India 4-1 Puerto Rico: 5 Talking Points

4) Mumbai felt like home

The Andheri Sports Complex being inaugurated (Image credit: AIFF Media)

This was the first time Mumbai hosted an international football game in 61 years and that just goes to show the atrocity that the game of football has met with in the country. However, the Mumbai Football Arena and the fans from the city gave the Indian football team the perfect welcome. A packed stadium gave the Indians raucous support throughout the game and it was heartening to see the Indians caring for their football team.

This was certainly a welcome change after seeing the Indian team play in front of empty seats at Kochi and Guwahati. Even at the Indian footballing Mecca, Kolkata, the team fails to get such an atmosphere as the sheer size of the ground makes it feel relatively empty.

The AIFF should try and focus on playing international games in front of packed stadiums, even if they are small ones. Bangalore and Mumbai, thus can soon become the defacto homes of the Indian team.