SAFF football Championships
Kathmandu: Having begun their title defence with a lacklustre performance, India will look to make amends and stamp their authority when they square off against Bangladesh in their second group league match in the SAFF Football Championships here on Tuesday.
It was a disappointing show by the Indians in their campaign opener as they allowed Pakistan to dominate for the majority of the match and needed an own goal from the rival skipper to come out unscathed.
Coach Wim Koevermas had minced no words in the post-match press conference, saying that he was not happy with the performance of his men and his side were lucky to have won the game.
India (ranked 145th), though, will start as favourites in the Group A match against Bangladesh, who are 13 notches below at 158th.
In the 22 meetings between the two teams, India have won 11 times while Bangladesh have won thrice, with eight games drawn.
The last time the two sides met, in the 2007 Nehru Cup at Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi, India won 1-0 with erstwhile captain Bhaichung Bhutia scoring the lone goal.
India will need to make amends and improve by leaps and bounds if they are serious aboput their title defence and coach Koevermans knows it.
A win on Tuesday will virtually put India through to the semifinals.
For Koevermans, he believes that his boys will treat each and every game as a final.
“It’s our second ‘final’ as we are here to play five ‘finals ‘ and defend our title. Bangladesh saw us play and will plan for us. They will come hard at us,” Koevermans said ahead of the match.
Asked about his side’s strategy for the game at the pre-match press conference, Koevermans said, “Bangladesh are a good technical side and have their final chance against us. But we need to focus on ourselves and there’s always a scope of improvement.”
“Nepal and Bangladesh have had an extra day of rest as they played on 31st. When every other team is playing every alternate day, I think it’s not fair,” he said. (PTI)
