Khalid Jamil refused to make excuses after India’s 6-1 defeat to Uruguay in Kolkata, accepting responsibility for a difficult international window that saw the Blue Tigers concede 10 goals in two matches. The India head coach admitted that his game plan had fallen short, while insisting that he would not blame his players for the results.
India began the window with a 1-1 draw against Panama in Bengaluru before losing 4-0 to Brazil and 6-1 to Uruguay at Salt Lake Stadium. Anirudh Thapa scored India’s only goal across the two defeats, briefly bringing the hosts level against Uruguay before the visitors took control of the contest.
India vs Uruguay, FIFA Friendly: Updates
“These things happen. The pressure is there because we are playing against good teams, especially at the start of the season. It is not just about concentration. It is not that the players did not listen to me. I have never felt that way. Everybody is listening. Talking about this game, you could say my plan was not up to the mark,” Jamil said.
The admission came after India struggled to contain Uruguay’s attacking threat, particularly after the visitors regained the lead following Thapa’s equaliser. A 35-minute weather delay interrupted the contest, but Uruguay returned to score four more goals and expose the gap between the two sides.
JAMIL TAKES RESPONSIBILITY
Jamil was unequivocal about the scale of India’s defensive problems, acknowledging that conceding 10 goals across consecutive matches was unacceptable. Rather than shifting the blame to individual players, the coach pointed to his own responsibility for the team’s performance.
“Conceding 10 goals in two matches is very bad. But, as I said, it is my mistake, and I do not want to blame anyone else,” he said.
India’s 4-0 defeat to Brazil had already highlighted the challenge of facing opponents with greater quality and experience. The Uruguay match brought similar concerns to the surface, with India unable to sustain their resistance once the visitors began finding space and exploiting gaps in the defence.
The two results leave Jamil with significant questions to address, particularly around defensive organisation and the team’s ability to remain competitive when opponents increase the pressure. While the level of opposition was considerably higher, the scale of the defeats means India will need to find ways to limit such collapses in future matches.
Jamil also pointed to a pattern in India’s performances, suggesting that the team’s struggles became more pronounced as the matches progressed. The coach raised questions over fitness and concentration, while acknowledging that the reasons behind the drop-off would need to be examined.
“From all the matches you have seen, the first 30 minutes were okay. After that, maybe fitness was an issue, or concentration. There are many things. During the game, after that period, and then again around the 60th or 70th minute, I could see more problems. We have to think about that and address it next time,” he said.
MORE CAMPS, BETTER SELECTION
Jamil also pointed to the need for more time together as a squad, suggesting that additional camps could help India prepare more effectively for upcoming international assignments. He indicated that selection would remain competitive, with players needing to demonstrate their performances ahead of the next set of fixtures.
“We need to have more camps. I think all the players are at a similar level, but we have to choose the best ones. There are matches coming up, and we will see who performs the best. This is the start of the season, and we are also playing against New Zealand next,” Jamil said.
The reference to the start of the season comes against the backdrop of the Indian Super League (ISL) being scheduled to begin on October 10. With the domestic campaign yet to get underway, the national team has faced high-level international opposition before the new league season begins, adding to the challenge of preparing players for competitive football.
India’s next international assignment will be a two-match tour of New Zealand in November. The Blue Tigers are scheduled to face the hosts in Auckland on November 12 and Christchurch on November 15, with both matches falling within the FIFA international window. The tour will mark India’s first-ever visit to New Zealand, whose team featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The upcoming fixtures will provide another test for Jamil’s side against World Cup opposition, this time away from home. More preparation time could help improve coordination and tactical understanding, but India will also need to address the defensive lapses and drop in performance that became evident in Kolkata.
Jamil will have to assess which players are best suited to the demands of those matches. His call for more camps and better selection reflects the need to build greater consistency, particularly when India face opponents capable of punishing mistakes.
JAMIL DEFENDS THE FIXTURES
Despite the heavy defeats, Jamil defended the decision to arrange matches against Brazil and Uruguay, arguing that the value of such fixtures should not be judged solely by the final score. He maintained that India need to test themselves against high-quality opposition if they are to understand the level required to compete.
“Whatever was decided was done collectively. We should not say that these were bad fixtures just because the results did not go in our favour. If the results had been good, we would have said these were necessary fixtures. But, yes, we need to play against big teams and good teams,” he said.
The argument is that facing stronger teams can expose weaknesses that may otherwise remain hidden. However, the benefit of such fixtures will depend on how effectively India analyse the defeats and use the experience to improve their performances in future matches.
India’s window began with a draw against Panama but ended with back-to-back losses to Brazil and Uruguay, leaving Jamil with plenty to review before the team’s next assignment. The results have underlined the gap India must bridge, while the coach’s own assessment has identified the need for better preparation and more effective tactical planning.
Jamil has accepted responsibility for the shortcomings, called for more camps and backed the decision to face stronger opponents. With the New Zealand tour next on the international calendar, India will need to turn those admissions into tangible progress, showing greater defensive stability and a more sustained response when put under pressure.
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