‘Have to be at our best to compete against Qatar’

As Bangladesh laboured to a goalless draw against Nepal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium last night, their next match's hosts, Qatar, were fighting against one of Asia's best, South Korea, in a FIFA friendly in Austria.

The 2022 World Cup hosts had already played out a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica on Friday as they look to host Bangladesh in a World Cup qualifier in Doha on December 4.

The gulf of difference between the challenge posed by Nepal and the one presented by Qatar can hardly be over-emphasised.

Qatar sit atop their five-team group with 13 points from five matches while Bangladesh are at the bottom with a single point from four matches.

Bangladesh's stand-in coach Stuart Watkiss, who guided the side in absence of Covid-positive Jamie Day, conceded that it would be a tough assignment in his post-match reaction.

"When we play against Qatar, we have to be aware that we will play against the Asian champions. So we will have to be at our best to even be competitive," the 54-year-old coach said.

Bangladesh, though, were far from their best yesterday. While the men in red and green looked hungry for goals in the first match -- especially in the first half of that game -- they hardly threatened in the entire match yesterday.

Watkiss said Nepal played "very well' and that the draw was a "fair result".

"We passed the ball quite well and had good little spells, but unfortunately we didn't create the amount of chances that we would have liked. It was a close game and a very fair result."

With just over two weeks remaining until the Qatar game, Bangladesh will have no time to cool down as they are scheduled to board a Doha-bound flight tomorrow without their head coach.

Following the completion of a three-day quarantine period, during which time the players can avail gym and swimming facilities, the players will have about 10 days to prepare for the Qatar match, with two practice matches against local clubs as part of preparations.

The match against Qatar will be a reverse fixture of last year's qualifying match which Bangladesh lost 2-0 in Dhaka despite fighting equally against the Middle East side.

The pitch in Doha should be a lot more conducive for fast-paced football, contrary to the slow-paced game that Bangladesh rely on.