A new chapter in Indian football is set to unfold at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Saturday as the National team takes on five-time World champion Brazil in a high-profile international friendly. The gulf in pedigree and ranking is stark, with India placed 138th in the world and Brazil sixth, but the occasion offers the host a rare opportunity to test itself against one of football’s most celebrated sides.
For Indian football, the match carries significance beyond the result. Having missed out on qualification for next year’s AFC Asian Cup, the Blue Tigers will be keen to make the most of an occasion that has generated unprecedented attention. Brazil’s first visit to India has sparked enormous excitement among fans.
For many supporters, the encounter will be an opportunity to witness the Selecao from up close. Much of the intrigue will centre on the combination Carlo Ancelotti chooses to field, with the celebrated Italian coach viewing the tour as part of a rebuilding process following a disappointing World Cup campaign.
Brazil has considerable attacking firepower, with Vinicius Junior, Endrick, Estevao and Pedro among the options available to Ancelotti. Marquinhos, Bruno Guimaraes and Gabriel Magalhaes could also feature, depending on the gaffer’s plans.
Indian players during a training session. | Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK
On paper, the contest appears heavily weighted in Brazil’s favour. Its squad is packed with players accustomed to competing at the highest level in Europe. India, by contrast, has assembled a squad largely drawn from the Indian Super League.
Yet, the match offers the home players an opportunity to compete against elite opposition. India did punch above its weight in the previous friendly, holding Panama to a 1-1 draw last week. Whether Ryan Williams, Manvir Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, Anwar Ali and Apuia can produce another spirited performance against the South American giant remains to be seen. With the stadium expected to be packed, India will hope to make the occasion a memorable one.
