Bhutan vs Bangladesh: A FIFA Friendly Match to Watch

In a surprising turn of events, Bhutan, a small country in South Asia, has surpassed Bangladesh in the FIFA rankings. Bangladesh is set to face Bhutan in a FIFA friendly match, with the goal of moving up in the standings and securing a favorable group in the Asian Cup qualifiers.

Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuiyan recalls the 2016 match against Bhutan, where Bhutanese striker Chencho Geilesten single-handedly crushed Bangladesh. This time, Jamal is cautious, emphasizing the need to keep a close eye on the rest of the Bhutanese team, not just Chencho. ‘Bhutan is a good team, especially in every attack. They have Chencho in their team, who is hard to stop. He also played in Bangladesh. But apart from Chencho, they have a few other players in their team who are great. These players should also be watched. Because they are also dangerous.’

Despite Bangladesh’s confidence in their victory, the team has not played a match in three months. In contrast, the Bhutanese footballers are in top form, with their league currently in session. Jamal acknowledges the challenge, ‘I think both games will be very difficult. Because we don’t play any game for three months. We have camped, but not at the same level as the Bhutanese players. I think both games will be tough and great.’

However, Jamal is optimistic about his team’s preparation. ‘I think, everyone is ready. Of course, we need more match fitness, but we had a good camp, good training sessions. I think, on the whole, we are ready to face Bhutan.’