Football

Indian football team head coach Igor Stimac has set a bold target for himself and the team: qualification to the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Stimac, who has been at the helm since 2019, has made it clear that failure to achieve this goal will result in his resignation."If I don't take India to the third round, I will leave, with my pride, with my honor on everything that was done here in the five years of work," Stimac declared. "I will leave my position to someone else."India's path to the third round is fraught with challenges. They currently stand second in their group with four points from three games, one ahead of Kuwait. The Blue Tigers have never reached the third round of the Qualifiers before.Stimac is not deterred by the odds. He believes that the team has the potential to achieve its goal, but it will require hard work and dedication. He has called for longer preparatory camps for the national squad ahead of big tournaments, citing the positive results achieved during previous extended training periods."In my four years, there were three long camps that we had," Stimac said. "One was five years ago right here prior to games against Oman and Qatar, you remember how well the team played that time. Second was for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Kolkata, the team was flying -- 3 games, 3 wins, 8-1 goal difference. Third long camp was last year prior to the tournaments that we played brilliantly, could see the intensity and everyone knew what they had to do."Stimac also expressed concerns about the lack of Indian strikers in the Indian Super League (ISL), with most of the positions being occupied by foreign players. He believes that this is hurting the national team's scoring ability."Scoring problem has been haunting us for five years, even before I came here," Stimac said. "I have mentioned that foreign players are occupying scoring positions and that is hurting us."Despite the challenges, Stimac remains optimistic about the future of Indian football. He believes that the team has the potential to achieve great things, and he is determined to lead them to success.

Chelsea's missed opportunity to sign Endrick, the Brazilian wonderkid, has become painfully evident after his impressive performance against England at Wembley. Endrick's goal proved decisive in Brazil's victory, showcasing his exceptional talent and potential.Chelsea had been heavily interested in the teenager, with scouts flocking to witness his brilliance in the Under-16 Montaigu Tournament in France. His senior debut for Palmeiras further solidified his reputation, prompting an invitation from Chelsea to visit their training ground.Despite the presence of Brazilian stars Thiago Silva, Jorginho, and Cesar Azpilicueta, and the promise of a local church, Chelsea's pursuit of Endrick hit a snag due to the astronomical $64 million transfer fee demanded by Palmeiras. Real Madrid seized the opportunity, securing the services of the highly sought-after prospect.Endrick's partnership with Vinicius Jr at Real Madrid promises to be formidable, as evidenced by their connection in Brazil's victory over England. Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole likened Endrick's style to Brazilian legend Romario, highlighting his body shape and clinical finishing.Brazil's new manager, Dorival Jr, has high expectations for Endrick, believing he can become a significant figure in both Brazilian and world football. Endrick's international debut against Colombia made him the youngest Brazilian to play for the national team since Ronaldo, and his goal against England marked another milestone.Chelsea's failure to sign Endrick is a significant setback, as they have struggled in recent years. The missed opportunity to acquire a future star has left them with a sense of despair. Endrick's move to Real Madrid will undoubtedly enhance his reputation, while Chelsea will rue their decision not to invest in his potential.

Milestone man Sunil Chhetri, India's all-time leading scorer, will be the cynosure of all eyes as the Blue Tigers seek to overcome their goal-scoring woes in the return leg of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Afghanistan on March 26 in Guwahati.Igor Stimac's India fired a blank in a disappointing draw in the away leg Group A match in Abha, Saudi Arabia on March 22 against their lower-ranked opponents, extending their goalless run. India last scored a goal in November 2023 against Kuwait.In this backdrop, it will be imperative from India's point of view that Chhetri, who will be appearing in his 150th international match, rises to the occasion and makes his landmark game memorable at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium. Having played his first International in 2005, he has so far earned 149 international caps, 93 goals, and 11 trophies for the country. His team would be too happy to see him score one more time, lead them to victory, and brighten their prospects of reaching the third round of the World Cup qualifications, something they have not achieved.While Chhetri has always looked to deliver what is expected of him, his teammates understand it is not fair to rely only on a 39-year-old talisman. They will need to chip in with useful contributions if the 58th-ranked side is to excel and stay in the reckoning for a place in the third round.Stimac has prioritized qualification to the third round of World Cup Qualifiers and secure a direct entry into the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. However, with his team coming off a disappointing campaign in the last continental showpiece, the Croatian will be under pressure and will want his wards to show a lot more desperation, composure, and urgency upfront.The Blue Tigers currently stand second in the group with four points from three games, one ahead of Kuwait, who are on three points from as many matches. India can still advance to the third round, but the task has got a lot tougher following last week's stalemate, from which they gained only a point. India will need at least four points from their next three matches – against Afghanistan (Tuesday), Kuwait (June 6), and Qatar (June 11) to remain in control of their fate.Stimac hoped that Chhetri could make his landmark match all the more special with a performance befitting his stature in Indian football. "Being chosen to represent your country is a dream of millions of kids when they start kicking the ball, and to make it 150 times is possible only for the GOATs (greatest of all times)," said Stimac. "We hope our captain will make it memorable on March 26 for all Indian fans and himself."Stimac tried out almost all options upfront in the first leg, but they did not work, and a goal eluded the team. He admitted that the team needs improvements in a few areas, especially while attacking, and was not happy with the manner in which his wards complicated things instead of keeping them simple in the final third. "We need to be better in passing, creating chances, and attacking the box when the crosses are coming from the flanks," he said.The Blue Tigers had last played in Guwahati five years ago, when they suffered a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Oman in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup preliminary joint qualifiers. Match starts at 7pm IST.

