FIFA friendlies: Mission impossible loom as India name 26-member squad

Come 14 September, the Blue Tigers will converge at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru for a 10-day camp ahead of an assignment of a lifetime — a series of FIFA friendlies against Brazil, Uruguay and Panama, opponents Indian football could once only have dreamed of facing.

Khalid Jamil, the national chief coach, announced a 26-member squad that includes Ryan Williams, the Australian striker who opted for Indian citizenship and impressed in the handful of Asian Cup qualifiers he was cleared to play in. Speaking to AIFF media, Jamil said: “This is a very important window for us, with three challenging matches against teams that have played at the World Cup. Playing Brazil and Uruguay in Kolkata, after Panama in Bengaluru, will give the players valuable experience at the international level. We will use the camp in Bengaluru to prepare well and approach each match with the right attitude and intensity.”

The phrase “mismatch” would be an understatement when it comes to facing the two South American powerhouses, while the gulf in quality between Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s men and 44th-ranked Panama will also be vast. The proposed budget for these matches has drawn considerable criticism in recent weeks, but with expectations now rising and tickets for all three games set to go online through District by Zomato, the AIFF’s ticketing partner for the event, it is imperative that the national team puts its best foot forward.

The heartening aspect is that key members of the squad have been unanimous in their view that, with “nothing to lose”, they intend to enjoy the historic occasion. Anwar Ali, who will have his hands full as the leader of the defence after Jamil surprisingly left veteran central defender Sandesh Jhingan and forward Lallianzuala Chhangte out of the squad in favour of other options, called it a “historic opportunity” to take on the Samba Boys — an opportunity their disparity in rankings would otherwise have never allowed.

“As a member of the Indian national team, I feel it’s a great opportunity for us to gain valuable exposure against the heavyweights of world football and, in the process, boost Indian football’s popularity among a global audience.

“I believe it will be a huge occasion for players and fans alike, with excitement surrounding the matches at an unprecedented level. As an East Bengal player, I am even more excited to play against former world champions such as Brazil and Uruguay on our home turf, the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. We will give our best in these games to make all Indians proud as they cheer us on in numbers.”

Giving a thumbs-up to the boys, the talismanic former captain and prolific scorer Sunil Chhetri candidly said he felt ‘a bit jealous’ that the current lot got an opportunity to ply their wares against the likes of Brazil and Uruguay. Four players have been named as reserves for the squad - goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari, defenders Chinglensana Singh Konsham and Roshan Singh Naorem and midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam — and may be called up to the squad if required.

As the anticipation for the matches grow with each day, there are reports that the organisers are working overtime to streamline the turf at both the play arena as well as the practice grounds at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. Informed sources that the delegation from CBF (Confederation of Brazilian Football) which came for a recce in Kolkata earlier this month had asked for some improvement in the thickness of grass and it’s being worked upon. They are again expected to pay a second visit around mid-September for a final nod.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Albino Gomes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Som Kumar.
Defenders: Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Jay Gupta, Pramveer, Ricky Meetei Haobam.
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Farukh Choudhary, Lalengmawia Ralte, Macarton Nickson, Mohammed Sanan, Ricky Shabong, Sahal Abdul Samad.
Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams, Vikram Partap Singh.

Schedule
26 September: India vs Panama (Bengaluru)
3 October: India vs Brazil (Kolkata)
6 October: India vs Uruguay (Kolkata)