Photo : Collected
Bangladesh National Football team will play war-torn stronger Arabian nation Palestine in their 3nd Group I match of the FIFA World Cup Qualifier in Kuwait on Thursday (21 March) night.
Bangladesh will play their 2nd round 2nd away group match of the World Cup Qualifier against their much superior Arabian rivals Palestine on Thursday (March 21) night at 9:30 pm (local time) and 12:30 (Bangladesh time)at the Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait city.
The Palestine is 86 steps ahead of Bangladesh in the current FIFA men's world ranking with a ranking of 97 against the Bangladesh ranking 183.
Bangladesh suffered a 0-7 goal defeat against World Cup playing and hosts Australia in their first away match on November 16 and drew 1-1 with another Arabian nation Lebanon in their home match in Dhaka on Nov 21.
Ahead of the World Cup Qualifying match against Palestine, Bangladesh national team conducted an intensive two-week long preparatory camp at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium in the Saudi Arabian City of Al Taif from March 3 to 17 and also played two preparatory matches there against Sudan.
Bangladesh team reached Kuwait Sunday afternoon from Saudi Arabia and made their first practice session at the Al Sahel Sports Club ground on Monday and schedule make training session at the Jaber International Stadium Wednesday nigadded.
Ahead of the match, Bangladesh Rakib said although Palestine is very strong side, but we also well prepared to face Palestine after making two week camp in Saudi Arabia and also playing two preparatory matches there against Sudan.
"All the players of our team is physically sound and fit and local weather is almost same as Saudi Arabia" he added
After playing Thursday's away match with Palestine, Bangladesh team will return home from Kuwait on March 22 and will play their home match also against Palestine on March 26 at 3:30 pm local time at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka.
Earlier, Bangladesh faced Palestine on six occasions and conceded defeat in every matches except making 1-1 draw in their first meeting in the AFC Challenge Cup in 2006 in Dhaka.
In the remaining two FIFA World Cup Qualifying group matches, Bangladesh will play World Cup playing Australia in home match on June 6 and will play Lebanon in the away match on June 11.
Bangladesh earned the rights to play in the six-match home and away basis Group I matches of the FIFA World Cup's Asian qualifiers with with World Cup playing Australia, stronger Lebanon and Palestine eliminating the Maldives in the round 1 matches.
After the two matches, Australia topped the four-team Group I list securing full six points, followed by Lebanon with two points, Palestine and Bangladesh with one point each.
Member of Bangladesh squad are:
Goalkeepers: Anisur Rahman Zico, Mitul Marma, Mahfuz Hasan Pritom and Mehdi Hassan Srabon,
Defenders: Topu Barman Bishwanath Ghosh, Hasan Murad, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faysal, Shakil Hossain, Saad Uddin and Taj Uddin
Midfielders: Sohel Rana, Mohammad Ridoy, Chandan Roy, Md Sohel Rana, Mojibor Rahman Jony, Rabiul Hasan, Jamal Bhuyan, Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee and Jayed Ahmed;
Forwards: Rakib Hossain, Sumon Reza, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Rafiqul Islam, Rabbi Hossain Rahul, Shahriar Emon and Arman Foysal Akash.
Messenger/Sumon
