India custodian <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/Will-give-our-best-in-2019-Asian-Cup-Gurpreet-Singh-Sandhu-19157182" rel="nofollow">Gurpreet Singh Sandhu</a> believes their international friendly against Panama here on Friday could be a starting point for Indian football to understand what it takes to become a world-class team.
India is currently ranked 138th in FIFA chart while Panama stand way above them at 44, and have already played in two World Cups in 2018 and 2026.
&ldquo;We can use tomorrow&rsquo;s game to see what it takes for a <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/football/article/fifa-world-cup-2026-brazil-superstar-neymar-likely-to-feature-in-clash-against-scotland-23636277" rel="nofollow">World Cup team</a> to operate and Panama, obviously, played in the World Cup, and played really well in my opinion. We want to do the same and be a team that is difficult to play against&rdquo; said Sandhu on the eve of the match.
The Blue Tigers&rsquo;s head coach Khalid Jamil echoes his sentiments.
<img title="India players during a practice session on the eve of their international friendly against Panama in Bengaluru on Thursday. Pic/PTI" src="https://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/sep/panaam-a_1790295276_s.jpg" alt="India players during a practice session on the eve of their international friendly against Panama in Bengaluru on Thursday. Pic/PTI" width="1280" height="720" />India players during a practice session on the eve of their international friendly against Panama in Bengaluru on Thursday. Pic/PTI
&ldquo;They have good players and it is going to be a very good test for us,&rdquo; said Jamil, before adding that they won&rsquo;t simply look to park the bus against superior opponents but push for the win.
&ldquo;Yes, we are playing a stronger team. But at the same time, you can&rsquo;t defend throughout. So, there will be a mix of defending and attacking. According to the situation, we will react,&rdquo; said head coach Khalid Jamil.
The coach also said he included plenty of young faces in the squad in order to give them more exposure at the higher level.
&ldquo;Yes, I have left out some senior players. But it is not like we will not take them again. They are most welcome to be back again. Yes, we are thinking about building a new team. We have younger players. They need to play more matches. So, I have decided to mix them with senior players like Gurpeet and Anirudh Thapa, as our aim is to make a good solid team,&rdquo; he said.
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Veteran India goalkeeper Gurpreet urges team to use Friday’s friendly to learn how they can step up their game against superior opponents

Panama test will help us know what it takes to be a World Cup team: Sandhu

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Home / Sports / Football / Article / Panama test will help us know what it takes to be a World Cup team: Sandhu

Panama test will help us know what it takes to be a World Cup team: Sandhu

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Ganeshotsav 2026