Bangladesh face off Singapore today
Bangladesh football team will face off Singapore in their second Group-A match of FIFA ASEAN Cup today at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. The match will kick-off at 3:00pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Earlier, Bangladesh lost to Malaysia by three goals to nil in their first Group-A match at the same venue on September 25.
Singapore suffered a 2-0 defeat to Indonesia in their first Group-A match at the same venue on the same day.
According to the latest FIFA rankings, Singapore have achieved the 148th position, while Bangladesh have taken 181st spot.
Head Coach of Bangladesh football team wants to put past disappointments behind him and leave the pitch with a victory against Singapore in the ASEAN Cup.
Ahead of the match, Dooley’s message is clear: The team must focus on playing their own brand of football rather than worrying about the opponent’s ranking or strength.
Speaking about the upcoming match against Singapore, Dooley said, “The last two matches were very tough.
They won once 2-1 and once 1-0. However, speaking with players, fans, and the media, it is evident that we could have won those matches too.
So, this time we need to play with a different mindset and attitude. I want to win this match-there is no question about that.”
Dooley was also dissatisfied with Bangladesh’s performance in the previous match against Malaysia; in his view, the team invited trouble by allowing the opponent too many opportunities. He does not want to repeat that mistake.
In Dooley’s words, “We played too deep. We tried to keep the midfield compact, but that doesn’t mean we should let the opponent play freely.
We need to be more aggressive-against both the ball and the opposing players.”
Consequently, the Bangladesh coach wants to control the style of play against Singapore. He believes that any team can cause problems for Bangladesh if given the chance to play.
Therefore, he intends to emphasize ball possession, applying pressure on the field, and playing an attacking game.
Shamit Shome, a player for Bangladesh, also views this match as significant. He sees these games against strong opponents as part of the preparation for major tournaments.
Regarding the preparations for the Singapore match, Shamit said, “We have played two matches against them in the last year. We also observed how they played against Indonesia.
We are learning from these matches-how to exploit their weaknesses and how to handle their strengths.
Essentially, we are preparing ourselves for the match.” “I hope we will achieve a good result.”
Recalling the two previous defeats, he said, “We have lost to them twice. So, there is certainly a desire for revenge.
What better time to do that than at the FIFA Asian Cup! We are preparing with that very goal in mind. I hope we can perform well tomorrow.”
Shamit also mentioned that Bangladesh has a clear understanding of Singapore’s style of play. In his words, “They have a specific structure and a distinct identity.
Their gameplay involves two or three rotation patterns that are quite dangerous. They also have a few players capable of making the difference in a match.
However, we have seen this before. We are trying to learn from how they punished us and succeeded in previous matches.
Under the new coach, we are aiming to utilize that experience and implement specific plans.”
Shamit also engaged in self-criticism regarding the team’s performance against Malaysia.
He said, “We don’t need any external motivation. We know we didn’t play well in the last match.
Everyone in the team-from the players to the coaching staff-is aware of that. Personally, I also feel I should have done better.
We are footballers; we want to win and perform well in every competition.” Ultimately, Shamit anticipates a strong tactical battle.
“They know us well, too. They have surely analyzed us and are considering how to neutralize our threats. So, it will be a good match and a good tactical contest.
We are looking forward to the game and want to be on the winning side this time,” he said.
Zidane Yousuf, who made his debut in the match against Malaysia, has also caught Dooley’s eye.
Given his strong performance on the pitch, the coach hinted that he might feature in the starting lineup against Singapore. At the same time, injury concerns are weighing on the team.
According to Dooley, several players have suffered injuries due to returning to action without adequate preparation.
With the scars of the previous two defeats, the errors from the Malaysia match, and the SAFF preparations all in the mix, Bangladesh has just one goal in Jakarta: to leave the pitch having beaten Singapore.
