Even before Mia Bhuta curled in the USA's eighth unanswered goal against India last night, plenty had already written off the hosts' chances of making a dent at the 2022 FIFA Women's World Cup. A defeat of that magnitude does shine a spotlight on India's qualification as hosts, rather than on merit, possibly revealing perceived deficiencies within the squad.
Prior to the tournament, most of the questions aimed at Thomas Dennerby, India's head coach, were positive - asking if the team could make the quarterfinals, if the knockouts were a real possibility. The air in the post-match press conference was a decidedly different one - questions moved on to whether India could come away with a single positive moment from the World Cup, be it as 'little' as a goal scored.
Clearly, many have watched ninety minutes of this side and resigned themselves to minimal expectations. Yet, the attitude of the one man who knows them best remains bullish. Dennerby continues to be positive, saying after the match: "The good thing is there are two more games to go and I hope we can show everyone that India is much, much better than this. We can have a much better game than this against Morocco."
Brave words after an 8-0 evisceration? Perhaps, but there's something behind it.
Even if the United States weren't pushed to their limits last night, it was clear India were better than the performance being displayed. Was it nerves? Possibly - it was telling that India's best moment (Neha being put through in the box by Nitu Linda) came early on, before the USA could intimidate them properly.
That move in itself displayed a few positives India could take from the game. Spotting the weak link in the US defence and targeting it repeatedly, despite an ever worsening scoreline, points to a side that keeps going. Dennerby himself did admit that a few heads dropped, but at times it's easy to forget these are 16-17-year-olds new to the international stage.
Indeed, in the pre-tournament friendlies that took place before the World Cup, India looked an organized, compact side, with an ability to surprise their opposition. Lynda Kom did no damage to her reputation, receiving the ball and spraying it on to her wide forwards, who weren't always on the opposing defender's shoulder to take advantage.
Even Natalia Astrain, Team USA's head coach, noted that she had prepared for an incredibly organized Indian side after scouting them ahead of the tournament. What was on display at the Kalinga last night might not have been the same, but there were glimpses.
The USA was the toughest opponent India's U-17 women's side could have faced in their debut in front of a raucous, demanding crowd. Morocco and Brazil are tough opponents as well, but perhaps not as demanding as the Americans were.
It is quite conceivable that if things go wrong, India could walk away from this tournament with three losses. Yet, that's exactly what happened to the 2017 U-17 World Cup men's side. They ended their tournament with three losses, conceding nine goals with one memorable Jeakson Singh header creating history. It wasn't the end for those teenagers then, who went on to have successful careers within the Indian Super League. Take Jeaskson himself, who's a regular for club (Kerala Blasters) and country. Or Anwar Ali and Dheeraj Singh (FC Goa), Suresh Singh (Bengaluru FC), Apuia (Mumbai City FC), Prabsukhan Gill (Kerala Blasters), and Aniket Jadhav (East Bengal). They are all regular starters for their clubs and many of them command starting positions in the national team.
If the support system post this World Cup is correct, that is also what awaits Astam Oraon and co. Some of them have already made their senior debut, and clearly this is a talented enough bunch. It will take a lot of mental focus to put aside a defeat of this sort, but they only need to look at their coach for inspiration, in his ability to move on quickly.
A brief glance at where these girls have come from - battling poverty, parental deaths, social stigma, glass being thrown on their practice pitches and the sort - one knows they have the fortitude to overcome a setback of this sort. The World Cup is a tough, unforgiving stage, but it would be prudent to not write them off just yet. They've come back from much tougher obstacles in life.