United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh were eliminated from the five-team Group A of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers losing to upper ranked and hosts Vietnam by 1-4 goals in their 3rd group match at the Lach Tray Stadium in the Vietnamese city of Hai Phong Friday evening. With the day's feat, hosts Vietnam jointly dominated the Group A  with Syria securing full nine points from straight three group matches while Bangladesh remained at bottom to  eliminate from the meet bagging only one point from three outings. Hosts Vietnam, FIFA ranked 116th, dominated the first half of the day's match by 3-1 goals against FiFA ranked 186th Bangladesh. Forward Hoang Minh Tien struck twice and midfielder Le Van Quang Duyet netted the other goal Vietnam while Piash Nova netted the face saving goal for Bangladesh in the first half. Captain Nguyen Cong Phuang completed the Vietnamese tally scoring the lone goal in the 2nd half.   Hoang opened the Vietnam account in the very 4th minute of the match by a placing ground shot from goal mouth melee (1-0). Opportunist Hoang again doubled the Vietnam margin in the 29th minute by an intelligent shot from close utilizing shakiness of Bangladesh custodian Ismail Mahin (2-0). Piash Nova reduced the Bangladesh margin in the 41st minute by a good header from danger zone, off a left wing cross of his teammate (2-1). Just two minutes later, Le Van Quang Duyet further widen the Vietnamese margin in the 42nd minute by an spectacular shot from about 35 yards that kissed net hitting the cross bar (3-1). Captain cum medio Nguyen Cong Phuang sealed the fate of the match scoring the 4th goal for Vietnam in the 81st minute by a free kick from top of the box (4-1). Bangladesh goalkeeper Ismail Mahin was off coloured and nervous in the match to concede goal one after another. He was fully responsible for conceding the 2nd goal.   Hosts Vietnam earned a deserving victory in the day's match playing a good football. Earlier, Bangladesh team made a frustrating start in the meet after suffering a huge 0-4 goals defeat against FIFA ranked 92nd Arabian nation Syria in the first match. The misery of fresh SAFF U-20 champions Bangladesh was further consolidated as they drew 2-2 with FIFA ranked 204th Guam despite the dominated the match twice. Earlier, Bangladesh team was placed in five- team Group A of the U-20 Asian Cup with Syria, hosts Vietnam, Bhutan and Guam. In the remaining group match, Bangladesh will play Bhutan on Sunday (Sept 29). Ten Asian group champions along with five best group runners up will qualify for the next round of the AFC U-2O Asian Cup.  

The Bangladesh U-20 football team will play upper ranked and hosts Vietnam in their third Group A match of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup' 2025 Qualifiers on Friday.The match between FIFA ranked 116th Vietnan and ranked 186th Bangkadesh will kick off at 6:00 pm Bangladesh time at the Lach Tray Stadium in the Vietnamese city of Hai Phong.Ahead of Friday's match, the Bangladesh team made their practice there Thursday afternoon from 3:15 to 4:45 pm.The Bangladesh team made a frustrating start in the Asian Youth Group meet after suffering a huge 0-4 goal defeat against FIFA ranked 92nd Arabian nation Syria in the first match.The misery of fresh SAFF U-20 champions Bangladesh was further consolidated as they drew 2-2 with FIFA ranked 204th Guam despite dominating the match twice.Earlier, the Bangladesh team was placed in five-team Group A of the U-20 Asian Cup with Syria, hosts Vietnam, Bhutan, and Guam. In the remaining group match, Bangladesh will play Bhutan on Sunday. Ten Asian group champions, along with five best group runners-up, will qualify for the next round of the AFC U-2O Asian Cup.

Bangladesh will play Pakistan and India will face Nepal in two semifinals of the seven-nation South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-17 Championship on Saturday (Sept 28). Group A champions India will play Group B runners up Nepal in the first semifinal at 2pm while Group B champions Pakistan will encounter Group A runners up Bangladesh at 6pm, both at the Changlimithang Stadium in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu on Saturday. The final match will be held on Monday (September 30) at 6pm at the same venue. In the Group B matches on Wednesday, Pakistan emerged group champions with unbeaten run securing seven points outplaying Sri Lanka by 5-1 goals while Nepal finished group runners-up with six points, beating hosts Bhutan by 2-1 goals. Earlier on Tuesday, defending champions India crushed the Maldives by 3-0 goals to reach the semifinal with an all-win record securing a full six points and also carried Bangladesh to the semifinal at the cost of the Maldives. Bangladesh managed a semifinal berth as Group A runners up securing only one point from both the group matches playing 1-1 draw with Islanders Maldives after conceding 0-1 goal defeat against India in the injury time. The Maldives eliminated from the meet due to poor goal differences despite collecting one point from two matches like Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Bangladesh football team had their practices at the Bhutan Football Academy ground from 4 pm to 5:30 pm on Wednesday.  

