Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera expects a tough battle against Bhutan when the two sides meet in the first of their two-match FIFA international friendlies at the Changlimithang Football Stadium in Thimphu today.
The game is scheduled to begin at 6:00pm Bangladesh Standard time.
This will be the 15th meeting between Bangladesh and Bhutan since their first meeting in September 1984.
Though Bangladesh (184) are two steps below the hosts (182) in the current FIFA rankings, the visitors have a fantastic record in their previous 14 meetings against Bhutan, with 11 wins, two draws, and one loss.
鈥楾he quality of the two teams is pretty similar, but Bhutan are very good, especially at home. So it is going to be a very tight game,鈥� said Carbera in the pre-match press conference.
鈥楾here were some obstacles for us because of the altitude, which took some time to adjust to, and we are still in the process. But we are optimistic about both games.鈥�
Bangladesh had around 10 days of training before the match, including four days at home, and will be playing its first international match in three months, having last played on June 11.
But the Spaniard sees no concerns with the short preparation period and significant gap between international matches because he and his charges know each other well.
鈥榃e had four days training at home before coming here. It鈥檚 a short time preparation, but the players have good understanding because they know each other for a very long time,鈥� said Cabrera.
Bhutan, unlike Bangladesh, could only train for three days for the friendlies under Japanese coach Atsushi Nakamura due to the involvement of the majority of national team players in the football league.
Like Cabrera, Nakamura also believed that the games would be very difficult and competitive.
鈥業 did my best since I joined Bhutan, and tomorrow I will do my best. Anyway, we are challengers. Bangladesh, of course, is a very difficult opponent... It is our home ground, and to win the game, we need a high level of motivation,鈥� he said.
