Indian football team, Sunil Chhetri earn many historic milestones with Intercontinental Cup win
- By Chiranjit Ojha
- June 18, 2023
THE INDIAN FOOTBALL TEAM has achieved several historic milestones tonight, when it defeated Lebanon 2-0 to win the Intercontinental Cup title.
This trophy has marked the first time in Indian football history that the men's senior national team has won two trophies in a single calendar year; the first being the Tri-Nation Tournament in Imphal earlier this year.
With India still to play three more tournaments this year - including SAFF Championship (June-July), King's Cup (September) and Merdeka Tournament (October) - there's a chance that Igor Stimac's boys can win more than two trophies this year.
India also have not conceded a single goal in the two back-to-back tournaments; which is a first in Indian football history as well.
Happiness Unfiltered#BlueTigers #INDLBN#HeroIntercontinentalCup#IndianFootballpic.twitter.com/BekAabYDUj
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 18, 2023
With six back to back clean sheets in 2023, India have equalled their own record of six straight clean sheets that they achieved back in 1951-52. If India don't concede a goal when they play Pakistan on 21st June, it'll be another new record for the Blue Tigers' defence.
For Sunil Chhetri, this match also marked some personal achievements. He scored the first goal to break the deadlock and help India win, and also played a role in the second goal. But going through his incredible record, the milestones that come up are huge.
He has become the first Indian player to score in back to back four tournament finals that he has played for his country (SAFF 2015-16, Intercontinental 2018, SAFF 2021, Intercontinental 2023).
If you only count the tournaments held in India, then Sunil Chhetri has scored in the last 7 tournament finals that he has played for his national team; which is another unique achievement in Indian football history. And the Blue Tigers have won all of them. This also includes the prestigious AFC Challenge Cup in 2008.
Overall, Sunil Chhetri has played in 11 tournament finals for India. He has scored in 8 of them, and India have won 9 of them.
In fact, ever since Sunil Chhetri has made his national team debut, India are unbeaten in tournament finals played at home soil. The last time India lost a final at home was in 2003 when they played the Afro-Asian Games.
Too bored trivia:
— Chiranjit Ojha (@ChiranjitOjha) June 18, 2023
Sunil Chhetri has played 11 tournament finals for India
He's scored in 8 of them
India have won 9 of them
Legend for a reason#indianfootball #BackTheBlue #BlueTigers #INDLBN #HeroIntercontinentalCup
Photo: AIFF Media pic.twitter.com/6s3odDDf2g
Apart from that, India have achieved a form comaprable to their results in 2016-17 when, under Stephen Constantine, India went on a historic 8 match win streak. For Igor Stimac, the opportunity to produce positive results in the next three matches at SAFF Championship and establish himself as the coach who brought India its longest unbeaten streak would be an incredible milestone; not that he doesn't deserve massive praise for the records that India have made India already this year.
While the team's most challenging phase in the last four years will begin from September - spanning across two overseas tournaments, World Cup Qualifiers and the Asian Cup - these victories are cherished by the Indian football fans who are starved for success in the international stage.
While a SAFF or an Intercontinental trophy may not be among the major silverwares the world of football has to offer, at least it gives an indication to the supporters that the team is making improvements and is on the right path.
And if it achieves a few historic milestones along the way, all the better.
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