AFC Asian Cup is the most important tournament for India: Sunil Chhetri

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

All eyes will yet again be on Sunil Chhetri as he leads India at the AFC Asian Cup on Saturday against Australia. First things first, it is a very tough group and India’s chances of making the next stage is limited. Having said that, a good fight against Australia and Uzbekistan and a win against Syria could lay the groundwork for the World Cup qualifiers against Afghanistan in March. Chhetri talks to ET about the importance of the Asian Cup, India’s chances in the World Cup qualifiers and more. Excerpts:

How important is the AFC Asian Cup. Could you help put things in context? Except the five teams from Asia that go on to play the World Cup, every other Asian team looks at the Asian Cup as the World Cup.

It is the most important tournament for teams like us. When you get to rub shoulders with a team like Australia or play a team like Uzbekistan, only then can you understand where you stand in the pecking order. To judge ourselves, how much we have improved as a team, the Asian Cup is massively important.

Interesting you say that. 2023 was a good year for Indian football. India won the SAFF Cup and then the away win against Kuwait was a real high point. Look, without sounding disrespectful to any Asian team and I am not one to ever do so, you can never judge yourself by winning the SAFF Cup.

The SAFF level isn’t the standard we aspire to anymore. That’s why the Asian Cup is significant. It gives you a mirror to judge yourself.

Winning the SAFF Cup could breed complacency. Now when you play against teams like Australia, which will make the World Cup, you will know where you stand, how much have you improved and what are the areas you need to work on. It is like a mirror and will help us understand where we are in our