Admiration Ends at Kick-Off: Akash Mishra Tells India to Turn Brazil, Uruguay Opportunity Into a Fight

Xtratime Webdesk:  Akash Mishra admits India’s upcoming fixtures against Panama, Uruguay and Brazil carry a sense of occasion. These are teams Indian players have grown up watching, and the chance to share the pitch with some of the biggest names in world football is one they cannot take for granted. But once the game begins, admiration has to wait.

For the India defender, the three friendlies are not simply about meeting footballers they have idolised. They are about stepping onto the pitch, putting those emotions aside and showing what the Blue Tigers can do against elite opposition.

“We have watched these opponents on television since childhood and idolised them, but that is one part of it. We have to put those emotions aside and perform for the 90 minutes. After that, the other emotions can come out,” Mishra said.

The defender sees the fixtures as a rare opportunity for Indian footballers to measure themselves against teams they have not faced before.

“As players, when we heard that we would be playing Panama, Uruguay and Brazil, it felt like a huge opportunity. We have not played against teams like these before, so it is a major opportunity for all Indian players. The experience will show us where we stand, because talking is easy, but playing on the pitch is what really matters.”

The three matches will be played in Bengaluru and Kolkata, two cities where Mishra has fond memories. He recalls India’s 2023 SAFF Championship campaign at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium and the team’s Asian Cup qualification in Kolkata, while also viewing the passionate home support as an advantage rather than added pressure.

Mishra said, “Personally, I have good memories of Kanteerava from the SAFF Championship, and we qualified for the Asian Cup in Kolkata. When you talk about pressure, I think it is actually our strength, because Bengaluru and Kolkata are such football-loving cities. The supporters there give us strength, so it is a big positive for us to play these teams at home.”

Mishra knows the quality of the opposition will be significantly different, but he believes India must approach the games with the mindset of competitors, not spectators.

“Of course, the teams we are facing are of a very high calibre, but football is still eleven versus eleven. We have to carry out the tactics the coach gives us on the pitch and give our best.”

The excitement inside the camp is already high, but Mishra insists the opportunity must translate into performance.

“These are international friendlies, nation versus nation, so we cannot go there only to learn. We have to fight against them and give our best.”

For Mishra, then, the message is clear: enjoy the occasion, respect the opposition, but when the 90 minutes begin, the admiration has to be put aside.

“For the fans, we will go out there with everything we have. We hope they will be there to support us. As a team, we will give 100 per cent, leave nothing lacking, and I hope we can give them something to smile about.”