India face five-time world champions Brazil in a historic Kolkata friendly, with Khalid Jamil urging the Blue Tigers to stay positive and fearless.
Kolkata, October 3: Against the fifth-ranked, five-time World Cup champions, the Seleção, the Blue Tigers are prepared to kick off. As Indian football hosts the biggest friendly match in the history of Indian football, India vs Brazil will kick off today at 7:30 PM at the historic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
But ahead of the kick-off, India head coach Khalid Jamil, putting aside the match opponent and all the criticism surrounding the team right now, believes everyone must support India. “The result is not in our hands. If you give your best, anything can happen.” Khalid Jamil has set the pitch before taking his place on the touchline in the Blue Tigers’ dugout.
In 1977, Brazilian club York Cosmos, featuring their most shining star Pele, played an exhibition match against Mohun Bagan. Over the years, there have also been a few occasions when Brazilian stars have visited India, including a recent friendly in Kerala between Brazilian Stars and Indian Stars.
But on such a massive stage, the Brazilian national team has never met the Blue Tigers, the national football team of India.
With the recent World Cup campaign behind them, the Seleção have travelled here with a balanced squad, featuring plenty of new faces and young players. However, captain Marquinhos, Vinicius Jr., Gabriel and Endrick are also here to play. And After a competitive friendly against Panama, Khalid Jamil has prepared with his best choices for this historic challenge.
But inside the Indian camp, the message has been simple — do not get carried away by the name on the opposite side.
The pressure is naturally there when you are facing one of the biggest teams in world football. But Khalid Jamil does not want his players to think too much about the occasion. His focus remains on giving their best and staying positive.
“As you know, the pressure is there. I am thinking about only pressing. We are playing a good team. We must think positive and just go there and give your best,” he added.
With Brazil on one side and the noise around Indian football on the other, the head coach wants the attention to remain on what happens once the ball starts rolling. Because the Blue Tigers are not walking into the game expecting anything to be handed to them.
“We have to give our best and not to take this match lightly at all. This is one of the best games, so we have to perform,” Khalid said.
For Anwar Ali, who will have a major role to play against Brazil’s attacking stars, the Panama game is already behind them. Now comes the test that everyone has been waiting for.
“I think the last match was very good, but we have to focus on that because we have a very big game. We have to focus on that and give our 100 percent,” Anwar said.
The defensive wall also knows that against Brazil, one moment of hesitation can be enough. Jamil has already reminded his players about the quality they are going to face.
“Any mistake will cause us a lot of problems. They are defensively very strong. Their attacking is good. If they make a mistake, we have to consider it. Overall, we have to be alert all the time. Because they are quality players,” Khalid explained.
For India, this is not about trying to become Brazil for one night. It is about understanding the game, experiencing something different, to test themselves, following the coach’s plan and taking responsibility when the opportunities arrive.
“We have to just go through our coach’s plan. We have to follow that. In the field, we have to play with responsibilities. Every player has to prove themselves and give their 100 percent,” Anwar said.
And perhaps that is why neither the coach nor the defender wants the players to get lost on the occasion. Brazil will have their stars. India will have the Yuba Bharati crowd behind them.
Brazil will have the experience of playing on the biggest stages. India will have a rare opportunity to test themselves against that level. And for Khalid Jamil, there is only one answer to all the expectations, pressure and questions surrounding this night.
“The result is not in our hands. If you give your best, anything can happen.”
Now, the historic night is waiting.
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