FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Rival Watch: Bangladesh

The Bengal Tigers drew against India in the previous meeting at the Salt Lake Stadium in 2019.

Just like India, Bangladesh have not seen much action since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The Bengal Tigers are a work in progress when it comes to regaining their peak team chemistry. However, Jamie Day’s side can be a real terror if underestimated.

They have some quality players who can imitate the team’s stubborn nature perfectly. While the Bengal Tigers are unlikely to progress from the World Cup qualifiers group, they will be playing for pride. They will face India in their seventh FIFA World Cup qualifier match on June 14. 

Just as they did in 2019, the Bengal Tigers will aim to cause another upset over their neighbours and look to jump over them in the group.

Recent Performances

Bangladesh managed to play in the Three Nations Cup during the March International break. A mini-tournament that took place in Kathmandu, where they faced off against Nepal and Kyrgyzstan’s U-23 side.

They actually managed to defeat the Kyrgyz side in the league play-in stages before drawing  against Nepal in the other game. They faced off against the hosts in the finals, where Nepal produced a special performance to win 2-1. 

About The Team

Two years after achieving independence, the Bangladesh national team played their first competitive match in 1973. However, progress has been slow. Be it lack of infrastructure or interest, they have plundered to the wrong side of the FIFA rankings.

Currently ranked 184th, they have never been able to crack the top 100 in their history. In terms of titles, Bangladesh won the SAFF Championship in 2003. 

They also won the Gold Medal in football in the 1999 South Asian Games. The other titles they have won are the President’s Gold Cup (in 1989) and the Four-nation International Invitational Football Tournament in 1995.

The Coach

An Arsenal youth team product, Jamie Day has a lot of experience of playing in England throughout his career. He took over the Bangladesh football team in 2018 and started off his career really well, helping them defeat Qatar in the 2018 Asian Games. He helped them qualify for the Round of 16 in the Asian Games that year for the first time ever.

Day has been powerless to help his side punch above their weight in the World Cup qualifiers. In fact the only point Bangladesh have picked up came against India in 2019 with the 1-1 draw at the Salt Lake Stadium. 

If not anything else, the Englishman tends to set up his team to be a really stubborn, resilient unit. They are not easy to break down and have a lot of fighting spirit, thanks to Day’s man management skills. While his coaching career is still picking up, Day’s current focus is on helping Bangladesh move up the FIFA rankings and produce better results against stronger oppositions.

Players To Watch

Jamal Bhuyan

The Bangladesh national football team captain is also, predictably, the most decorated player in the squad. Bhuyan spent the 2020/21 season playing for Mohammedan Sporting in the I-League and made a decent impression. 

With the experience of playing in Europe, the 31-year-old is understandably one of the biggest threats of the Bengal Tigers. Bhuyan’s passing ability, creativity and hard-working presence make him a hard nut to crack in midfield. He can cause big problems with his set-piece delivery and loves hassling opponents with his aggressive pressing. 

Bhuyan caused the Blue Tigers big problems the last time when these two sides faced each other. However, with more knowledge about Indian football and experience of playing against Indians, he’ll be primed to cause more trouble in the upcoming clash.

Sumon Reza

One of the most prolific Bangladesh stars in the Bangladeshi Premier League this season, Sumon Reza is a man in form. He’s scored seven goals and registered three assists in 18 appearances (across all competitions) for Uttar Baridhara this season. 

The 25-year-old possesses terrific goal-scoring instincts and can be a real fox inside the box. With his clever movement inside the area, clinical finishing ability and sharp presence, Reza can keep defenders on their toes. 

He is likely to start up front for Bangladesh and probably will not get a plethora of chances. But, Reza’s ability to timely finish half chances makes him an intimidating presence which the Indian defenders must keep close watch on.

Topu Barman

Topu Barman has excelled for Basudhara Kings in the BPL this season and been one of the best defenders. Basudhara Kings have only conceded six goals in 15 league games this season. Barman has appeared in 11 of those, helping them keep eight clean sheets and only concede three goals at that. 

A real proactive figure in defence, he can really frustrate India’s attackers with his defending. Barman possess decent pace and IQ - which helps him read attacking moves and make clutch clearances. 

India struggled against Bangladesh’s backline in the last time they met. This time, Barman will look to make sure history repeats itself and neutralize India’s attacking threat with his defending.

What to Expect

Bangladesh will not go into this game with as much practice as they would have wanted. That being said, they are still well prepared due to the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League season. The players are properly match fit and ready to play in the big games. 

Similarly to the last time, Bangladesh should play a more defensive style and absorb whatever the Blue Tigers hit them with. Their set-piece routines and counter-attacks will be the biggest threats & get them goals if India aren’t careful enough. The Bengal Tigers don’t have much to lose, so they will play with freedom & aim to frustrate the Blue Tigers into getting a result. 

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