Bangladesh's Jordan test today
While keeping the Socceroos to a five-goal winning margin on their home turf was a 'positive result', as trumpeted by the Bangladesh coaching staff and team management, today's home match against Jordan should see the hosts make more of an impression and eke out a more respectable result.
Needless to say that Jordan are not as strong as Australia, with only one player in the squad plying his trade outside the gulf region and, despite sitting 82 places above the hosts in FIFA rankings, Jordan might find it difficult to play their natural game on the wet and sluggish pitch of the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The play-off losers of last edition's World Cup haven't quite hit the ground running yet, stuttering to a goalless draw at home against Kyrgyzstan last week after a 3-1 win against Tajikistan in their opening fixture.
However, Jordan coach Paul Put has vowed to bounce back from the draw against Kyrgyzstan and get their qualification campaign back on track with a win in today's match.
“We will face a team which will be much motivated in front of their own crowd, especially after their match against Australia. It will be a difficult match for us but we are ready to win the match,” said the Belgian at the pre-match press conference yesterday.
Jordan are currently in second position with four points from two matches, two points behind Australia, while Bangladesh are bottom of the five-team group with only a point from three matches, thanks to a 1-1 draw against Tajikistan back in June. A win or even a draw might take Bangladesh to second place temporarily, provided Australia beat Tajikistan in the other fixture today. However, Bangladesh think-tank is not quite sounding as positive, with head coach Lodewijk de Kruif already stating that 'he doesn't want to commit suicide by trying to play only attacking football' against Jordan.
The Dutch coach is rather emphasising on 'keeping up the good work from the Australia match', especially in defensive organisation which looked resolute for most of the time after conceding four early goals. With that aim, the team took to the final practice session at the match venue yesterday, with Atiqur Rahman Meshu and Monaem Khan Raju in focus. Meshu might replace winger Enamul Haque, but might just play in front of four-man defence in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Raju replacing Hemanta Vincent Biswas, who limped out during the Australia game.
“There was no attacking organisation (against Australia); hopefully we can do it tomorrow (against Jordan) and if we have some angle, surely we will be trying to attack. But first we have to take care of our defensive organisation,” said de Kruif.
BANGLADESH (PROBABLE XI)
Sohel (GK); Yeasin, Tapu, Nasirul, Yeamin / Linkon; Meshu; Mamunul, Jamal, Raju, Jewel; Emily.