ball, we all thought it was going for six. What a catch by Suryakumar (Yadav)! It is a fine margin — if that had gone for six, who knows what would have happened. Kudos to the whole team," Chhetri said.Chhetri acknowledged that BFC's 10th place finish in ISL 2023-24 was among the club's worst performances. He expressed a strong desire to restore the club to its winning ways. "The message from the head coach (Gerard Zaragoza) is very clear. He wants us to win every day. Firstly, we have to be at our best in training. There is a lot of competition in the team, so the coach made it very clear that everyone has to work hard to grab their places in the side. This creates a healthy atmosphere," Chhetri added.

Indian football has faced significant upheaval recently, with the retirement of star striker Sunil Chhetri and the controversial dismissal of national team coach Igor Stimac. Chhetri's departure has raised concerns about finding a suitable replacement, while Stimac's allegations against the All India Football Federation (AIFF) have sparked further controversy.Former Indian team captain Subrata Paul believes that the key to finding Chhetri's successor lies in giving young talents ample opportunities. He emphasizes that Chhetri's success was not achieved overnight and that it will take time and patience to develop the next top striker."Sunil Chhetri has set a good example, but nothing is permanent," Paul said. "We need to work on the future generation of strikers and put our trust in them."Paul acknowledges that Chhetri's legacy will be difficult to match, but he believes that someone will eventually step up to fill his shoes. "We will not be having this conversation five years later because someone will step up to take Chhetri's position in the national side," he added.Meanwhile, Stimac has criticized the AIFF and its president, Kalyan Chaubey, following his dismissal. Paul declined to comment on Stimac's allegations, stating that he prefers to focus on his own contributions to Indian football."Everybody is entitled to their opinions," Paul said. "However, what we can control is what can we do for Indian football."Despite the challenges facing Indian football, Paul remains optimistic about the future. He believes that by investing in young talent and fostering a positive environment, the sport can continue to thrive in India.

Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has expressed his admiration for Real Madrid and Croatia great Luka Modric, following Modric's heartfelt tribute to Chhetri's illustrious international career.On the eve of Chhetri's final India match against Kuwait, Modric sent a video message wishing him well. Chhetri, who retired as the fourth-highest international goalscorer of all time with 94 goals for India, was deeply touched by Modric's gesture."First of all, thank you for the amazing 19-20 years. I am a fan right from his Tottenham days," Chhetri said about Modric.Chhetri praised Modric's exceptional talent and humility, both on and off the pitch. "Not only is he a superstar on the pitch but also a nice and humble person," he said.Chhetri also hailed Modric's remarkable international career, which has seen him lead Croatia to the 2018 FIFA World Cup final and win the 2018 Ballon d'Or. "What he has done for Croatia is outstanding," Chhetri said.Looking ahead to Euro 2024, Chhetri expressed his hope that Modric would remain injury-free and enjoy a successful tournament. "I just hope that he enjoys Euro 2024. I hope he doesn't have any injury or pain, I hope we can see as many minutes from him in the tournament," he said.Modric, who will turn 39 in September, may be playing in his final major international tournament at Euro 2024. Chhetri acknowledged this possibility, saying, "I am sure people like me and a lot of other fans are going to enjoy him playing for Croatia in a big tournament, probably for the last time."Modric's recent success with Real Madrid, where he won his sixth UEFA Champions League title, further cements his status as one of the greatest midfielders of all time. Chhetri, who is now an expert panellist on Sony Sports Network's studio show Football Extraaa for UEFA EURO 2024, will be eagerly watching Modric's performance in the upcoming tournament.

Sunil Chhetri, the former Indian football captain, is set to grace television screens once again as an expert for Euro 2024, which kicks off in Germany on Friday. Chhetri, who recently retired from international football, is particularly excited about England's prospects in the tournament."You can't go beyond the usual suspects, you know, France, Germany, England, etc.," Chhetri said. "But I feel England is right at the sweet spot now. The likes of [Phil] Foden, [Jude] Bellingham... prodigies once, are world leaders now. If you can leave out the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish, you can imagine the kind of talent England has."Chhetri also believes that Hungary and Turkey could be surprise packages in the tournament. "I think Hungary and Turkey can be those teams. I'm saying purely on all the action that I've seen in the last one-and-a-half years and their qualification performances. They have been outstanding."The tournament is also expected to be the last major event for veterans like Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (39) and Croatia's Luka Modric (38). German midfielder Toni Kroos (34), who recently won his fifth UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, has already announced that Euro 2024 will be his last bow."The thing that keeps them going is their love for the game," Chhetri said. "For Modric to win the Champions League [with Real Madrid for the sixth time], and still come for training, get elbowed and get tackled... If you don't love the game you won't do it."

Indian football head coach Igor Stimac has named a 23-member squad for India's crucial World Cup Qualifier against Qatar on June 11. The match will be India's first since the retirement of legendary captain Sunil Chhetri.Stimac has made several notable changes to the squad, most notably the omission of experienced defenders Subhasish Bose, Amey Ranawade, and Lalchungnunga. Jay Gupta has been handed a debut call-up, while Bose and Ranawade were named on the bench but did not feature in the previous match against Kuwait.India currently sits in third place in Group A with five points, behind Qatar (13 points) and Afghanistan (five points). A win against Qatar is crucial for India's hopes of advancing to the third round of the World Cup Qualifiers. A draw would also suffice if Afghanistan and Kuwait draw their match.The Blue Tigers will face a formidable challenge against Qatar, who are the reigning Asian champions. However, Stimac remains optimistic about his team's chances. "We have a good team, and we are confident that we can get a result in Qatar," he said.India's squad for the match against Qatar:Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Vishal KaithDefenders: Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, Mehtab Singh, Narender, Nikhil Poojary, Rahul BhekeMidfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Edmund Lalrindika, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nandhakumar Sekar, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh WangjamForwards: Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Vikram Partap Singh, David Lalhlansanga