As dusk descended in the Kolkata sky, there were a number of supporters outside the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan stadium, waiting patiently to have a glimpse of Vinicius Jr, Gabriel and others, as the Brazil team was about to leave after their training session at the stadium.

Although the Brazilian stars left just waving goodbye amid rousing cheers, the temperature of the marquee clash has been largely subdued.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had high hopes for this massive encounter, but that hasn’t reflected in the ticketing count. As the match is less than 24 hours away, it is doubtful whether the stadium will be sold out, as it currently remains far from that.

Indian football enters a landmark moment on Saturday as the Blue Tigers take on five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil, and the India head coach Khalid Jamil will face an enormous challenge against a Brazil side led by Carlo Ancelotti and featuring stars such as Vinicius Junior, Endrick and Rayan.

India cautious, Brazil want to begin New Era

Brazil arrive after victories over Australia in their latest friendlies, while India drew 1-1 with Panama in their previous outing. For Jamil, defensive discipline will be central to India’s approach. The coach has stressed the importance of getting the basics right and remaining strong without the ball.

“You have to act according to the situation. The pressure is there, but according to me, we must do the simple things right. If we have to defense, we will do that, same for attack as well. As we are playing a strong team, we have to be defensively strong,” Khalid said in Kolkata on Friday.

Brazil, meanwhile, will use the fixture to continue developing their squad under Ancelotti. The Selecao have several attacking options, although Raphinha has been ruled out after suffering a thigh problem, with Flamengo forward Pedro reportedly being considered for a starting role.

Carlo Ancelotti stressed the fact that it will be an opportunity for the young Brazil players after a prolonged failure in the World Cup, and has urged his team to showcase their strength against the Blue Tigers.

“It’s true that we were not able to compete enough in the World Cup. It was a difficult period for us. It is motivation for a new generation of players to be able to compete at the highest level in the next years,” he said.

Vinicius Jr and Marquinhos provide the experience in Brazil’s squad, while Arsenal pair Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes also feature. Brazil have made major changes in goal, leaving out Alisson, Ederson and Weverton. Corinthians’ Hugo Souza is set to start, with Pedro Morisco and Otavio as back-ups. The defence includes new faces Arthur Dias, Jair, Matheuzinho and Mauro Junior alongside Marquinhos and Magalhaes.

The occasion is also significant for Kolkata, where Brazil enjoy a huge following. With a packed Salt Lake Stadium expected, India will hope to turn the atmosphere into an advantage as they prepare for one of the biggest international tests in the country’s football history.

Accreditation Chaos in Kolkata

Along with that, there was a big chaos off the field as well. Chaos broke out off the pitch when it emerged that media accreditation cards had still not arrived. The AIFF had informed journalists that the cards would be distributed after training, but around 300 media personnel were left waiting without clarity on the timing. Organisers said they hoped to receive the cards by 9.30pm and would send further updates by email.

With less than 24 hours before kick-off, the confusion left journalists, including those travelling from outside Kolkata and overseas, uncertain about when they could collect their accreditation. As per the latest update, the accreditation cards are expected to arrive late at night on Friday and are set to be distributed on Saturday itself.