The Indian national team will face 184th ranked Bangladesh in the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers on the 7th of June. India stands fourth in the table with just three points, while Bangladesh is fifth. Both teams haven’t found a way yet to register a win in the qualifiers.
Last time when India clashed with Bangladesh back in 2019 before the pandemic, it was not a night for players to remember at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata. Bangladesh was upfront till the 88th minute but the defender Adil Khan managed to snatch a point in the last minutes of the game.
More overly, the encounter against Bangladesh at Doha’s Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium will be crucial because if India manages to grab points then will make their way closer to the third qualification round of Asian Cup 2023.
In the recent clash against Qatar, Blue Tigers lost conceding just a goal. The Croatian head-coach Igor Stimac need to select the best starting eleven also keeping some options as substitute, making sure of players fitness too.
BANGLADESH’S LAST 5 RESULTS
Qatar 5 – 0 Bangladesh
Bangladesh 0 – 0 Nepal
Bangladesh 2 – 0 Nepal
Bangladesh 0 – 3 Burundi
Sri Lanka 0 – 3 Bangladesh
PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Sohel Rana:
The 26-year old midfielder has been part of the national team since 2013. Rana was part of Bangladesh U-23, later getting selected into the national team. He made his senior debut back in 2013 in the AFC Challenge Cup qualification match against Palestine.
Rana started his club career at Dhaka Mohammedan in 2011, later making move to Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club in 2013 and again in 2016, he joined Abahani Dhaka team. Making 39 appearances till now for the national team, he will be surely the one to watch out.
Jamal Bhuyan:
The captain of the team played 47 matches for nationals and has impressed the most. Same as Sohel Rana, Jamal also played for the Under-23 team.
He represented Danish clubs like Hellerup IK, BK Avarta and Avedore IF. He joined Saif SC back in 2017, where recently he was on a loan stint to I-League Mohammedan SC for 2020-21 campaign. Even though he’s being a defensive midfielder, he plays a crucial responsibility in the team also pushing higher when needed and helping the team to press more.
Mahbubur Rahman Sufil:
A name who made place through his ranks is Rahman Sufil. The 21-year old striker was earlier part of Under-20 as well as Under-23 teams. He played a season for Arambagh KS in 2017-18. Due to his impressive abilities, Basundhara Kings signed him in 2018.
Same year he was called up for the national team and made his international debut against Laos in a friendly match. The same match was the dream debut for him as he scored a goal coming in as a substitute.
HEAD TO HEAD
India holds an impressive record against Bangladesh. In the last 12 matches, India is unbeaten since 1999. Will India continue the streak and snatch all three points from Bangladesh remains the question.
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