New Delhi : Goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh was inconsolable, midfielder Sanjeev Stalin lay flat on the ground with his face covered, and skipper Amarjit Singh Kiyam could be seen comforting defender Rahul KP, who had tears in his eyes. The disappointment was writ large on the faces of the Indian players after they were handed a cruel reality check by two-time champions Ghana in their crunch FIFA Under-17 World Cup match. India’s coach Luis Norton de Matos did his best to cheer up the boys, reminding them about the historic first they have achieved by representing the country in a FIFA tournament. But the players were literally crestfallen. Sensing the sombre mood in the camp, Matos regrouped the boys at the centre of the field, got them to hold hands and took them to the far end of the East-level stand of the JLN stadium, where thousands of home supporters were still cheering the team with the chants of “well played”, “we are proud of you boys” and “you are the future stars”. Seeing the unwavering enthusiasm of the home fans, the smiles returned to the faces of the players. The boys congratulated each other for their spirited performance in the tournament and even obliged some young fans with selfies and autographs.