Emergency executive committee meetings, a 'decisive' democratic decision making process, an animated press conference and a re-integration. Bangladesh football has been busy, behind the scenes, in the last month. But nothing has changed as far as the national football side are concerned as Shahidur Rahman Shantoo's boys slumped to a pitiful 1 -0 loss to an Indian national side only in name.

The U23s from our neighbouring country provided the national hooters with a lesson in combination football, possession play and intelligent ball retention to send the hosts out despite the packed house at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

As far as 1 -0 victories go, this is as emphatic as it gets. Bangladesh were abject for almost the entire game failing to create even one noteworthy chance. Playing in a formation that is now only consigned to the museum did nothing to help matters. The fact that the youngsters from India gave them the runaround can only add insult to injury for our 'proud' veterans, who huffed and puffed but could not blow the house down.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is left with egg on their faces and will struggle

to pick up the pieces. In hindsight, the decision to sack Edson Silva Dido over his youthful team selection now looks completely farcical. And now the question that will be asked is: what good did sacking Dido do?

The answer is evident for all who care about the game. Losing with a youthful side has innumerable advantages. Losing with a side chock full of players past their prime has none. It's only embarrassing.

The dreams of a place in the final went up in smoke last night, but the signs had been there from the beginning. Barring a good showing against a shockingly poor Bhutan, Bangladesh had been struggling for the entire tournament. They were lucky to draw Pakistan 0-0 and a stirring win against Sri Lanka was diluted by the fact that the islanders rested a number of first team players.

But the real losers will be the fans who turned up in droves yesterday. It is a testament to the giant strides that the game has made in the last year that the irate home fans stayed on deep into injury time in the blind hope of an equaliser. Their explosion of frustration was misdirected, but it shows how much they care for the game.

For their sake hopefully, the BFF will finally close the chapter on the glorified veterans and give the young brigade a chance to prove themselves.

And if this loss doesn't convince them, nothingwill.