What Does Sunil Chhetri Remember About India's 'Fantastic' 2019 AFC Asian Cup Victory Against Thailand?

Pathum Thani (Thailand), June 1 (NationPress) The rivalry between India and Thailand in men's football has a rich history, spanning from the Asian Games to the Asian Cup, the King's Cup, and the Nehru Cup. The inaugural encounter took place at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, where India triumphed with a score of 4-1. Since then, the Blue Tigers and Changsuek have squared off 26 times, with India claiming seven victories, Thailand 12, and seven matches ending in draws.

In their last two encounters back in 2019, India emerged victorious, recording a remarkable 4-1 win during the AFC Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi, followed by a narrow 1-0 win to secure bronze at the King's Cup held in Thailand.

Sunil Chhetri, who netted the first two goals in the Asian Cup match, fondly recalled the performance that marked India's 55-year wait for a victory at the continental showcase.

"That feels like ages ago. What stands out in my memory is how exceptional the team was. (Anirudh) Thapa was brilliant, and so was Udanta (Singh Kumam). The defense was solid. Ashique (Kuruniyan) started alongside me and performed admirably. As a unit, we were really, really good in that game," he shared with the AIFF's official website.

"At that moment, Thailand was likely stronger than us on paper. We were the underdogs, and to win in such a dominating fashion — it wasn't merely about scoring four goals but how we conducted ourselves and controlled the match — was truly remarkable," Chhetri continued, who made history as the first Indian to score in two Asian Cups during that game.

The 40-year-old noted that this match serves as a significant source of inspiration for the Blue Tigers as they gear up to face Thailand once more in a FIFA International Friendly set for June 4 at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani.

"This acts as a benchmark for us, showing that on a good day, with hard work, we can achieve great things. That game was pivotal as many young players excelled. We are drawing a lot of positivity and motivation from that match," said Chhetri.

Currently, India is positioned 127th in the FIFA Rankings, while Thailand sits at 99th. The Changsuek have advanced 14 places since Japanese coach Masatada Ishii took charge in December 2023, leading them to the round of 16 in the Asian Cup shortly thereafter. While they missed advancing to the third round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, finishing behind Korea Republic and China, 2024 has been a successful year for Thailand. They clinched the King's Cup by defeating the Philippines and Syria and reached the finals of the ASEAN Championship, narrowly losing 3-5 on aggregate to Vietnam.

For the Changsuek, the upcoming friendly against India is part of their preparation for the AFC Asian Cup Final Round Qualifier against Turkmenistan. Thailand kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Sri Lanka in March — a match that Manolo Marquez stated the island nation "did not deserve to lose."

Key figures in the Thai squad include captain and midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin, boasting 70 caps, forward Supachai Chaided, Swedish-born defender Elias Dolah, midfielder Ben Davis, who has scored three goals in just six appearances, and Italy-born defender Marco Ballini, towering at two meters.

Several players from the Thai national team play abroad, including midfielder Jaroensak Wonggorn (Cerezo Osaka in Japan's top league), midfielder Ekanit Panya (Ehime FC in Japan's second division), and defender Elias Dolah (Bali United in Indonesia's top league). Domestically, BG Pathum United and Muangthong United contribute the most players to the squad, with five and four, respectively.

Indian winger Lallianzuala Chhangte expressed his views on Thailand, emphasizing that they will pose a significant challenge before the Asian Cup Qualifier against Hong Kong.

"We have faced Thailand multiple times. They are a strong, eager team that often makes runs behind defenses. They prefer to maintain possession. However, our focus is entirely on our own performance. It’s crucial to execute what we've practiced during training in the match. If we can accomplish this, I believe we can secure victories in both matches against Thailand and Hong Kong," stated the 27-year-old.