Ancelotti urges Brazil to stay focused in historic India friendly

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has warned his side not to treat Saturday’s meeting with India as an exhibition, as the five-time world champions prepare for their first match in the country at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.

“There is never a friendly game” for a team rebuilding after a period of disappointment, Ancelotti said.

India, ranked 138th in the world, will face Brazil’s fifth-ranked side, which includes Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos, Barcelona attacker Raphinha and Arsenal pair Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes.

The fixture has generated considerable excitement in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, where football has a passionate following despite cricket’s dominance across much of India.

“This is such a football match that every player wants to play, and I think playing against Brazil for India is historic,” All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey told local media.

India, a nation of 1.4 billion people, have never qualified for a World Cup and remain well behind the leading football nations in terms of quality. However, officials believe the visit by Brazil could bring new supporters to the sport.

“Football fans have shown a lot of excitement about the match,” Chaubey said.

“I would want that through this match, the football-loving people of India benefit and they come forward and connect more with football.”

Brazil arrive after beating and drawing with Australia in a friendly double-header. They are attempting to rebuild after their shock World Cup exit against Norway in July.

The South Americans have not won football’s premier international tournament since 2002, a drought that has prompted considerable reflection in a country accustomed to international success.

The men’s national teams have never previously met, although the women’s sides played in Manaus in 2021. Kolkata has also hosted Brazil legend Pele, who visited the city in 1977 and 2015.

For India forward Rahim Ali, who plays for Odisha in the Indian Super League, the match offers an unusual chance to measure the team against one of football’s traditional powers.

“It is an extremely important match for us,” he said. “We are playing such a big team, it will be a very tough match, but once we step onto the field it’s an 11-versus-11 game.”

Supporter Raj Kahar told AFP he was “excited” to see Brazil’s leading players in person.

“These matches are all about testing waters, whether we can match teams like Brazil or not,” he said. “This will give us a sense of whether in future we can make it to the World Cup or not. So this is a good opportunity.”

India drew 1-1 with 46th-ranked Panama in Bengaluru last week and will play Uruguay in Kolkata on October 6.

The Brazil fixture has attracted criticism after the AIFF withdrew India from the ASEAN Cup to prioritise it. Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia argued that money spent staging the game would be better directed towards grassroots football and athlete development.

“Don’t waste it for one 90-minute match,” Bhutia said, urging funding for Bengal athletes seeking medals at the Commonwealth Games and Olympics.