India defender Akash Mishra admitted that the 4-0 defeat to Brazil hit the Indian players hard, revealing that he was unable to sleep after the historic encounter at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.

India produced encouraging moments against the five-time world champions but ultimately suffered a heavy defeat. For Mishra, however, the result was difficult to accept, particularly after India had entered the match determined to compete against one of the world’s biggest footballing nations.

I was not feeling well after 4-0 Defeat: Akash Mishra

It was individual mistakes which led to the scoreline, as three goals were scored with schoolboy errors from India’s custodians Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Prabhsukhan Gill.

“I am a very bad loser. After the game, because we lost 4-0, I was not feeling well. All the boys feel maybe it was upto the mark, some of the mistakes that we made were very casual. When we play against teams like this, we have to keep our focus for all 90 minutes. We have to work on that, and Uruguay are as good as the other team, so we have to keep the focus for the entire match,” Mishra said at the pre-match press conference.

“I was feeling really bad after the loss, so I didn’t sleep,” Mishra said when asked whether he had exchanged shirts with any of the Brazilian players after the match.

“Now, maybe I wish I had, but after the game, I was not feeling good,” he added.

The defender also said the team the mood inside the Indian camp following the defeat was bleak, despite the players having the opportunity to meet and interact with several Brazilian stars after the final whistle.

Mishra also defended his teammates after some Indian players were seen lining up for photographs with Brazil’s stars, including Vinicius Jr. He felt there was nothing wrong with players showing their excitement once the competitive part of the evening was over.

“You can show the excitement before the game and after the game. Inside the game, for those 90 minutes, I feel there was no kind of misbehaviour from the boys. They played really well and gave hundred per cent for all 90 minutes,” Mishra said.

Despite the disappointment against Brazil, Mishra insisted that the Indian players are not approaching the Uruguay game with any fear. The team, he said, understands the quality of the opposition and is prepared to compete regardless of the short turnaround.

“As a player, this is what the game demands from us. We have to play whether it is two days, three days or whatever it is. For me, as a player, I will always be prepared, whether it is two days or three days,” Mishra said.

India’s focus now shifts to Uruguay, another two-time world champion, with the players determined to finish the international window on a positive note.