India U20 Football Team Prepares for Semi-Finals Against Bangladesh in SAFF U20 Championship 2024

The India U20 men’s national football team is gearing up for a crucial match against Bangladesh in the semi-finals of the SAFF U20 Championship 2024. The game will take place on Monday, August 26, 2024, at 2.45 pm IST at the ANFA Complex in Kathmandu, Nepal.

India has had a strong start to the tournament, securing 1-0 victories over Bhutan and the Maldives, which allowed them to top Group B. However, Bangladesh, the runners-up of the 2022 edition, will present a tougher challenge.

India’s head coach, Ranjan Chaudhuri, acknowledged the strength of the Bangladeshi team, stating, “Bangladesh are traditionally one of the stronger teams in this competition, and we will have to bring our best to the table tomorrow (Monday).”

The Blue Colts have scored only two goals in the tournament so far, making them one of the lowest-scoring teams among the semi-finalists. Despite this, Chaudhuri remains optimistic, highlighting the team’s strong defensive performance, as they have not conceded any goals yet. “Our defensive orientation has been pretty good in the last two matches. But we cannot sit on our laurels. We must also continue this good work in the knockout stage,” he said.

India has been focusing on improving their attacking game, with two good training sessions aimed at enhancing their finishing skills. “The boys had created a lot of chances against Bhutan and Maldives, but finishing was an area of concern,” Chaudhuri added.

India will see the return of key players Pramveer and Vanlalpeka Guite, who were suspended for one match after being sent off against Bhutan. However, they will miss striker Monirul Molla, who scored the winning goal against Bhutan, due to yellow card accumulation. “It’s good to have the two players back after their suspension, but we have another suspended player in the semi-final. Of course, these things tend to happen during a tournament like this, and we have to deal with it,” said Chaudhuri. He expressed confidence in the squad’s depth, stating, “We have 23 players in the squad, and I believe all of them are equal. The ones who will replace Monirul are capable enough to handle the situation.”