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has ligament damage in his right knee, the club said Wednesday without giving a time frame for his potential absence. The Spain international, who is among the favorites to win this year’s Ballon d’Or award for the best player in the world, limped off after 20 minutes of the 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. The 28-year-old Rodri traveled to Spain on Monday to seek specialist consultation on the problem and City has confirmed he “suffered a ligament injury.” “Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis,” the English champions said. City manager Pep Guardiola said Tuesday he expects to be without Rodri for "a long time" but revealed there were "some opinions that it will be less than we expect.” “We’re waiting for the last phone calls from the doctors to know exactly what definitely he has and the type of surgery he has to get,” Guardiola said after City's 2-1 win over Watford in the English League Cup. Rodri’s absence is a major blow to City’s ambitions of winning a record-extending fifth straight Premier League title this season as he is arguably the team’s most important player because of how he protects the defense and conducts its passing game. His importance to Guardiola’s team was underlined last season when City lost four of nine games without the inspirational midfielder in all competitions. By comparison, City lost just one of 50 games with him in the team. Guardiola said Tuesday that Rodri is the “best midfielder in the world” and described him as “irreplaceable.” Rodri fell to the ground in pain after jostling with Arsenal’s Thomas Partey in the box at a corner and immediately called for help. He was starting a game for the second time this season after being granted an extended break by City following the European Championship, which Rodri won with Spain in July. He was also voted player of the tournament at Euro 2024. Just last week, Rodri said top players could soon go on strike because of the number of games they are being asked to play as new competitions are introduced to an already-packed soccer calendar and matches are added to existing tournaments. The Champions League has been expanded this season with two more games for each club in a new-look league stage in the first round. Next year’s expanded Club World Cup will be a 32-team event for the first time and is slated to take place during the offseason for many major leagues, in June-July. The new Club World Cup format has prompted a legal challenge from players’ unions. On Tuesday, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said the risk of more injuries to top players was “almost unavoidable” because of the increased demands on players.

Former France and Real Madrid center back Raphael Varane announced his retirement on Wednesday, ending a career that included a World Cup title and a big haul of club trophies. The 31-year-old Varane signed with promoted Serie A club Como in July but injured his knee during his only appearance with the club — an Italian Cup match against Sampdoria last month. “In my career I have taken on many challenges, rose to occasion after occasion, almost all of it was supposed to be impossible,” Varane wrote on Instagram. “Reflecting on these moments, it is with immense pride and a feeling of fulfillment that I am announcing my retirement from the game that we all love.” Varane was arguably the tournament’s standout defender when France won the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he scored the most important of his five international goals with a header against Uruguay in the quarterfinals. An elegant, ball-playing defender with excellent positional sense thanks to his quick reading of the game, Varane formed a solid center back pairing with Samuel Umtiti in that tournament. He also helped Madrid to four Champions League titles and three Spanish league trophies. He moved to Manchester United in 2021 but was restricted to 95 appearances in his three seasons in England — mainly because of injuries. Varane began his career at Lens. “From Lens to Madrid to Manchester, and playing for our national team. I have defended every badge with everything I have, and loved every minute of the journey,” Varane said. “I have no regrets, I wouldn’t change a thing. I have won more than I could have even dreamed of." Varane had already retired from France's national team, a few months after the World Cup final defeat to Argentina in 2022. During that match, his 93rd for Les Bleus after making his debut in 2013, he fell to the ground exhausted deep into extra time. Over the years he became one of the main leaders in the France team under coach Didier Deschamps, along with goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, midfielder Paul Pogba and forward Antoine Griezmann. “Knowing him, I know that this decision, which is always difficult to take, came after mature reflection,” Deschamps said. “It's therefore the right decision, which we must respect. Speed, vision, technique, mental strength, Raphaël had all the right qualities to achieve the magnificent career that was his.” Varane played a total of 22 matches in major tournaments. “I will remember a player who was focused on others and on the team. He had a perfect rapport with captain Hugo Lloris,” Deschamps said. “In the national team, and wherever he went, he always left the impression of being a great professional.” Varane said he would remain at Como: “Just without using my boots and shin pads. Something I am looking forward to sharing more about soon.” Como got its first Serie A victory in more than 21 years when coach Cesc Fabregas’ team won 3-2 at Atalanta on Tuesday.

Neymar is not ready for an imminent return to play for Al-Hilal, the head coach of the Saudi Arabian club has announced. The Brazilian star signed for the Riyadh team in August 2023 but played just five games when he underwent surgery after rupturing his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee while on international duty in October. After Neymar, 32, returned to training in July, speculation grew that he was close to a return but coach Jorge Jesus dampened expectations in a post-match media conference. “Neymar is an important player for Al-Hilal and the league in general,” Jesus, who led Al-Hilal to a 19th league title in May, said on Tuesday. “I can’t, however, specify a date as to when he will return but we will look at the situation in January.” Neymar will be able to be registered by Al-Hilal in January for the second half of the Saudi Pro League (SPL ) season. With SPL teams allowed to register a maximum of eight foreign players over the age of 21, Neymar’s place in the roster for the first half of the league campaign was taken by Marcos Leonardo, signed from Benfica earlier in September. Upon return to fitness Neymar, whose two-year contract ends next August, is eligible, however, to appear in Al-Hilal’s ongoing AFC Champions League Elite campaign as the continental competition has no restrictions on the number of foreign players allowed.

