More we play, better it’s for us: Coach Jamil seeks more high-profile matches
Despite the lopsided defeat, head coach Khalid Jamil saw enough positives in India’s performance against five-time world champions Brazil and hoped his side will feature in many such high-profile games in future so that the team can get better.
Brazil, currently sixth in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, trounced India, 138th in list, 4-0 here on Saturday. “Definitely, their quality is very high. Their coach is also good and they have players who have played at different clubs,” Jamil said at the post-match interaction. “To manage them is very difficult, not an easy job. It doesn’t happen in a day; it takes time. Pressure is everywhere. But the more we play, the better.
“The next game is also very good for us, so we have to continue with that,” he said, looking ahead to Tuesday’s clash against two-time former world champions Uruguay.
The Selecao are also the highest-ranked opponents India have faced since the official rankings were introduced in August 1993, surpassing ninth-ranked Russia in 1995 and Japan in 1998.
Therefore, Jamil was impressed by the performance, but admitted that India needed to be stronger defensively.
“Mahesh and Thapa were very good defensively. They were very good in midfield. Williams, Sahal (Abdul Samad) and Manvir were also good. “Manvir was very good one-versus-one. Overall, it was very good, especially Williams. He tried his best. Defensively, we should be a little stronger,” he said. India’s bright start faded after Brazil broke the deadlock in the 28th minute.
Jamil felt the first goal changed the complexion of the contest.
“That’s why I said concentration should be good. Till the water break, I was thinking everything would be fine. Then we conceded a silly goal. Then we conceded a second goal, so the calculation changed a little.”
The India coach refused to put the defeat on goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu alone, strongly backing the experienced player.
