IND vs BRA: Jamil wants India to embrace ‘unique opportunity’ in face off against Brazil

India’s national football team head coach Khalid Jamil, left, with team player Anwar Ali during a press conference ahead of the Brazil friendly. | Photo Credit: PTI

Khalid Jamil is a man of few words. Though he looked very animated in training sessions in the run-up to India’s match against Brazil on Saturday, he was back to being at his stoic best in the pre-match press conference.

“We are playing against a very good team. It is our pleasure to play, but they also know that it is an important game. Nothing else. If you want to criticise, I don’t want to tell them anything, except just go support India. Everyone must support India,” he told reporters.

India will face the five-time world champion for the first time in men’s international football at the Salt Lake Stadium in a David versus Goliath battle on paper. Brazil stuttered to a 1-1 draw before winning 4-2 in the next match to Australia, while India beat the odds to hold Panama to a 1-1 draw, a team ranked 94 places above it.

Jamil believes that momentum could help India, but he wants his boys to stay calm.

“We were very good in the last match, but we have to focus on this match because we have a very unique opportunity tomorrow. We have to focus on that and give our 100 per cent,” he said.

“It is about doing simple things and not trying to do extra. We have done good things but any mistake will cost us very badly. So, we have to give our best and be cautious.”

Defender Anwar Ali, who has become an effective ball-playing centre-back for the national side, echoed the same sentiment.

“It’s a very big game. Whoever is watching, they can also follow us. We just have to do our best,” Anwar said, adding, “We don’t have to be casual or overthink. We just have to focus, because everyone knows how Brazil plays and what they are. So, we just have to keep calm and give our best.”

Brazil conceded its first goal in this window from a stunning free-kick by Nestory Irakunda. Anwar, too, had scored against another South American giant, Argentina, at the under-20 level in the COTIF Cup 2018.

Could Kolkata see a repeat, especially at a ground where he scored his first senior international goal? Anwar smiled before adding, “If I have a chance to score, I will, but we have other players who take free-kicks, and they are better than me, of course.”