Brazil's footballing resurgence took a significant step forward on Saturday as they secured a memorable 1-0 victory over England at Wembley under the guidance of new manager Dorival Jr. The triumph marked the beginning of a new era for the Selecao, who have endured a period of decline in recent years.Once a dominant force in international football, Brazil has struggled to maintain its former glory. Their last World Cup triumph came in 2002, and they have failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals in the past two editions. In 2014, they suffered a humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany on home soil.Dorival Jr, appointed in January, faced immense pressure to deliver a positive result against England. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) had endured a tumultuous search for a permanent manager, with Carlo Ancelotti ultimately rejecting their advances.Despite the uncertainty, Brazil produced a spirited performance at Wembley. Teenage sensation Endrick, who came on as a substitute, became the youngest male scorer at the iconic stadium with his 80th-minute winner. The goal evoked memories of legendary striker Romario, according to former England midfielder Joe Cole.Dorival expressed relief at starting his tenure with a victory. "It's a really special moment," he said. "But we must not lose sight of the fact that this is just the start of our work."Brazil's resurgence will face another test on March 27 when they travel to Spain for a friendly. The Spaniards, who also lost on Saturday, will provide a formidable challenge at the Santiago Bernabeu.The Selecao will then play two more friendlies in June before the Copa America kicks off. Dorival will hope that his team can build on their Wembley triumph and rediscover their former glory.

Inter Miami's star-studded squad faced a brutal 4-0 thrashing at the hands of New York Red Bulls on Saturday, leaving coach Gerardo Martino fuming over his team's lack of desire and spirit.Despite the absence of injured superstar Lionel Messi, Miami's lineup boasted high-profile signings Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. However, they were outplayed from start to finish by a determined Red Bulls side.Former Inter player Lewis Morgan stole the show with a superb hat-trick, while Dante Vanzeir also contributed to New York's dominant performance. Miami, on the other hand, struggled to create any meaningful chances, with Suarez's curling shot in the first half their only notable attempt.Martino took responsibility for the loss but pointed the finger at his players, saying, "There is not much to say, except that we were outmatched from start to finish. Red Bulls had the desire to win and we had no desire to compete."He refused to blame Messi's absence, noting that the team had won without him last week. "The absence of the best player in the world is important for everyone, but last week with D.C. Leo didn't play either," Martino said.Morgan's brilliant performance was a major factor in Miami's downfall. The Scottish international opened the scoring after just three minutes and doubled the lead in the second half. He then assisted Vanzeir for New York's third goal and completed his hat-trick with a clinical finish.The win lifted New York to the top of the Eastern Conference alongside Columbus Crew and Miami. The Revs, meanwhile, earned their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw against Chicago Fire.

Florian Wirtz, the 20-year-old German prodigy, etched his name into international football history with a stunning goal that propelled Germany to a 2-0 victory over France in an international friendly on Saturday.Just seven seconds after the opening whistle, Wirtz received the ball from Toni Kroos and unleashed a fierce drive that left French goalkeeper Brice Samba rooted to the spot. The ball flew under the crossbar, setting a new record for the fastest goal in German international history."I don't think anyone understood or realized what was happening," Wirtz said after the match. "We were all quite surprised, but there was obviously a lot of joy. You can't start a match any better."Wirtz's goal came close to equaling the record for the fastest international goal ever, which was set by Lukas Podolski in 2013. However, Christoph Baumgartner's strike for Austria against Andorra earlier on Saturday had already set a new mark of six seconds.Kai Havertz doubled Germany's lead just four minutes into the second half, tapping in a pass from Jamal Musiala. France, despite fielding star striker Kylian Mbappe, struggled to create clear-cut chances and were unable to find a way back into the game.Julian Nagelsmann's Germany side looked the more dangerous throughout the match, with Maximilian Mittelstaedt and Thomas Mueller both denied by fine saves from Samba. France nearly pulled one back in the 88th minute when Mittelstaedt mistimed a clearance, but Antonio Rudiger cleared the ball off the line and VAR ruled the handball to be unintentional."We can obviously be very satisfied," said Kroos. "We've taken some good steps forward, some important steps forward. These are the last few chances for us to get a bit of a feel for Euro 2024. We'll take that with us today."Both teams will continue their preparations for this summer's European Championship, with France facing Chile and Germany hosting the Netherlands on Tuesday.

