world cup qualifiers - Dhaka Mirror

Canada qualify for first World Cup in 36 years with win over Jamaica

Admin — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 12:15:57 +0000

Canada have qualified for a men’s World Cup for the first time since 1986 after a 4-0 win over Jamaica in their penultimate qualifying match on Sunday. Victory meant Canada are guaranteed a top-three finish in qualifying for Qatar 2022.
Canada are top of the CONCACAF qualifying group and have now secured their place at a World Cup finals tournament for the first time since 1986.
Canada were the big favourites heading into the clash with Jamaica.
While the hosts were at least guaranteed a place in the intercontinental play-offs, the visitors were already eliminated as they sat second bottom of the eight-team group with just eight points.
Cyle Larin gave the Maple Leafs the advantage in the tie when he struck just 13 minutes in as Canada took possession in their own half and charged forward.
The ball was worked to Stephen Eustaquio outside the Jamaica box and he fed it through to Larin for a fine finish.
Larin is now the group’s top scorer with six goals, putting him ahead of team-mate Jonathan David.
Tajon Buchanan then doubled the home team’s lead just before half-time when a cross landed perfectly for him at the back post and he was able to knock it into the net.
Junior Hoilett then ensured the celebrations were properly up and running by scoring a third goal late in the second half, while there was time for an Adrian Mariappa own goal to make it 4-0.

– With goal.com input

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Last chance to get it right

Admin — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 04:37:30 +0000

Bangladesh face Malaysia today in friendly
Bangladesh will take on hosts Malaysia today in a FIFA international friendly match as part of their preparation for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Australia and Jordan.
The match kicks off at 6:45pm Bangladesh Standard Time at the Shah Alam Stadium in Selangor, Malaysia. The two sides are familiar to each other having played 10 times in the past with Malaysia dominating the statistics by winning eight matches.
Bangladesh tasted their only win against the Southeast Asian nation in 1982 Asian Games when they defeated them by 2-1.
This will be, however, their first meeting since November 2012 when they played out a 1-1 draw in an international friendly in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia Under-22 side recently shattered Bangladesh national team’s dreams of winning the Bangabandhu Gold Cup with a shocking 3-2 win in the final in February this year.
In the current Malaysia national team, there are only three players from the Bangabandhu Cup winning squad, according to Masud Parvez, an assistant coach of visiting Bangladesh team.
Bangladesh are expected to put the memory of Bangabandhu Cup aside and take today’s the match as a pure preparation for their World Cup qualifier against the Socceroos in Perth on September 3.
‘This match against Malaysia is a preparation match before facing Australia,’ national team coach Lodewijk de Kruif was quoted by the official website of Football Association of Malaysia as saying.
‘For us, this will be a good preparation. To win, draw or lose is not important for us.
‘The most important thing is to measure the tactical and fitness levels of players for 90 minutes.
‘I know their style of play because we faced their [Malaysia] Under-22 squad at the Bangabandhu Gold Cup. At that time, we had a bad experience when we lost to them in the final.’
Bangladesh captain Mamunul Islam said they will try to deliver their best to get some extra-motivation before facing reigning Asian champions Australia.
‘I know them [Malaysia] very well because I played against Malaysia many times,’ Mamunul said.
‘Their team is getting stronger than before because they are a blend of youth and experience.’
‘We will give our best to win the match to get inspiration before facing Australia.’
Forward Zahid Hasan Ameli, who scored the equaliser from the spot to hold hosts Malaysia with a 1-1 draw three years ago, echoed the same with Mamunul.
‘They [Malaysia] are better than us but we proved in the past that we have the potential to offer them a huge challenge,’ said the veteran forward.
Bangladesh team underwent a one-and-a-half hour training session at the match venue on Friday evening.

-With New Age input

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Footballers report for WC qualifiers

Admin — Tue, 19 May 2015 03:54:18 +0000

Bangladesh’s preparation for next month’s two World Cup qualifiers got underway on Monday when 27 footballers out of 32-member preliminary squad reported to the Bangladesh Football Federation. Bangladesh will start their World Cup qualifiers campaign on June 11 against Kyrgyzstan at the Bangabandhu National Stadium before facing Tajikistan five days later at the same venue.
As part of preparation for the matches, Bangladesh will also play two international friendlies against Singapore and Afghanistan, respectively on May 30 and June 2.
Though most of the players of the preliminary squad reported to the manager Amirul Islam Babu and goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler, barring 11 players from Sheikh Jamal Dhandmondi Club, all others left for their club duty on the first day.
Captain of the side Mamunul Islam believed that the two warm-up matches will help them to pick the right players for two qualifiers.
‘Not only the first two home matches in the World Cup qualifiers but also the two warm-up matches against Singapore and Afghanistan are also important for us,’ said Mamunul, who was sidelined in his last three league matches with a calf muscle injury.
‘We will know what our standard is from these two games [Warm-up games].’
Two young players in the team—Sohel Rana and Hemanta Vincent—said they will be looking to return to their best form having underperformed in the league.
Both midfielders said they were denied their favourite positions in the league, which took a toll in their performances.
Sohail said he is comfortable to the central midfield but he had to play in the left while Hemanta were played only as a holding midfielder for their respective clubs.
‘I’m not satisfied with my performance. Usually I like to play in midfield but I had to play on left wing for the sake of the team,’ said Sohel Rana.
Hemanta said that he did not have any prior experience of playing in the holding midfield position but he was compelled to do so.
‘In the national team I usually play in the attacking midfield but my club coach asked me to play as holding midfielder where I never played before,’ said Hemanta, who is eager to prove his worth in the forthcoming World Cup Qualifiers.
‘It’s a great opportunity for us to play in the World Cup qualifiers and we must utilise this opportunity.’
Team’s German goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler and assistant coach Masud Pervez Kaysar are currently guiding the team in the absence of head coach Lodewijk de Kruif and assistant coach Saiful Bari Titu.
De Kruif, who is now in Netherlands, is likely to be arrived Dhaka on May 21 while Titu will join the camp on June 23 after completing his pro-license coaching course in Malaysia.
Schweichler instructed his charges to give hundred percent concentrations to their game rather than any other activities.
‘Eat, sleep and practice but no gossiping and facebooking during this time,’ he said.
‘It’s a great opportunity for the players as well as BFF to show their worth to world what they can do at the highest level in football,’ Schweichler added.
Sheikh Russell’s winger Zahid Hossain didn’t join the camp due to illness while Jamal’s center back Nasiuddin Chowdhury is now at his Chittagong’s residence to see his ailing father.
Another Jamal defender Yeasin Khan was absent in the camp due to his head injury that he received in their last Bangladesh Premier League match against Abahani Limited.
Jamal’s midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan went to Denmark to meet his family and will join on May 25.
German based Bangladeshi midfielder Reasal Khaton, who is now in Philippines, is likely to join on May 24.
Others players from Abahani, Sheikh Russell, Mohammedan, Muktijoddha and Team BJMC will join to the camp after the completion of their respective league matches.

-With New Age input

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