Indonesia test for Jamal and Co
Bangladesh national football team will try to find the right combination for the upcoming Asian Cup Qualifiers when they square off against Indonesia in a FIFA friendly match in Bandung today.
The match begins at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium at 7:30pm Bangladesh time.
Ahead of the match against the 159th-ranked Indonesia as part of preparation for the Asian Cup Qualifiers starting on June 8 in Malaysia, coach Javier Cabrera has been in deep trouble to pick the right combination due to injuries and suspension issues which forced top players like Tapu Barman, Tariq Kazi, Saad Uddin, Matin Mia, Suman Reza and Nabib Newaj Jibon out of the squad.
In absence of injured defenders, the biggest challenge for the coach would be to choose a suitable four-man backline. His options at centre-back positions are Tutul Hossain Badsha, Bishwanath Ghosh and Riyadul Hasan Rafi while Yeasin Arafat and Rahmat Mia are likely to play as full-backs.
He has options available in midfield and wings but then again, the options for striking position are very thin with uncapped Sazzad Hossain and inexperienced Maraz Hossain two of the likely options.
Bangladesh will perhaps adopt a counter-attacking approach with a solid defensive organisation, a style they want to implement in Malaysia too.
"Obviously, we will take to the field to win the match but our main target is to prepare ourselves for the way we want to play in upcoming Asian Cup Qualifiers," right-winger Mohammad Ibrahim told The Daily Star over phone.
"Though the Bashundhara Kings players got only two sessions to train, it is not a problem for us to implement the gameplan because we have already played two matches under Cabrera, so we know what our coach wants from us," said the Bashundhara Kings midfielder.
Captain Jamal Bhuyan, at the pre-match press conference yesterday, conceded that it will be a tough challenge for the side. "All the players who are part of the team know it is going to be a tough match. Indonesia are a strong team and of course tomorrow they desire to win but we will defend ourselves and I think we can compete against them and deliver a good performance," Jamal said.
Bangladesh, who are 29 places behind of Indonesia in FIFA rankings, are going to face them for the first time since their 1-0 defeat in Mardeka Cup in 2007. Overall, Bangladesh have won only once against the East Asian nation -- in 1985 – losing four times and drawing the other occasion.