Central midfielder Anirudh Thapa knows that a win for India in their upcoming Fifa World Cup qualifier against Kuwait will be massive for the country’s football.

The game, at the Salt Lake Stadium in Calcutta, will also mark Sunil Chhetri’s farewell from international football after a glorious 19-year career.

“It is an important match for all of us, and especially for Sunil bhai. We need to make sure that we qualify for the third round because that would be huge for Indian football and the fans,” Thapa told the All India Football Federation’s website.

“We’re playing at the Salt Lake and the stadium will be fully packed. We all know how crazy the fans are and how much they love football there. We will give our best for the nation. We need to be at our best to get those three points,” he added.

India, who need to win their last two matches in the qualifiers against Kuwait (home) on June 6 and Qatar (away) on June 11, will go into the match following a shock 1-2 loss to Afghanistan in March.

Thapa said he has been lucky to share the field with Chhetri for seven long years. “Over the past seven years, whenever I’ve been in the national camp, he’s been the one everyone looks up to.”

Thapa also shared about their relationship beyond football. “We do talk outside football. About a lot of things. We discuss our holidays and vacations. In the national camp too, after our meals in the dining room, we sit and chat for a while. Sharing the dressing room with him has been great,” he said.