Thanking everyone for being part of his glorious 19-year journey in international football, Sunil Chhetri was in tears as his teammates gave the Indian football icon a guard of honour while the packed Salt Lake Stadium rose for a standing ovation.
Stimac, a vastly experienced coach and 1998 World Cup bronze medallist for Croatia, interfered when Pakistan player Abdullah Iqbal was ready to make a throw-in. He tried to pull back the ball from the player, sparking wild reactions from some Pakistani players as well as some coaching staff.
Priyanka Sujeesh orchestrated the attacks from the middle of the park, while Amisha Baxla looked lively from the right flank.
India avenged their last edition title loss as they prevailed over Maldives 3-1 via penalty shootout in the SAFF Championships summit clash to claim their fifth crown in Dhaka, on Sunday. After the match failed to produce any goal in the regulation and extra times, the match was decided in the penalty shootout.
India have been clubbed in Group A along with Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan for the 11-day tournament in Dhaka.
The opening match of the SAFF Championship tournament between Pakistan and Bangladesh ended in a drab, goalless draw, in Delhi, on Friday. The Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, hosting a football match after a gap of 20 years, wore a deserted look as the two South Asian nations failed to liven up proceedings.
Drawn in Group A alongside Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bhutan, five-time winners and holders India will kick off their campaign in the SAFF Cup with a match against Afghanistan on December 3.
Star striker Sunil Chhetri struck twice as holders India defeated Maldives 3-1 in an entertaining semifinal to book a berth in the summit clash of the SAFF Football Championship in New Delhi.
Goals from N P Pradeep, Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chetri and Sushil Kumar Singh gave India a 4-0 victory in the SAFF Championship opener at Maldives National Stadium in Male on Tuesday.
Sunil Chhetri might have bid adieu to his international career but he remains deeply attached to the fortunes of the team
The decks have been cleared for Pakistan football team for its participation in the SAFF Football Championship after receiving visas travel to India on Monday.
Reigning world champions Argentina continue to top the chart followed by 2022 World Cup runners-up France, England, Belgium and Brazil.
Parameshwori Devi scored a brace as defending Champions India routed hosts Sri Lanka 5-0 to brighten their semi-final chances in the Women's SAFF Championship, in Colombo on Sunday.
Four-time champions India will take on Afghanistan in their opening match of the SAFF Championships in Dhaka on December 5.
Sunil Chhetri said he would like to be remembered as 'the luckiest and most hardworking national team player'.
India played their best match of the tournament as they beat Bangladesh by a solitary goal in the semi-final to set up a title clash against holders Maldives in the SAFF Championships in Dhaka.
India failed to capitalised on the many chances that came their way and lost to Afghanistan 0-2 in the final of the 2013 SAFF Championship at the Dasrath stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
India's under-16 football team stumbled at the final hurdle, losing to Pakistan 1-2, in the SAFF Under-16 Championship in Kathmandu, on Wednesday.
India lost to Pakistan by a solitary goal in the opening match of the first-ever SAFF Under-16 football championship, at the Dharsath stadium, in Kathmandu, on Monday. Mansoor Khan scored the all-important goal in the 20th minute.
Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma on Thursday said Indian Super League (ISL) has helped the national football team take giant strides at the world stage.
India defeated Afghanistan 4-3 on penalities to enter the final of the SAFF U-16 Championship football to set up a clash against hosts Nepal, in Kathmandu on Sunday.
Federation Cup revived by the AIFF in an executive committee meeting on Monday.
Jeje Lalpekhlua (72nd minute) and Sunil Chhettri (101th) scored for India after Zubayr Amiri had given Afghanistan the lead in the 69th minute at the Greenfield Stadium.
Sasmita Mallick found the net four times as India mauled Afghanistan 11-0 to storm into the Women's South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in Colombo on Friday.
Just prior to half-time the ball rolled outside the pitch and Pakistan defender Abdullah Iqbal was going to take the throw. But Stimac was seen walking up to him and knocking the ball out of his hand.
India face tough Iraq test sans Chhetri
India's brilliant 4-0 rout of Pakistan in the SAFF Championship had a slight jarring note to it as head coach Igor Stimac had to vacate the dugout.
With Chhetri and Stimac at helm, AIFF hoping for strong show in Asian Games
India have been largely impressive in the tournament, defeating Pakistan 4-0 and Nepal 2-0 to maintain a clean sheet so far.
India produced a dominant display to beat Maldives 2-0 and book a semifinal spot in the South Asian Football Federation Cup, in Dhaka, on Sunday.
India now play Bangladesh in the summit clash on Sunday.
The Indian women's football team continued its rampaging form to thrash Sri Lanka 7-0 and book a berth in the semi-finals of the SAFF Women's championship in Cox Bazar, Bangladesh.
Stimac had said he would need at least a four-week camp to do well in the Asian Cup while the All India Football Federation (AIFF) top brass had indicated that his demand would be difficult to meet as the clubs may not agree to release their players for such a long period in the midst of the domestic season.
Cristiano Ronaldo faced a flurry of criticism after appearing to make an obscene gesture following the end of Al Nassr's 3-2 win over Al Shabab in an exciting Saudi Pro League game on Sunday.
A less-than-impressive India scored in the dying moments to beat Afghanistan 1-0 and begin their SAFF Championships on a winning note in Dhaka on Saturday.
Both the teams are unbeaten in the SAFF tournament while their group match also ended in a 1-1 draw.
Stressing there isn't any room for slip-ups, Clifford Miranda speaks at length about the team's plan in the SAFF Championship.
Following a virtual meeting on June 16th, 2024, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced a change in leadership for the Senior Men's National Team.
The Indian U-16 national football team kicked off its campaign in the SAFF U-16 Championship in style drubbing 10-man Sri Lanka 4-1 in its Group B opener at the Army Ground in Kathmandu on Sunday.
Young Manipuri forward Sushil Kumar Singh, defender Anwar Ali and midfielder Kuttimani figure in India's 20-member squad for the June 3-14 SAFF Cup football tournament in Maldives and Sri Lanka. All the 17 players that featured in India's historic Nehru Cup triumph last August and the subsequent World Cup qualifier in October were retained.
