‘A little jealous’: Sunil Chhetri on India’s chance to play Brazil, Uruguay

Former Indian captain Sunil Chhetri has expressed his jealousy at seeing today’s young footballers get the chance to play against footballing powerhouses Brazil and Uruguay. India will host the two South American giants at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on October 3 and 6 respectively. Chhetri, who hung up his boots last year, said he never enjoyed such a distinction during his illustrious 24-26 year career with the national team.

The former striker urged the current players to stay fit, compete with determination and seize the moment. Despite no longer being a part of the national setup, Chhetri said he remains confident in the squad’s young talent. He backed the coach’s decisions and ruled out any thoughts of a comeback, joking about his recent brief return to training.

Chhetri dismissed the prospect of immediate improvement, citing the team’s current low FIFA ranking (138th) and uncertainty surrounding the domestic calendar. He called for optimism and collective responsibility, stating that the team’s struggles are a result of poor performances and that players must take ownership of their mistakes.