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2010 AFC Challenge Cup Special: Know Your Opponents - Team Bangladesh
Continuing with our AFC Challenge Cup special series, in which we profile each of the other seven teams in the competition, Goal.com's Amoy Ghoshal looks at Bangladesh...
11-Feb-2010 11:48:00 PM
By Amoy Ghoshal
FIFA Ranking: 150
Best Result In AFC Challenge Cup: Quarter-finalists In 2006
Result In Last AFC Challenge Cup: Didn’t Qualify
History:
After their independence in 1971, the Bangladesh national football team was formed a year later and then in 1974 their national association became a part of FIFA. The national team may not be successful in the world stage but the beautiful game is still the most popular sport in the country despite the success of the cricket team. One of their best moments in football came in 1980, when Bangladesh became the second country from South Asia after India, to qualify for the final rounds of the Asia Cup which was held in Kuwait. At sub-continental level they have been one of the most consistent teams after India. They reached three consecutive SAFF Cup finals between 1999 and 2005, winning the tournament in 2003 by beating Maldives on penalties in front of 50,000 home supporters. They lost the other two finals to India. Bangladesh have also won the gold in the South Asian Games twice in 1999 and 2010. They hosted the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup in 2006 and reached the quarters but failed to qualify for the tournament in the last edition.
Current Team:
Bangladesh will be coming into this tournament with both match practice and form on their side. In December they hosted the SAFF Cup and reached the semis, where they narrowly lost against eventual champions India. In that tournament they showed glimpses of their potential in the group stage but lacked the cutting edge in the semi against India. Former Churchill coach Zoran Djordjevic took charge in January and retained the majority of the SAFF Cup squad for the South Asian Games, which also took place in Bangladesh. The Serbian guided the Bangladesh Under-23 side to their first gold in football after a gap of eleven years and that too as unbeaten champions and without conceding. Most of the players from that Under-23 team will be playing in the AFC Challenge Cup. However all is no well with the Bangladesh camp as there seems to be a disagreement between Djordjevic and the Bangladesh federation, with reports stating that the Serbian coach is unwilling to continue. The South Asian nation need to sort that issue out quickly and give their very best in Sri Lanka.
Key Player:
Abdul Baten Komol- He played a big role in the winner against India in the semis of the South Asian Games and got on the scoresheet in the final against Afghanistan. In the absence of star striker Enamul Haque, Komol’s creativity and ability to get goals from midfield will be crucial.
Qualification:
In the qualifying tournament Bangladesh finished second in Group A behind Myanmar. They qualified as the best group runners-up ahead of Maldives thanks to a better goal difference.
The Group:
Bangladesh will be outsiders to progress from the group stage and have a very tough opening game against former winners Tajikistan. If they can get any result from that match, the 2010 South Asian Games gold medalists will be fancying themselves against Myanmar and hosts Sri Lanka.
Verdict:
Bangladesh have at least reached the semis in the last two tournaments that they played in but both of them were played in their own backyard. There is obviously not much difference in standard between them and the other three teams so they have every chance of progressing to the semis but after that they might find it difficult.
Best Result In AFC Challenge Cup: Quarter-finalists In 2006
Result In Last AFC Challenge Cup: Didn’t Qualify
History:
After their independence in 1971, the Bangladesh national football team was formed a year later and then in 1974 their national association became a part of FIFA. The national team may not be successful in the world stage but the beautiful game is still the most popular sport in the country despite the success of the cricket team. One of their best moments in football came in 1980, when Bangladesh became the second country from South Asia after India, to qualify for the final rounds of the Asia Cup which was held in Kuwait. At sub-continental level they have been one of the most consistent teams after India. They reached three consecutive SAFF Cup finals between 1999 and 2005, winning the tournament in 2003 by beating Maldives on penalties in front of 50,000 home supporters. They lost the other two finals to India. Bangladesh have also won the gold in the South Asian Games twice in 1999 and 2010. They hosted the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup in 2006 and reached the quarters but failed to qualify for the tournament in the last edition.
Current Team:
Bangladesh will be coming into this tournament with both match practice and form on their side. In December they hosted the SAFF Cup and reached the semis, where they narrowly lost against eventual champions India. In that tournament they showed glimpses of their potential in the group stage but lacked the cutting edge in the semi against India. Former Churchill coach Zoran Djordjevic took charge in January and retained the majority of the SAFF Cup squad for the South Asian Games, which also took place in Bangladesh. The Serbian guided the Bangladesh Under-23 side to their first gold in football after a gap of eleven years and that too as unbeaten champions and without conceding. Most of the players from that Under-23 team will be playing in the AFC Challenge Cup. However all is no well with the Bangladesh camp as there seems to be a disagreement between Djordjevic and the Bangladesh federation, with reports stating that the Serbian coach is unwilling to continue. The South Asian nation need to sort that issue out quickly and give their very best in Sri Lanka.
Key Player:
Abdul Baten Komol- He played a big role in the winner against India in the semis of the South Asian Games and got on the scoresheet in the final against Afghanistan. In the absence of star striker Enamul Haque, Komol’s creativity and ability to get goals from midfield will be crucial.
Qualification:
In the qualifying tournament Bangladesh finished second in Group A behind Myanmar. They qualified as the best group runners-up ahead of Maldives thanks to a better goal difference.
The Group:
Bangladesh will be outsiders to progress from the group stage and have a very tough opening game against former winners Tajikistan. If they can get any result from that match, the 2010 South Asian Games gold medalists will be fancying themselves against Myanmar and hosts Sri Lanka.
Verdict:
Bangladesh have at least reached the semis in the last two tournaments that they played in but both of them were played in their own backyard. There is obviously not much difference in standard between them and the other three teams so they have every chance of progressing to the semis but after that they might find it difficult.
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