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Forwards confident while backline wavers

Sports Reporter from Biratnagar
The Bangladesh team's vulnerable backline will likely be a major concern in their SAFF Women's Championship semifinal encounter with four-time champions India
on March 20.
Bangladesh had suffered a massive 1-7 goal defeat to India in the Tokyo Olympic Qualifiers last November. In addition, the women in red and green suffered a 0-3 defeat to hosts Nepal in a group-stage match of the ongoing tournament even though they held the side to a 1-1 draw in the Olympic Qualifiers four months ago.
If Bangladesh hope to defeat India then the defenders will have to play a key role in denying India's forwards while also trying not to make as many mistakes as they had against Nepal in the group stages.
"We made two mistakes against Nepal and the coaches had a separate meeting with the defenders to make us understand those mistakes. We don't know the game plan for the semifinal yet but India launch attacks from both flanks and we, defenders, have to deal with that well," said centre-back Akhi Khatun, who was however reluctant to say that they have the ability to beat India.
On the other hand, the forwards in the squad are apparently confident about at least giving their superior opponents a run for their money.
“I have played against India three times, including two matches in the last edition of the SAFF Championship. We held India [to a draw] in a group-stage match before suffering a 1-3 defeat in the final. If we could draw with them two years ago then why can't we beat them now? Especially since we have improved in the last two years," Krishna Rani Sarker, who is expected to feature against India after missing the two group-stage matches due to a knee injury, told reporters after a train-
ing session at the Delhi Public School ground in Biratnagar.
The return of winger Krishna will definitely add an edge to Bangladesh's attacking third seeing as strike pair Sabina Khatun and Sirat Jahan Swapna were hardly assisted from the flanks during the match against Nepal.
“I have been trying my best to get goals but I couldn't strike any in the last two matches. You saw I mustered a shot on target which came off despite beating Nepal's goalkeeper and I faced criticism for that from sirs, who asked me to keep trying. I want to do it in the semifinal," said Swapna at the team hotel.
"We toiled hard in the last two years and believe we can get results in the semifinal. But I think it is not an easy task to score against India, who are a really experienced side," continued Swapna, who struck the solitary goal in a 3-1 defeat to India in the last SAFF Women's Championship's final.
The forwards may believe that they can beat India but the defenders and midfielders are seemingly taking a more cautious approach.
"The semifinal is a do-or-die match and we will try to play accordingly. I can't tell you what the result will be but I can say that the match will be a very tough competition if we can put up our natural performance,” vice-captain Mishrat Jahan Moushumi said. "India is a strong team, who always play well. They have good players from goalkeeping to the forward line. India and Nepal are almost equal in terms of strength."
India have not lost a match in the SAFF Women's Championship since its introduction in 2010, however, they were held to a 0-0 draw by Bangladesh in a group-stage match during the last edition. Following that courageous performance, the women in red and green emerged as a new hope to defeat pre-tournament favourites India, who stormed into the semifinals with 11 goals in two matches.