Bangladesh National Football team will play hosts Bhutan in the do-or-die play-off-2 match of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 Qualifiers at the game venue–Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu Monday evening.
The last-chance match for Bangladesh to secure a place in the final round in 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers against Bhutan will kick-off at 6 pm local time.
Bangladesh, who played to a goalless draw against Bhutan in their home match at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on September 6, badly need at least 1-1 draw to stay in the race.
In a pre-match press conference in Thimpu on Sunday, the Head Coach of Bangladesh team Tom Saint Fiet said, “We have a big and slightly difficult battle tomorrow against Bhutan, they (Bhutan) are developing and progressing more than before and have some dangerous players like Chenchu (7) and Dorgi (4), but we have to win the match to qualify for final round next,” said a BFF media release here on Sunday.
“We need only draw to qualify, Bhutan will face big pressure from home crowd, but we are very positive for doing the result,” he added
Bangladesh Team have altitude problem here but we do hope we will overcome it, local weather and turf will not a problem for us, its fantastic,” he added.
No injury problem at all in our team, but the absent of Emon Babu (for death of his mother) is a great loss for Bangladesh team strength, hopefully we will make up it.
“If Mamunul is in first Eleven then he will be the captain of Bangladesh team, otherwise Ashraful Islam Rana will be the Captain of the Team
The German Coach of Bhutan team Torsten Spitler said, “Bhutan team will enjoy the advantage playing in their own ground, home crowds and altitude, will fight until the last minute, both the teams have 50-50 chances to win, It will be a fantastic match for both team.”
Thimphu is now in good shape with sunny weather with local temperature hovering around 16-18 Degree Celsius in day time and comparatively cold at night with 10-12 Celsius, said a BFF media release on Saturday.
Bangladesh team made 40-minute walking in hilly area near team hotel to adjust with the local cold temperature and altitude problem in Thimpu.
All the players of Bangladesh team are now in sound health, physically and mentally well and there is no injury problem in the team.
In the last five games, Bangladesh did not score any goal which includes a 6-0 aggregate defeat in the last round on road to the tournament in the United Arab Emirates in 2019.
If case of a goalless draw or defeat against Bhutan in the ensuing match, Bangladesh is likely to miss the AFC and FIFA matches for the next three years.
Bangladesh beat Bhutan by 3-0 goals in the SAFF Championship in 2015.
Bangladesh team-Ashraful Islam Rana, Mamun Khan, Mohammad Nehal, Topu Barman, Mamun Miah, Atiuqur Rahman Fahad, Rayhan Hasan, Razaul Karim, Anamul Haque Sharif, Atiqur Rahaman Meshu, Hemanto Vinsent Biswas, Emon Mahmud, Mamunul Islam Mamun, Sohel Rana, Mohammad Abdullah, Rubel Mia, Enamul Hoque, Jewel Rana, Jahid Hasan Ameli, Shakawat Hossain Rony, Jafar Iqbal, Mehebub Hasan Nayan and Sohel Rana.
