Sunil Chhetri Says the Indian Football Team is Excited About Intercontinental Cup 2023, first Game against Mongolia

Indian football team captain, Sunil Chhetri says the team is looking forward to the Intercontinental Cup 2023, and playing against Mongolia on Friday.

Written by: Arjita Gupta

Edited by: Krutarth Ghosalkar

Last Updated: 2023-06-09 09:46:06

Sunil Chhetri, the captain of the Indian football team said on Thursday that he and his team are looking forward to the Intercontinental Cup 2023, and the games therein to start. On Friday, the India Senior Men’s Team will initiate campaigning for the competition at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar with their first-ever clash against Mongolia. In 2018, the hosts India emerged victorious in Mumbai in the inaugural tournament. They had won over Kenya by 2-0 in the final.

And in the last edition of 2019 in Ahmedabad DPR Korea won against Tajikistan. But for India, the larger target remains the AFC Asian Cup in seven months in Qatar, and until the end of this year, the Blue Tigers will otherwise encounter other matches. Since May 15, the Indian team has been camping in Bhubaneswar. This gave sufficient time for Igor Stimac to coach to assess the team and make them stronger.

With SAFF Championship around the corner in Bengaluru, starting on 21 June, the team can compete in as many as 9 matches within a month or less. The Indian football team captain, Sunil Chhetri, said the last three weeks helped them prepare well, and everything is going fine, and the team is eagerly waiting for the tournament to begin. Previously Chhetri along with Igor Stimac, the head coach had said that they are anticipating wearing the blue of India in Odisha for the first time.

The captain said that it is strange that he has never played anywhere in Odisha or Bhubaneswar. He and the boys are pretty excited and happy to be here for Intercontinental Cup 2023. Chhetri said that they have made good use of their three weeks in Odisha and enjoyed the top-notch training pitches, as well as the hospitality. The skipper said that he is hoping that the team gets to play not just three but four matches, including one from the final.

Igor Stimac, the head coach of Blue Tigers said that they are prepared to lift the trophy once again. He stated at a pre-tournament conference. He also said they are here because they expect to win the tournament. And that to make it happen they will do every possible thing. Stimac opined that he is aware that the opponents are not as difficult in Intercontinental Cup 2023 as that in the Asian Cup, they are competitive and good.

He said several young players are in Mongolia, and they have strong upfront and midfield support and an aggressive side. They play counter-attacking football. Stimac shared his views about the East Asian opponents of India that due to the ongoing Mongolian league, the players will be competing in the Intercontinental Cup 2023, as they are in the form already, and even if the team finds it hard to cope with the warm weather here, they will be tough competitors.