In the final leg of his glittering profession, Indian talisman Sunil Chhetri would be the cynosure of all eyes because the Blue Tigers look to regain the Intercontinental Cup, which begins right here on Friday. While Lebanon and Vanuatu will play within the match opener, hosts India will tackle Mongolia within the day’s second match, kicking off their marketing campaign in opposition to the lowest-ranked workforce (No 183) within the match. The Blue Tigers, ranked 101 within the FIFA rankings, will enter the match because the second-highest-ranked workforce, with Lebanon (99) forward of them by two locations. With 84 targets to his title from 131 worldwide appearances, essentially the most by an Indian, Chhetri has set quite a few data over the past twenty years.

As far because the match is worried, no participant has made an influence just like the Indian skipper who has scored 11 of India’s 16 targets within the occasion.

Chhetri is the one participant to attain a hat-trick within the competitors.

“Sunil has always been a role model and a leader in every sense for the boys and girls. But he’s not only talking, he’s showing that with his test results once again,” Stimac had stated.

“In this camp, he was in top-five positions in all the tests we executed. So that’s the best way of leading the team and showing them how much it can be done.

“Never thoughts the age, by no means thoughts the month or the 12 months, so not to mention what he speaks what he does on the pitch and the way he works. That’s what’s crucial factor,” the coach was effusive in his praise for Chhetri.

The Blue Tigers won the inaugural edition in 2018 but found the going tough in 2019, which was won by Korea, while India finished fourth in the group.

Fresh from winning the Tri-Nation Cup, Igor Stimac’s side will look to improve its show in the four-nation meet, which returns after four years following the pandemic.

Ahead of the marquee Asian Cup in Qatar next January, this tournament will give the Croat an opportunity to fine-tune his side.

India will be playing in the SAFF Championship, Merdeka Cup in the lead-up to the Asian Cup and the key for Stimac will be to improve its finishing, passing, pattern in the final third, and also the build-up.

“Asian Cup prospects will rely on December preparations as a result of issues are altering every day.

“It depends on who are in form, who are in best position in December, they (players) are coming after a long domestic season behind. They need to stay in form and enter the Asian Cup on a positive note,” Stimac stated.

Tricky contest ============== It will probably be a tough contest in opposition to Mongolia, an unknown entity for Chhetri and Co. The Blue Wolves beat Brunei Darussalam 3-2 on mixture to progress to the second spherical for the primary time within the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

In the second spherical, they registered 1-0 wins over Myanmar and Kyrgyz Republic, two opponents India additionally beat, to win the Tri-Nation match earlier this 12 months.

Mongolia additionally beat Yemen 2-0 within the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers final 12 months after struggling slender defeats to Philippines and Palestine.

In March this 12 months, underneath Japanese coach Ichiro Otsuka, Mongolia confronted a UEFA opponent for the primary time, 77-ranked Georgia, who they held 1-1 till half-time earlier than happening 1-6 in a pleasant recreation in Batumi.

After this, India are set to play Vanuatu (June 12), and Lebanon (June 15). The high two groups will play the ultimate on June 18.

Kick off: 7.30pm IST. PTI TAP TAP AH AH