5 players who can guide India to the FIFA World Cup
With India playing Oman in the first game of their World Cup qualifying group match, there is a lot of excitement among the football fans in the country.
National team coach Stephen Constantine has dropped many big names for the qualifiers such as Nirmal Chettri and Gouramangi Singh, and opted for youth. His methods worked in India’s previous qualification knockout round encounter against Nepal, as they overcame their neighbours 2-0 over the course of two legs.
What are the chances of the Indian team winning the match against Oman, and eventually qualifying for the World Cup? Here, we look at the five players who can make a difference in the qualifiers for India:
Sunil Chhetri
Age: 30
Position: Striker
I-League: Bengaluru FC
ISL: Did not play in the first season
International caps: 77
International goals: 45
Sunil Chhetri is by far the most recognizable and most talented Indian football player of his generation. The 30-year-old is the highest goal scorer in the country, having overtaken the legendary Baichung Bhutia; his current tally is 45 goals at a rate of 0.58 goals per game. He has scored at least one goal in a calendar year since 2007.
Chhetri has played for a host of clubs in the I-League (and the now defunct National Football League) including Mohun Bagan, JCT, East Bengal, Dempo, Chirag United, Churchill Brothers and Bengaluru FC. He has also played for MLS club Kansas City Wizards and Portuguese side Sporting Clube de Portugal B.
The Arjuna Award winner has won three league titles with three different clubs as well as a Federation Cup in his illustrious club career. For the national team, he has won three Nehru Cups, one AFC Challenge Cup and a SAFF Championship. On a personal level, Chhetri has won the AIFF Player of the Year award four times.
He stands at only 1.70m but is more than match for any team he plays against. A willing runner with an appetite for goals would be the best description for this 30-year-old.
Even though Chhetri might already be the greatest Indian player of all time, he always looks to achieve even more. He now chases legendary status in his efforts to lead an Indian team to the World Cup Finals.
Tickets for the India vs Oman match in Bengaluru on 11th June are available at www.kyazoonga.com/indianfootball.