India face harsh reality on their learning curve

The first leg of this tie, in Saitama, ended in a 7-0 drubbing for India. Tomorrow, not even the imposing bulk of the Salt Lake Stadium, nor the expected 120,000 partisan crowd, are likely to put Japan off their stride. It may not be a tennis scoreline, but it probably won’t make pretty viewing. ‘‘Everyone’s expecting a similar scoreline but let’s be realistic,’’ Constantine said.

Japan coach Zico — and such is the spell he still weaves in this city that people wonder, only half in jest, whether India are playing Japan or Brazil — also sought to downplay the significance of the Saitama result. ‘‘The home win was different’’, he said. ‘‘We are not expecting the same here; remember Greece, who won Euro 2004 but disappointed in the Olympics.’’

However, Zico was keen to emphasise that he was treating the match very seriously and has come with what looks like the full-strength national team available to him.

While Japan are in the driver’s seat in Group 3, the match is crucial because Oman, currently lying second, have had a similar 7-0 outing against Singapore. ‘‘Goal difference should count in the end’’, Zico said, wishing to wrap up the group before Japan play their last match away to Oman.

Despite spending just a day and half in India before kick-off, Japan, Zico said, are prepared. ‘‘We all know our job and accordingly prepared.’’

The team held a 90-minute workout at the venue, with Zico carrying out a lengthy inspection of the pitch before saying, ‘‘Let’s hope it doesn’t rain. It’s OK otherwise.’’

Zico’s opposite number had a practical approach to the result. ‘‘We need to just go out there and enjoy’’, Constantine said.

For India, a win would require a miracle; a draw would be great too and a loss — depending on the scoreline — would only mean degrees of disappointment in the home of Indian football.

Constantine, who promised an ‘‘improved performance’’, said defeat would not necessarily mean the end of the world. For one, the match offered India the chance to learn from a team far superior.

He even saw positives in the injury list — captain Bhaichung Bhutia is out — as it would give the youngsters a chance to get a game of such high class.

With no choice at all, India openly announced their strategy. ‘‘I believe in total football’’, Constantine said, which means Sameer Naik, Debjit Ghosh, Dipak Mondal, Mahesh Gowali and Rennedy Singh, deemed fit after yesterday’s training-ground injury, form the important five ahead of keeper Sandip Nandy.

Climax Lawrence, Shanmugham Venkatesh and Tomba Singh would complete the three-man midfield while upfront Constantine has no choices besides R C Prakash and Abhishek Yadav.

Against that, Japan, though missing Hidetoshi Nakata and Shunsuke Nakamura through injury, have two other Europe-based players to call on: Shinji Ono and Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

It’s one night of skillful football in the offing. The question is, what happens if the game goes out of India’s control?