Expect the Salt Lake Stadium to be packed for Chhetri’s final game – Igor Stimac

India’s football head coach Igor Stimac is expecting the Salt Lake Stadium to be jam-packed for Sunil Chhetri’s final game. The Indian captain will play his last game for the national team against Kuwait on June 6th. Chhetri had a glorious career for the Blue Tigers, scoring 94 goals in 150 International caps.

The veteran is the fourth-highest goal-scorer in the history of International football after Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Al Daei. The linchpin made his International debut in 2005 against arch-rivals Pakistan and since then he has been the face of Indian football.

“Having in mind the importance of the game – with us being perhaps only a win away from qualifying for the third round for the first time, and it being Sunil Chhetri’s farewell game – we expect the Salt Lake Stadium to be packed. I am sure that our supporters will reach Kolkata from all parts of India to help our boys win the game and say thanks and goodbye to Sunil. I am very confident it’s going to be emotional and hopefully, we will find a way to celebrate together after the final whistle,” Stimac stated in an interview with the-aiff.com.

The Croatian has named a 27-man squad for the match against Kuwait and said the preparations have been on the right track as they have had a long camp.

“The boys are doing well,” revealed Stimac. 

“It has been proven more than once that a long camp always helps us. We are working on various aspects of the game, both offensive and defensive. Our fitness levels are getting better each day, and now we enter the phase of working on our tactics. From Monday onwards, we are going to work on positioning, set pieces and transitions,” the India head coach further said. 

Here is India’s 27-member squad for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Kuwait:

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Vishal Kaith.

Defenders: Amey Ranawade, Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, Lalchungnunga, Mehtab Singh, Narender Gahlot, Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose.

Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Edmund Lalrindika, Jeakson Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nandhakumar Sekar, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam.

Forwards: David Lalhlansanga, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Vikram Partap Singh.