Girls aim for better against Aus
If Bangladesh's 3-0 defeat against Japan is an improvement after their 9-0 drubbing at the hands of North Korea, then their final group game of the AFC Under-16 Women's Championship against Australia today will act as a foundation to that development.
The game at the Institute of Physical Education Stadium in Chonburi may be a dead rubber in the context of the tournament, but it is important for the Bangladesh girls to sign off with something they can be proud of.
Australia might have collectively conceded as many goals as Bangladesh did against North Korea and Japan -- who are not only the top two teams in Asia but in the world stage at age-group level events -- they are still a far better side than Bangladesh, who are 100 places behind in FIFA rankings.
And when the game starts at 5:00pm (Bangladesh time), the girls will not only try to combat a physically superior and technically sound side but perhaps even try to end their scoring duck. It will not be easy but after that improved performance against Japan, against whom the girls in red and green held their fort through the entire second half, a positive result in their first-ever tie against the Matildas will act as a dream come true for them.
The girls, who enjoyed an off-day on Friday, returned to training at the Institute of Physical Education's practice ground, which is quite like the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) in Savar.
Amid scorching heat in Chonburi, the girls toiled hard for more than an hour and tried to implement the way they wanted to play against Australia. The girls were also shown video footage of Australia's two games against North Korea and Japan.
Bangladesh are likely to bring one change to the starting eleven that lost to Japan with striker Anuching Mogini coming in place of striker Israt Jahan Shopna, who is recovering from a strain she sustained on her right side in yesterday's practice.
“Our target is to play good football against Australia like we did against Japan. We want to play better football than the Japan match,” said captain Krishna Rani Sarker.
Coach Golam Rabbani Choton believes Australia are a far better side.
“We knew the difference between Bangladesh and other opponents before coming here. Now we have got the practical difference by playing against them,” said Choton. “It is pleasing for us that the girls have put up their natural performance against Japan and we want the girls to play their own game against Australia and show the world that they also can play football.”
Choton however believes both Bangladesh and Australia will get goal-scoring chances in the match and the team that cashes in on those chances will emerge the winner.
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