BRICS U-17 Cup 2016 : India 1-3 Brazil - 5 Talking Points

#5 The perfect platform for the FIFA U-17 World Cup

India’s U-17 side exits the BRICS Cup with their heads held high

Unlike the AFC U-16 Championship, there wasn’t much fanfare or publicity for the 2016 BRICS U-17 Football Cup. However, it has proved to be a great blessing for the Indian U-17 side, as they have faced off against better sides than they did in the AFC Championships, although the likes of Iran, Saudi Arabia and UAE were no mugs either.

However, the spread of football styles that India played against was universal – South American samba, African physicality, European tactical intelligence and Asian agility all in 9 days. This was a very educational experience for the U-17 side, and players like Aman Chetri, Komal Thatal, Boris Singh and Aniket Jadhav have visibly improved, culminating in a mature performance against Brazil.

While India will not be involved in the final day of the BRICS Cup on the 15^th of October, it was a wonderful tournament for the hosts, as they deserved much more than the zero points they finished with. This tournament served to prove that there is plenty to be hopeful for the Indian side, who should be looking at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup with confidence, not nervousness.