We are desperate to reach the third round: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

India’s goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu said they are desperate to reach the third round of the World Cup qualifiers. The Blue Tigers will take on Kuwait at the Salt Lake Stadium on Thursday and it will be a crucial game for them.

India was recently stunned by Afghanistan by 2-1 and Igor Stimac’s men will be determined to prove their mettle against Kuwait. 

Sandhu shed light on the team’s training camp and the backing they receive from the home crowd.

“Fan support is never a question when we mention Kolkata. You can see the passion, the demand, and the love for the game, and our job is to play our best football to justify people sacrificing their daily lives to come to see us – be it at the airport or the stadium,” Sandhu, who spent four seasons in Kolkata with East Bengal FC, told AIFF.com.

India defeated Kuwait in the SAFF Championship final and Sandhu said it is going to be a challenging game for them.

“The game on the 6th is going to be a very challenging one because of the opposition, who are obviously a good team with good players. We are studying them closely to make sure there is no room for error. I hope there are more games like this in the future as well of the same stature because we want to keep pushing the bar higher,” said the goalkeeper.

India has never reached the third round of the World Cup qualifiers and have a great opportunity to write a new chapter in Indian football.

“The third round is a place we have never reached before and are desperate to go to. Doing that will not just mean qualification for the next round, but also a direct slot into the next Asian Cup, which I think is immensely important because that is a stage where we want to be regulars (It would be India’s third successive Asian Cup qualification). Whatever happens for the sport in the country is in the hands of the people. What we can do is give our hearts out there to win,” concluded Sandhu.

The match against Kuwait will also be Sunil Chhetri’s swansong.