Bangladesh Under-20 head coach Atiqur Rahman Mishu admits their hopes of progressing to the AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2027 finals are complicated, but insists victory over India remains the team’s only target in their final qualifying match.
Bangladesh completed their final training session on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s Group match against India at the Uzbekistan Football Association’s No. 1 training ground. The session began at 4pm local time as the young Tigers prepared for their last outing of the qualifiers.
Bangladesh have lost both of their opening two matches, leaving their hopes of advancing to the next round hanging by a thread. Mishu, however, said the team would not approach the game merely with the intention of putting up a fight.
“The situation regarding progressing to the next round is very complicated and depends on many things. But we play every match to win. Unfortunately, we have lost both matches, so our target now will be to win against India,” Mishu said.
The coach acknowledged that Bangladesh struggled to create clear chances in their first two matches against stronger opposition. Against India, he wants his side to make a positive start by finding the net first.
“First of all, we need to score. Our target will be to score the first goal. Then we will think about the next goal and the one after that,” he said.
Mishu has had limited time to make major tactical changes after taking charge, but believes motivation can make a difference. Having worked with many of the players over the past three years, he has focused primarily on lifting their confidence.
“After two days of training, I cannot change many things. I have known these boys for a long time and have worked with them over the last three years. So, I am trying to motivate them, and that is my main plan at the moment,” he said.
Bangladesh have also studied India closely, including footage from their previous SAFF meeting and the first two matches of the current tournament. Mishu identified India’s attacking play, particularly their movement in the final third and the rotations between their strikers and midfielders, as a major threat.
“We have shown the players clips from the SAFF match and from the last two games. We have already discussed India’s weaknesses with the players and will try to attack those areas,” he said.
Mishu also admitted Bangladesh’s approach in their opening two games, where they operated mainly in a low or low-mid block, was one of their weaknesses. The intense heat in the previous match also made it difficult for the players to maintain their effort.
“We will try to come out of those weaknesses and make a good start in the next match,” he said.
Forward Adam Abbas echoed the coach’s determination, saying the squad must put the previous defeats behind them and concentrate on executing the new coach’s plan.
“We just have to follow the coach’s plan, listen to what he is saying, play as a team, defend, attack and create loads of chances. Insha’Allah, we’ll get the win,” Abbas said.
The forward also stressed the significance of the Bangladesh-India rivalry but urged his teammates to focus on the football rather than the occasion.
“When we put on a Bangladesh shirt, we are all inspired to do as well as we can. The main thing is to play the game and not the occasion,” he said.
Bangladesh will face India on Sunday, September 6, at 5pm Bangladesh time.
