Hosts can confirm semifinals today

Pakistan in a must-win situation
Both Bangladesh and Pakistan will hope their attacking line will fire on all cylinders when they face off in a crunch Group A match of the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship at the BNS at 7:00pm today.
Bangladesh boosted their morale with a 4-1 win over Bhutan in their opener while Pakistan went down 0-1 to Sri Lanka in their first game.
Pakistan at least have to salvage a draw to remain alive in the eight-team regional tournament. Bangladesh will seal a last four place if they win the crucial tie and a draw in the game will also keep them on course.
Bangladesh and Pakistan had met twice in the SAFF Championship and Bangladesh won both the games – a 4-0 victory at Goa in 1999 and a 1-0 win in Karachi in 2005.
Bangladesh attackers tormented Bhutan and kept them at bay with an attacking brand of football. Pakistan with their powerfully-built physique tried to impose themselves on Sri Lanka but they lacked the finishing touch.
The attacking line of Bangladesh with Emily and Enamul up front and Ujjal and Mamunul in the midfield along with constantly-overlapping Nasir and Wali Faisal through the flanks formed a lethal combination.
Pakistan, on the other hand, relied on the skills of Arif Mehmood and Adnan Farook in the forward zone while Shabir Khan and substitute Reis Ashraf provided the thrust from the midfield.
Bangladesh coach Shahidur Rahman Shantoo has told his players to stay calm and cool ahead of the crucial tie.
‘The main thing is to stay focussed on the task, the match against Bhutan was special as it was the first match of the meet and we passed it with distinction.
‘But as a coach I have to say that we still have to improve in every department, the journey has just started and the destination is still far away,’ said the coach.
Shantoo dubbed Pakistan as a stronger opponent than Bhutan. ‘They are fit and well built, they play a speedy counter-attack based game. I have to talk to the players about the mistakes they made in the first match.
‘I have every belief that the players are aware of their commitments,’ said the Bangladesh coach.
George Kottan, the coach of Pakistan, was trying to motivate his players to believe in themselves.
‘We are down but not out, if I win the match we will return to the semi-final track.
‘I have asked my players to play their normal game focusing on a win, not the result of the last match,’ said the Austrian.
‘I have every belief that we can beat Bangladesh, in the first match my team was a little disorganised.
‘I hope to overcome the shortcoming against Bangladesh. The hosts will definitely enjoy the advantage but we have the firepower to counter the challenges,’ said Kottan. The former Bangladesh coach, who won the SAFF title in 2003 in Dhaka, wiped out any sentimentality ahead of the match.
‘I am a professional coach, my heart beats for the team which I train presently, no chance of any emotional break down,’ said Kottan.

Source: NewAgebd