Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
Related Articles
Beneath the floodlights at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, India blue and Brazil’s canary yellow swept through the stands as two football worlds finally shared the same pitch. A night India had waited generations to experience ended in defeat, but not submission. The Blue Tigers made five-time world champions Brazil work hard for meaningful periods before the Seleção showed their quality and pulled away to a 4-0 victory on Saturday, October 3, 2026, with Estêvão and Pedro scoring before half-time and substitute Samuel Lino striking twice after the break.
Khalid Jamil’s side produced a spirited opening half and held their shape impressively for the first 25 minutes. India’s compact defensive structure slowed Brazil’s combinations and denied them easy routes through the centre, although the hosts lacked conviction when possession changed hands.
Vinícius Júnior offered the first warning in the eighth minute, gliding past Bijoy Varghese after cutting in from the left before Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a fine save. India did not retreat completely. Six minutes later, Manvir Singh collected a loose ball on the left and set off on a jinking run, only for Brazil’s defenders to crowd him out inside the area.
Brazil eventually found the breakthrough in the 28th minute. Chelsea forward Estêvão collected the ball near the edge of the box, advanced without a challenge and drove a left-footed effort towards the near post. Sandhu appeared well placed but his attempted parry carried the ball into the net.
The goal loosened Brazil and unsettled India’s goalkeeper. Estêvão crossed for Pedro in the 36th minute, but the striker’s header struck the right post. Six minutes later, the pair combined again: Estêvão slid a precise through ball behind the defence and Pedro timed his run before shooting through Sandhu’s right glove. Vinícius almost profited from another uncertain intervention in the 44th, only for India to clear before Danilo could capitalise.
Carlo Ancelotti made five changes at half-time, while Jamil sent on debutant Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Jay Gupta and Mohammed Sanan. India emerged with ambition. Ryan Williams registered the hosts’ first shot on target from distance in the 53rd minute, and two minutes later Manvir forced Morisco to palm his tight-angled attempt behind.
Brazil punished India’s attempt to play out from the back in the 58th minute. Varghese surrendered possession near his own box and Lino pounced, setting himself before curling beyond Gill. Yet India continued to seek a goal. Williams beat his marker and entered the area in the 64th, but Mauro Júnior made a fine block before Brazil survived the ensuing scramble.
Three minutes later came a promising India move. Williams released Manvir and continued his run towards the edge of the box. Manvir drew several defenders before returning the ball, but Williams sent his first-time volley wide of the right post.
The margin was harsh on India’s overall contribution. They had not come simply to protect the scoreline, and their willingness to press forward after the interval briefly gave the home crowd belief that a historic Indian goal might yet arrive.
Gill denied Vanderson in the 92nd minute, diving sharply after the Brazilian collected a rebound. Lino nevertheless completed his brace with the final attack, cutting inside and drilling a low near-post shot through Gill’s palm to make the scoreline emphatic.
Once referee Ilgiz Tantashev brought the match to a close, the competitive edge quickly gave way to warmth. Players from both teams embraced, exchanged pleasantries and posed together for photographs. India left beaten, but after making football’s most decorated national team labour for long stretches, they also left with moments of courage worthy of a historic first meeting.
INDIA: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Prabhsukhan Singh Gill 46’), Abhishek Singh Tekcham (Hmingthanmawia Ralte 59’), Anwar Ali (Mehtab Singh 84’), Bijoy Varghese (Pramveer 69’), Akash Mishra (Jay Gupta 46’), Anirudh Thapa (Macarton Nickson 84’), Lalengmawia Ralte (Rahim Ali 84’), Manvir Singh (Vikram Partap Singh 84’), Ryan Williams (Farukh Choudhary 84’), Sahal Abdul Samad (Edmund Lalrindika 59’), Ashique Kuruniyan (Mohammed Sanan 46’).
