Bangladesh will look to entertain the home crowd as well as learn more about topnotch football when they host the Japan Under-21 team in a Fifa international friendly at Bangabandhu National Stadium today. The friendly will kick off at 5pm with Channel 9 transmitting the match live from the venue.
The friendly is a part of the visitors’ preparation for the 2016 Olympics football competition in Rio while the home side will target some valuable match-practice ahead of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup, slated for the middle of next month.
Bangladesh have never met Japan U-21 before although the senior sides of both the nations have played each other five times with their last encounter taking place some 21 years ago. Bangladesh will not have fond memories of that occasion as they lost 4-1 and 8-0 in two legs of the USA 1994 Fifa World Cup qualifiers. In the other three matches between the two teams, Bangladesh were unable to muster a single goal. Japan on the other hand smashed 10 goals in those three matches in the 1986 and 1990 Asian Games and the 1975 Merdeka Tournament in Malaysia.
The aforementioned stats will have no bearing on today’s friendly as a lot of changes have taken place in the last two decades, especially in Bangladesh football. Having said that, Bangladesh will have to register the finest performance possible to get something out of the match.
“One source of consolation is that this is Japan’s U-21 side that we will be facing. As we are a national outfit, our experience and maturity are the things that we could feel positive about,” said Bangladesh’s interim head coach Saiful Bari Titu in the pre-match presser yesterday.
“I watched the highlights of their previous match against Thailand U-21 side. Hopefully our players will not repeat the same mistakes that the Thai team had committed,” added Titu referring to Japan U-21’s 2-0 win over Thailand U-21 in Bangkok a few days ago. Titu also stressed on the importance of ball possession and set-pieces.
As international matches are few and far between for the Bangladesh team, Titu believes today’s friendly will give some much-needed exposure to his charges. “This is a preparation match for us ahead of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup. Our goal is to offer positive football and gain experience from such matches against the big teams. Individually, I think it will help the players to develop their game.”
Bangladesh’s talismanic skipper Mamunul Islam on the other hand urged his teammates to give their full effort today. “This team (Bangladesh) are stronger than the Asian Games squad. Every player is mentally ready to face a strong Japan team. We need to give our 110 percent. We can even surprise everyone if we follow the instructions of the coach on the pitch.”
Meanwhile, Japan U-21 head coach Teguramori Makoto said they are treating this friendly with the utmost importance. Makoto also said they are enjoying the weather here as it is extremely chilly back home in Japan.