India to face five-time World champion Brazil in Salt Lake friendly
India will take on five-time World champion Brazil in a high-profile international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday, the national team’s first match against the South American side on home soil this tour.
The fixture presents a marked contrast in standing: India are placed 138th in the world while Brazil sit sixth, and the match arrives after India missed out on qualification for next year's AFC Asian Cup. Brazil’s first visit to India has generated enormous excitement among supporters, offering many fans a rare chance to see the Selecao up close.
Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian coach, has described the tour as part of a rebuilding process following a disappointing World Cup campaign, and there is intrigue over which combination he will select. Brazil’s attacking options named in the squad include Vinicius Junior, Endrick, Estevao and Pedro, while Marquinhos, Bruno Guimaraes and Gabriel Magalhaes are also possible selections depending on Ancelotti’s plans.
On paper the contest is heavily weighted in Brazil’s favour: the visitors’ roster is described as packed with players accustomed to competing at the highest level in Europe. India’s squad, by contrast, has been largely assembled from the Indian Super League, but the encounter provides the home players an opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition.
India held Panama to a 1-1 draw last week, a result the report said showed the team could punch above its weight. The hosts have named players including Ryan Williams, Manvir Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, Anwar Ali and Apuia, and it remains to be seen whether they can produce another spirited performance against Brazil.
The Salt Lake Stadium is expected to be packed for the friendly, underscoring the occasion’s importance for Indian fans and the national team. The match will serve both as a high-profile test for India and as a part of Brazil’s rebuilding programme under Ancelotti following their World Cup disappointment.
