Bangladesh head coach Mark Cox has set a clear objective ahead of the SAFF U-20 Championship final — finish the job within 90 minutes against India.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s final at the National Stadium in Malé, Maldives, the English coach mixed humour with intent, stressing his desire to avoid penalties and secure victory in regulation time. Bangladesh and India had played out a 1-1 draw in the group stage earlier in the tournament.
Cox, who missed the semi-final win over Nepal after being sent off against India, acknowledged his lapse in discipline and vowed to remain composed this time.
“I’m always smiling. I was a bit naughty in the last match against India and got a red card, so I’m sorry. My 86-year-old mother even called me and told me not to misbehave at this age,” he said with a laugh.
Despite praising India as a formidable opponent with strong coaching staff, Cox expressed confidence in his own squad. “India are a great team, but so are we. We have some excellent players,” he added.
India hold the upper hand historically in SAFF age-group competitions, having won four of the seven editions across U-18, U-19 and U-20 levels. Bangladesh lifted their maiden U-20 title in 2024 with a 4-1 win over Nepal but have lost all three previous finals against India.
Drawing comparisons with traditional rivalries in English football, Cox underlined the intensity of regional contests. “Everyone understands the history — not just in football but in cricket and other sports. You always want to beat your closest rivals,” he said.
The coach believes motivation will not be an issue for his young side. “For a match like this, no player, coach or fan needs motivation. If you can’t feel inspired in this environment, nothing else will help,” he said.
With tournament rules sending the final straight to penalties if level after 90 minutes, Cox made his stance clear. “As an Englishman, in tournaments with penalties, I’d rather stay away from it,” he joked, referencing England’s past struggles.
“We want to win within 90 minutes against a very strong India side,” he added.
Cox also revealed his personal ‘tactical plan’ with a smile: remain calm on the bench, avoid disciplinary trouble, and let his players deliver on the pitch.
