3 weeks ago
India's Football Dilemma: Brazil Glamour or ASEAN Cup Grind?
India's football team suddenly has a fun but tricky problem: too many big games at the same time.
For years India rarely got to play, but now it can play four or five matches in one FIFA window.
This September, India is invited to a brand-new competition called the FIFA ASEAN Cup, hosted by Indonesia.
Around the same time, Brazil, one of the greatest football countries in the world, wants to play India in Kolkata.
The football federation decided to send two separate squads so India can play in both.
Many coaches say India does not have enough top players for two strong teams.
Some coaches think the ASEAN Cup matters more because it is a real competition with a trophy and prize money.
Others think playing Brazil is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to face superstars like Vinicius Junior.
So the big question is: which match should get India's best players?
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will field separate squads so India can play both a friendly against Brazil and the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup.
India is grouped with hosts Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore at the FIFA ASEAN Cup, held in Indonesia from September 24 to October 3.
Brazil will face India in a friendly in Kolkata on October 3, overlapping with the ASEAN Cup schedule.
Former Indian football coaches Pradhyum Reddy, Sanjoy Sen and Mehrajuddin Wadoo argue the competitive ASEAN Cup should be the priority over the 'pointless' Brazil spectacle.
Former AIFF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran warns India lacks the depth to field two 'A' teams, while coach Floyd Pinto calls the Brazil match a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'
- Who
- The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the India national football team, who face the Brazil national football team, with former coaches Pradhyum Reddy, Sanjoy Sen, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Floyd Pinto and ex-AIFF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran debating the priorities.
- What
- India will participate in both a friendly against Brazil and the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup by fielding separate squads, sparking a debate over which competition deserves priority.
- Where
- The FIFA ASEAN Cup will be held in Indonesia, and Brazil will play India in Kolkata, India.
- When
- The AIFF announced the separate-squad plan after its Executive Committee meeting on Thursday; the ASEAN Cup runs September 24 to October 3 and the Brazil friendly is on October 3.
- Why
- After years of too few international matches, India now has scheduling abundance and must decide whether the Brazil glamour fixture or the competitive ASEAN Cup best serves the national team's development.
ASEAN Cup Priority
Brazil Friendly Priority
Competition priority
ASEAN Cup Priority
The ASEAN Cup should be India's '100 per cent' priority because it offers competitive fixtures, a trophy, prize money and crucial experience against Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Brazil Friendly Priority
The Brazil match is a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' for senior players to face global stars like Vinicius Junior, so it should not be missed.
Value of the Brazil friendly
ASEAN Cup Priority
The Brazil fixture is 'pointless,' a 'posturing gimmick' and mostly a commercial or exposure tour where India would only 'park the bus.'
Brazil Friendly Priority
The friendly is a positive chance for India to test itself against the best in the world and to give more young players experience.
Squad depth and team selection
ASEAN Cup Priority
India lacks the depth to field two 'A' teams and FIFA events generally require an 'A' team, so the strongest side should go to the ASEAN Cup while Brazil is treated as a spectacle.
Brazil Friendly Priority
Senior players can face Brazil while the ASEAN Cup offers a good opportunity to use and develop more young players.
Key facts
- Governing bodies
- AIFF and FIFA
- India's ASEAN Cup group
- Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore
- ASEAN Cup dates
- September 24 - October 3
- ASEAN Cup host
- Indonesia
- Brazil friendly
- October 3 in Kolkata
- Matches played last year
- 10
- Squad plan
- Separate squads for Brazil and ASEAN Cup
- Key warning
- India lacks depth to field two 'A' teams
Quotes
Mehrajuddin Wadoo
Former India defender and Mohammedan SC coach
“The Brazil fixture makes very little sense. We will only sit back and park the bus. In my opinion, this is just a posturing gimmick. It’s straight out of the Gianni Infantino playbook.”
indianexpress.com
“Our priority should 100 per cent be the ASEAN Cup. Firstly, it is a set of competitive fixtures. There is a trophy to be won, prize money to secure, and crucial experience to gain.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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