Once we enter pitch, it is 11 against 11: Thapa

New Delhi: India midfielder Anirudh Thapa believes the excitement surrounding the national team’s upcoming high-profile friendlies against Panama, Brazil and Uruguay must be set aside once the players step onto the pitch, insisting that the contests will ultimately come down to ‘11 against 11’.

Thapa is set to make his return to the Indian team after a two-year absence as the Blue Tigers prepare for a challenging FIFA international window. India will face Panama at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on September 25 before taking on five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil on October 3 and two-time champions Uruguay on October 6 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

The 28-year-old last represented India against Mauritius in the Intercontinental Cup in September 2024. With Brazil and Uruguay among the biggest names in world football, Thapa said the upcoming fixtures present a rare opportunity for Indian players to test themselves against elite opposition on home soil.

“As everyone knows, both Brazil and Uruguay are world champions. They have world-class players and have won the World Cup. For me as a player, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play against them in India, in front of our home fans,” Thapa said.

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The Hans India