Placed in a tight group with the United Arab Emirates. Japan. Thailand and Sri Lanka in the qua

lifying first round of the 1994 World Cup football championships. the Bang-ladesh national football team faces a really tough campaign ahead.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) who. along with South Korea represented Asia in the World Cup finals held in Italy last year, are one of the leading members of Group 'F in which Bangladesh finds herself following last Sunday's draw in Wur«. the performances of both the UAE and the Koreans were poor in Italia-'90.The way the UAE played against the then West Germany, who went on to become the' 1990 World Cup champions, was indeed pathetic. However, notwithstanding the disappointment of ltalla-'9O. the Emirates will no doubt try their level best to go into the final round of .the 1994 finals to be held in the United States. But the path will be an arduous one. First, they will have to be the Group F champions and then will have to meet the other ftve group-champlons in the second round of the qualifying phase. The top two teams from the second round will move into the finals. But with Japan in the same Group 'F. the Emirates will definitely have a difficult qualifying task.

Japan, who beat Tottenham sive ?our goals to ni^in a re-

cent game, are planning serious professional football, in all likelihood either in late 1992 as early 1993. With international soccer stars like Brazilian Careca, Englishman Gary Lineker and other famous names in their league the Japanese will definitely be looking forward to playing In the US finals four years hence.

Thailand and Sri Lanka, the other two group mates of Bangladesh, are quite familiar with our brand of football. Thankfully, the footballing potentials of these two countries are not that rich.

Bangladesh met the former in the qualifying rounds of the 1986 and 1990 World Cups. Thailand beat Bangladesh by three goals to nil in the match played in Bangkok in 1985. But in the home leg. Bangladesh edged past Thailand 1-0 in Dhaka. Again, in the qualifying round of World Cup- '90. Bangladesh beat Thailand 3-1 in the home leg in Dhaka while the Thais outplayed Bangladesh by a solitary goal In the away leg In Bangkok.

Bangladesh have not yet met Sri Lanka in the qualifying rounds of the World Cup but in club-level competitions over the years teams from the two SAARC countries have met one another. As far as club soccer Is concerned. Bangladesh have tended to get the better of their Lankan opponents. Footballers from Sri Lanka have played for different Dhaka dubs including Abahani Krira Chakra and Mohammedan Sporting Club. This year. too. two Lankan

players are assisting PWD Club. In international matches, such as the SAF Games. Bangladesh have tended to dominate the Srl Lankans.

Bangladeshi fans will naturally expect better performances from their players this time around.

BANGLADESH'S

' FoUowi^P^ results of the Bangladesh football team in the qualifying rounds of the 1990 and 1986 World Cup football championships:

World Cup-90:

Group 5 of Asia: Participants: Bangladesh.

Iran, People s Republic of China and Thailand.