Brazil shine on Selecao’s first visit to India

Brazil's Vinicius Jr showcased his talent as the five-time World Cup winners secured a 4-0 victory over India in a rare football friendly in Kolkata on Saturday. The match, Brazil's first visit to India, drew a sparse crowd of nearly 65,000 at Salt Lake Stadium, despite the star-studded lineup featuring Vinicius Jr and Marquinhos.

Ticket prices, starting at just 999 rupees (approximately US$10), likely contributed to the low turnout. India, ranked 138th in the world, aimed to boost football's popularity in a cricket-dominated nation of 1.4 billion people. Despite facing India for the first time, the women's teams had previously met in Manaus in 2021. Brazil dominated the game, with Vinicius denied early by a heroic save from goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Pedro and Estevao scored early goals for Brazil, followed by Samuel Lino's two second-half strikes, making it a resounding 4-0 win. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti praised his young team's progress and emphasized their talent, even during challenging moments. India's coach Khalid Jamil acknowledged the pressure of playing against a champion side but commended his players' belief and effort.