After the match against Brazil, the Indian men’s national team is set to face the formidable Uruguay side in an international friendly match at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. Ahead of this clash, the former Indian players who have played against Uruguay in 1982 have reminisced about the golden history of Indian football.
In 1982, it was more than just a score. The first Nehru Cup in Kolkata saw a galaxy of Uruguayan stars such as Enzo Francescoli, Venancio Ramos and Jorge da Silva. However, India shown their fierce spirit in this match. Two early goals from Jorge da Silva in the 8th minute and the 23rd minute made the packed Eden Gardens go silent but in the 35th Manas Bhattacharya found the back of the net in an unforgettable strike to send the home supporters into a frenzy.
Mario Saralegui finally made it 3-1 in the 70th minute. It is a historic chapter in the history of Indian football even though India lost. India were able to hold South Korea to a 2-2 draw and also get a famous 2-1 win from Yugoslavia B, thanks to Manas Bhattacharya and Manoranjan
Bhattacharya’s goals.
Uruguay were not beaten once during the tournament, securing the victory to become the first time Nehru Cup champions with 2-0 win over China in the final.
While speaking to the AIFF, Manas Bhattacharya said, “Scoring against one of the world’s best teams and playing toe-to-toe with them was a matter of immense pride for us. The current Indian team has also displayed a remarkable fighting spirit against Brazil and Panama. Khalid Jamil’s tactics and the drive to battle for the full 90 minutes demonstrate just how positive the mindset of Indian football has become.”
The veteran national winger Bidesh Bose and defender Aloke Mukherjee who were also part of the India national team which played against Uruguay in 1982 have also praised the team spirit and fighting mentality of the current Indian team.
According to them, facing the top class players of the world on the grand stage helps the team mature and adapt to the intensity required at the highest level. Mukherjee said, “The current squad is upholding the tradition of playing fearless, aggressive football against top-tier opponents. Such high-level international matches will boost the players’ mental strength and have a profound positive impact on their performance in the ISL.”
Drawing inspiration from the heroic tales of the past, the Blue Tigers are set to take on the two time FIFA World Cup champion Uruguay at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan today.
