Indian forward Rahim Ali on playing Brazil, stopping Vini and more
Rahim’s solitary goal for India came against Singapore in AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers
The City of Joy gears up to host a historic night at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on 3rd October, where five time world champions Brazil are set to take on the Blue Tigers in a friendly match.
India pulled out a spectacular performance against 44th-ranked Panama and went on to clinch a well-deserved draw against Los Canaleros.
They will now face two former world champions in the form of Brazil and Uruguay in their upcoming two friendlies. These two nations share seven FIFA World Cup trophies among themselves, and the stakes are high as India will be eyeing one of the biggest upsets in International football.
Ahead of the big game against Brazil, Indian forward Rahim Ali briefed the media about the team’s preparation, plans and strategies to face Brazil and more.
Panama draw was major confidence booster
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India played a side ranked 94 spots above them in the latest FIFA Rankings at the Sree Kanteerva Stadium in Bengaluru. Not only did India manage to get a draw, they dominated the game for the majority of the first 45 minutes and drew first blood when Ryan Williams found the back of the net in the 41st minute.
“We had a brilliant performance against Panama. The individual performances of the players were good. Now we need to keep this momentum against such a big team. We are following the coach’s instructions meticulously, and we need to go ahead positively.”
“FIFA Rankings do not matter on the pitch. We are coming off a draw against a team ranked 44th in the world. We really played well in the last game. If we consistently play at such a top level, we are optimistic that we can deliver a decent result in the next game.”
Rahim has long admired Vini and he will now rub shoulders with him
The Brazilian is one of the best wingers in the world, who previously visited India during the BRICS Cup, a decade ago in 2016. Fast forward 10 years, Vini has won several accolades, including the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid alongside Brazil’s now head coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
“I am a Ronaldo fan. But I really admired Neymar- the way he played, his skills and everything. But unfortunately, he has retired. Another player I like is Vini Junior, and if I am tasked with the responsibility of containing Vini, I will definitely stop him.
“This match is really important for all of us. Brazil are a world class team, they are the five time world champions. But on the pitch it will be 11 versus 11 and all the players are motivated to give their 200 percent on the pitch.”
“The coach has told us to level up our intensity and we need to be fully focused for the next game. Any small mistake can badly affect us. We have been doing all of them in our training sessions. The coach and the players are very serious about the next game against Brazil.”
Can India pull out a miracle against Brazil?
India and Brazil have a stark difference in their FIFA rankings, and it has not been an optimistic year for the Blue Tigers so far. However, the South American giants have also failed to keep a clean sheet in Australia and had to settle for a 1-1 draw in the opening game. In their second match against the Socceroos, they conceded 2 goals & scoring 4. They will also miss the presence of Raphinha in their match against The Blue Tigers.
“Yes, Brazil have been conceding goals in every game in the last few matches. This is a very advantageous situation for us, and if we can try to score within the first 15-20 minutes, it would really make us confident for the remaining period. We need to plan and strategise against every Brazilian player before stepping onto the pitch.”
“As players, long camps help us immensely. The coach also spends enough time with the players. Ryan has been in good form. The way he finished and scored against Panama was outstanding.My personal target will be to put everything I can to get a spot for myself in the eleven. I am leaving no stone unturned to get my chance, and the day it comes, I will not disappoint.”
Who is Rahim Ali?
Rahim Ali is an Indian International forward who plays for Odisha FC in the Indian Super League (ISL).
When will India play against Brazil?
India will play their next International Friendly match against Brazil on 3rd October 2026. The match will be played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan VYBK in Kolkata, scheduled to start at 7:30 PM IST.
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