Brazil defeat still fresh, Khalid Jamil wants a sharper India against Uruguay

India have little time to dwell on their 4-0 defeat to Brazil, with two-time world champions Uruguay awaiting in Kolkata on October 6. But for Khalid Jamil and his players, the final game of this international window isn’t so much about forgetting Brazil as it is about learning from it.

India opened the window with a 1-1 draw against Panama in Bengaluru before I bumped into Brazil in Kolkata three days ago. The 4-0 scoreline was harsh on a side that remained organized for long periods, but Jamil admitted lapses in concentration proved costly and Uruguay now face another formidable test.

Ahead of the Uruguay match, Jamil said India needed to focus and avoid from the first minute to the last mistakes that proved costly against Brazil.

“When we talked about the last match, I said that there was a lack of concentration. So in this match we have to start with good concentration from the first minute to the 90th minute,” said Jamil.

“Not to concede early goals. We will play a good team, so one mistake can cost us. We have to be very careful.”

India’s head coach knows that the margins will be ruthless against Uruguay as well. The visitors arrive under Diego Forlan on the back of a 4-1 win over South Korea, while India are on a short turnaround from their game against Brazil. Still, Jamil doesn’t want the schedule to be an excuse, insisting his players know how to recover and are ready for another tough night.

“We play a good team, offensively and defensively. They have good experience there. Their coach is also one of the best coaches, so we have to be careful from all sides,” said Jamil.

AKASH STILL HURT FROM BRAZIL

Akash Mishra with Khalid Jamil. Courtesy: AP

If Jamil’s message was about concentration, Akash Mishra’s was about emotional response. The India full-back admitted the defeat stayed with him long after the final whistle and revealed how much the result in Brazil affected him.

“I’m a very bad loser,” Mishra said. “I don’t like losing at all.

Mishra also revealed that he did not exchange shirts with any Brazilian player after the match as he still felt bad about the defeat. He said the loss was hard to overcome but also acknowledged that India could not afford to be stuck with Uruguay next.

“As a team or as footballers, we don’t have to sit with the results,” Mishra said. “Now we have some very good upcoming matches so we have to prepare for that and give our best.

THE ANSWER IS NOW BIGGER

India looking to bounce back from defeat to Brazil. Courtesy: PTI

The three-match window exposed India to opposition they don’t normally face, with Panama followed by Brazil and Uruguay. For Jamil players, this meant moving quickly from one challenge to the next, with little room to reflect on the positives or negatives of the previous game.

Mishra believes the value of such facilities goes beyond the opportunity to rub shoulders with global stars. For him, regular competitive football is ultimately what can sharpen a player.

“You can practice as much as you want, but at the end of the day it’s about matches,” Mishra said. “The more games you play, I think it helps the players.

Jamil, meanwhile, emphasized that India cannot approach Uruguay with a preconceived mindset. According to him, the situation on the field should determine whether his side attacks or defends.

“Depending on the situation, we have to act. If it is required to defend, we defend. If it is required to attack, we attack.”

So Uruguay offers India a chance to turn Brazil’s frustration into something more constructive. It will depend on the result, but also on the response: whether Jamil’s side can stay switched on for 90 minutes, avoid the costly breakdowns that hurt them against Brazil and show that this three-match window has given them more than memories of playing some of the biggest names in world football.

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