Ahead of Sunil Chhetri’s final match for India, Real Madrid and Croatian legend Luka Modric has a message

“Thank you Luka. We will do everything in our power to make our country and our captain proud,” Stimac, himself a Croatian, wrote in caption. 

Thank you Luka 💙

We will do everything in our power to make our country and our captain proud 🇮🇳 @lukamodric10 @chetrisunil11 @IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/eHPyPfnToi

— Igor Štimac (@stimac_igor) June 5, 2024

Chhetri, 39, is set to play his final game for India – a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait in Kolkata – on Thursday. Such are the stakes that a win will virtually seal a third round qualification for India – a feat they haven’t previously achieved.

“This can change the future of Indian football. Although I’m a foreigner in this country but I feel more like an Indian,” Stimac said at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

Reacting to his skipper calling it a day, Stimac had said, “Of course as a coach I’m sad that Sunil is leaving us. I’m still not sure if I’m going to send him another call, if I feel we need him and he plays well for Bengaluru FC. I’m still thinking about it.”

With all the attention around him before the fixture, Chhetri called for caution given the high stakes. “I am trying really hard to not think about this game like this. It’s not about me and my last game. It’s about us and Kuwait,” he said pre-match.