Real Madrid's future star, Endrick, made history at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, becoming the youngest male player to score an international goal at the iconic venue. The 17-year-old striker, who will join Madrid from Palmeiras at the end of the season, netted the only goal in Brazil's 1-0 friendly victory over England.Endrick entered the match as a second-half substitute and wasted no time making an impact. Just nine minutes after coming on, he pounced on a loose ball in the England penalty area and fired into an empty net after Vinicius Junior's shot was saved by Jordan Pickford.The goal was a testament to Endrick's exceptional talent and composure. Despite being the youngest player on the pitch, he showed no signs of nerves and celebrated his historic strike with a passionate knee slide.Endrick's goal not only secured the victory for Brazil but also extended England's winless streak at Wembley to 21 games. The Three Lions had dominated possession and created several chances, but they were unable to find a way past a resolute Brazilian defense.After the match, Endrick expressed his joy and gratitude. "My family is here, my girlfriend, my agents. I am not much of a crier, I am holding myself, but this is something unique and I am very happy," he said.Endrick's performance has further solidified his status as one of the most promising young players in the world. Real Madrid has secured a major talent for the future, and Endrick is poised to become a key figure for both club and country in the years to come.

Sunil Chhetri, the talismanic captain of the Indian football team, is poised to reach a remarkable milestone in his illustrious career. On Tuesday, in the World Cup qualifier against Afghanistan in Guwahati, Chhetri will make his 150th international appearance, becoming only the 40th player in the world to achieve this feat.Chhetri's international journey began on June 12, 2005, in a friendly match against Pakistan in Quetta. He marked his debut with a goal in a 1-1 draw. Since then, he has amassed 149 caps for India, scoring a record 93 goals.Throughout his career, Chhetri has been a prolific goal-scorer, holding the unique distinction of scoring at least one goal in his first, 25th, 50th, 75th, 100th, and 125th matches for the Blue Tigers. His exceptional goal-scoring prowess has earned him the admiration of fans and respect from opponents alike."It's been an awe-inspiring and staggering cruise that all of us have been fortunate to witness since 2005," said All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey. "Chhetri playing his 150th international match is an extraordinary accomplishment that will go a long way in keeping the Indian football flag flying high."Chhetri's influence on Indian football extends beyond his on-field achievements. He has been a role model for aspiring footballers, inspiring millions to take up the beautiful game."He has been a great influencer who has motivated millions to play this beautiful game," added Chaubey. "I congratulate Chhetri for reaching this great height in international football."The AIFF has announced that it will felicitate Chhetri on the sidelines of the return leg clash against Afghanistan in Guwahati."In many football fans' eyes, Chhetri is almost the synonym of the Indian men's national team," said AIFF acting secretary general M Satyanarayan. "He is a fabulous footballer, a cool captain, and a star striker. The All India Football Federation is proud to felicitate him on his 150th international match. We sincerely hope Chhetri will continue to serve Indian football in the same breath in the future."

Brazil's national football team and its coach, Dorival Junior, have expressed their dismay and condemnation over the recent rape convictions of former internationals Robinho and Dani Alves.Robinho, 40, was sentenced to nine years in prison in Brazil for his involvement in a gang rape in Italy in 2013. Alves, also 40, received a four-and-a-half year sentence for raping a young woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022."As coach of the national team, I have an obligation to speak out," said Dorival ahead of Brazil's international friendly against England at Wembley on Saturday. "First, I think it's a very delicate situation. I think of the families and especially the victims affected by these cases which occur every day in our country and around the world."Dorival, who took over the five-time world champions in January, said the situation of Robinho, whom he coached at Brazilian club Santos, was particularly painful for him. "If it has been proven that there was any crime, he must be punished even if it hurts my heart to say this about a person with whom I have always had an exceptional relationship," added the 61-year-old."I didn't have the opportunity to work with Daniel, but we all know his story within football. It's a difficult time for all of us to express ourselves in these situations."Dorival emphasized his concern for the victims and their families. "I know how painful it must have been for each of them. What I can do is help them with prayers, nothing more."In a statement on Friday, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) described the cases as "shameful," expressing its support for "the victims of the two brutal crimes committed by former players." CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues added that in an environment where "machismo reigns," men must "fight not only sexual violence, but all kinds of violence."Brazil full-back Danilo, who will captain the national side against England, called on the football authorities to raise awareness among young players, to put themselves "in women's shoes in a more empathetic way."The convictions of Robinho and Alves have sparked outrage and condemnation in Brazil and around the world, highlighting the ongoing problem of sexual violence and the need for accountability in all walks of life, including the world of sports.