Kolkata, October 4 (Daily Kiran) : In Kolkata, Brazil’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed admiration for the Indian football team following their 4-0 victory on October 4, 2026. He noted that India displayed remarkable skill, particularly in counter-attacking, and posed a significant challenge throughout the match held at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
Ancelotti acknowledged the intensity and excitement of the game, stating that Indian players exhibited energy and confidence, forcing Brazil to work hard for their win. Despite the scoreline, he emphasized that India put up a commendable fight against the five-time World Champions.
Brazil took the lead with goals from Estevao and Pedro before halftime, while substitute Samuel Lino netted two more after the break. Ancelotti remarked, “India played well. They tried to execute their game plan, defending well and attempting counter-attacks. We struggled to open the scoring, but once Estevao scored, it allowed us to control the game better.”
Although Brazil maintained a clean sheet, Ancelotti admitted that India managed to create space during their counter-attacks. He pointed out that Brazil’s defense included players who had never played together before, which contributed to some disorganization.
He added, “I believe we defended well. If we had more opportunities during counter-attacks, we could have defended even better. It’s crucial for us not to concede goals. Clearly, we need to improve certain aspects of our defense, but our lineup was new, and the players had not played together before.”
Ancelotti further expressed his satisfaction with the experience, saying, “Once again, the message is that we are happy to be here. We tried to put forth our best performance, showcasing our quality to those who love Brazil and football. I hope they enjoyed the match.”
In the early stages, India played cohesively, attempting to challenge Brazil with fast attacks. Although Brazilian goalkeeper Morisco had little to do for most of the first half, India tested him with efforts from Ryan Williams and Manveer Singh after the break. Reflecting on the match atmosphere with nearly 51,000 fans in attendance, Ancelotti stated, “We felt good. It was a great experience. I think it was an exciting match filled with energy, and India performed admirably.”
This friendly match also provided Ancelotti with the opportunity to evaluate several emerging talents in Brazil’s squad, as he made significant changes during the second half. The game wrapped up Brazil’s three-match international series, which began with two matches against Australia.
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