Bangladesh National football team coach Jamie Day said that their third away game in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Oman on Thursday would be tougher than the ones against Asian champions Qatar and India last month.
Day has no option but to urge the players once again to perform above their standard to claim at least a draw.
Bangladesh played out a 1-1 draw in their last game against India away in Kolkata after conceding 2-0 defeat at home against Qatar last month.
They conceded narrow 1-0 defeat during the first away game against Afghanistan. During all of those matches, the Men in Red and Green performed up to the expectations.
When asked about their target against Oman, the national team head coach replied, “I would be happy with a point but I think it's extremely tough.
It's the toughest game we will have so far and to keep asking out players to play above their standard every game is also a big ask.”
Bangladesh football team defeated Oman’s top-tier outfit Muscat Club 3-1 in their first practice match Thursday, ahead of their fourth Group E @FIFAWorldCup and Asian Cup joint qualifying match against Oman next Thursday.https://t.co/U0wcTepDny#BFF #FOOTBALL #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 7, 2019
Oman is currently sitting second in the Group E table with two wins against India and Afghanistan and the lone defeat against table toppers Qatar.
They thrashed Afghanistan 3-0 in their last home game at Seeb Stadium on October 10. They will host Bangladesh at a different venue in the capital city Muscat.
The youngest defence line among the five teams, led by center-back Yeasin Khan, will have to do extra task in the training to prepare them best to resist strong and fast attacking players who break with pace.
Day admitted, “Big challenge but all good experience for the younger players.”
Home striker Abdulaziz Muqbali and Mundhir Alawi looked clinical inside the box scoring a total five goals combined so far.
How can Day’s boys stop them, “We have to defend like we did in the last game (against India).”
Despite creating series of chances in every game, Bangladesh managed to score only once riding on Saad Uddin’s header against India.
Bangladesh football team reached Omani capital Muscat safely Monday evening after being forced to take a second flight due to electrical problems in the air in their first flight.https://t.co/doo6ZqcJ3v#BFF #FOOTBALL #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHFOOTBALL #OMANFOOTBALL #OMAN #OFF
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 4, 2019
What is the chance against Oman? “We have been creating chances which is positive just need to try and convert more.”
Day hinted not to make “too much change” in the game plan but didn’t deny making changes in the starting eleven especially in the back-four.
Center-back Tutul Hossain Badsha got more playing times than the rest during the lone practice match while young full-back Yeasin Arafat joined the squad yesterday after captaining the U-19 side in Bahrain where he scored both of his side’s goals in the competition.
The 40-year-old coach reinstated their toughest challenge ahead. “The challenge for us is to try and keep the level of performance up we have shown so far but that again is very tough to do against better teams. We will try our best.”