Bangladesh reached the semifinal Group A of the seven- nation South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) U-17 Championship as India crushed the Maldives by 3-0 goals in their last group match at the Changlimithang Stadium in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu on Tuesday. With the day's well merited victory, defending champions India not only stormed into the semifinal of the meet with an all-win record securing full six points but also made a passage for Bangladesh to the semifinal at the cost of the Maldives. Before the day's match, the semifinal berth of Bangladesh under huge threat as they played 1-1 draw with Islanders Maldives after conceding 0-1 goal defeat against India in the injury time. Winless Bangladesh, which bagged only a point from both the group matches, waiting for India's 2-0 win over the Maldives to assure their semifinal berth and finally achieved their target as the Group A runners up at the coffin of the Islanders. Maldives was eliminated from the meet due to poor goal differences despite collecting one point from two matches like Bangladesh. In Group B, both Pakistan and hosts Bhutan secured the semifinal berth securing four points each, but the group champions and runners-up will be finalized after their last group matches on Wednesday. Pakistan will play Sri Lanka at 1:30 pm while hosts Bhutan will face Nepal at 5:30 pm on the day to decide the group fate. In the semifinals on Sept 28, Group A champions India will play Group B runners up at 2pm while Group B champions will face Group A runners Bangladesh at 6pm both at the same venue. The final match will be held on Sept 30 at 6pm.  

The Bangladesh- origin English footballer Hamza Dewan Choudhury finally got" no objection" from England Football Association to play for the Bangladesh team. Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) sought no objection from England FA to play Hamza for Bangladesh team in the 4th week of last month and finally got it recently after waiting for about three weeks. BFF general secretary Emran Hossain Tushar confirmed it on Tuesday. Hamza, an English professional footballer cum defensive midfielder of English premier league club Leicester City FC, needed clearance from England FA to play for Bangladesh team as he had played for England Youth U-21 team earlier  The 26-year-old footballer from Leicester City had expressed his desire to represent Bangladesh at the international level and got his Bangladeshi passport from Bangladesh High Commission in London earlier. Soon after having no objection from the England Football Association, the BFF applied to  FIFA players status committee with necessary documents for the permission to let Hamza into the Bangladesh team. After getting the green signal from FIFA committee, Hamza have no other restriction to play for Bangladesh national  team, likely in November window.    

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is facing a long spell on the sidelines after his club said Monday that he sustained a “complete rupture” of a tendon in his right knee that requires surgery. Ter Stegen left the field on a stretcher after getting injured in a 5-1 win over Villarreal in the Spanish league on Sunday. Ter Stegen’s right knee buckled when he fell awkwardly after going for a high cross into the area just before halftime. Barcelona said that surgery on Ter Stegen's knee was planned Monday after tests confirmed “that he has a complete rupture in the patella tendon in his right knee.” The injury comes just as Ter Stegen had been confirmed as the German national team’s No. 1 goalkeeper after years as Manuel Neuer’s backup. Neuer retired from international soccer after Euro 2024 and coach Julian Nagelsmann said Ter Stegen — who has played 42 games for Germany but none at a major tournament — would be first choice in the future. However, he only played two Nations League games before his injury. “The news of Marc’s injury was a big shock for us," Nagelsmann said Monday. "We in the national team are going to miss him on and off the field. We wish Marc all the best for the operation and a quick recovery. We’ll always be there for him on his way back.” Germany’s most recent squad included backup goalkeepers Alexander Nübel from Stuttgart and Oliver Baumann from Hoffenheim. Neither has played a game for Germany. The 32-year-old Ter Stegen is one of Barcelona's captains and had started all seven of the team's games this season. His appearance against Villarreal was his 289th with the club, and took him past legendary Antoni Ramallets into third place on the club's all-time list of appearances for goalkeepers. Ter Stegen's immediate backup at Barcelona is Iñaki Peña. The club is expected to add another goalkeeper to its squad. Barcelona is off to a perfect start in the Spanish league by winning all six games so far. Coach Hansi Flick is already without several regular starters because of injury, including Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo. “We have to accept it," Flick said of Ter Stegen's injury. "It’s not easy. It was an accident.” Barcelona's next match is against Getafe in the Spanish league on Wednesday.

Bangladesh U-20 Football team made another frustrating 2-2 draw with lowly Guam in their 2nd Group A match of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup' 2025 Qualifiers played at the Lach Tray Stadium in the Vietnamese city of Hai Phong Monday afternoon. In their first group engagement last uuSaturday, the SAFF U-20 champions Bangladesh, suffered a huge 0-4 goals defeat against FIFA ranked 92nd Arabian nation Syria after trailing by 0-2 goals in the first half. In the day's match, the FIFA ranked 186th Bangladesh miserably deprived of a win against FIFA 204th ranked Guam despite of dominating the match twice. The SAFF U-20's best player Mirajul Islam put Bangladesh ahead in the very 6th minute (1-0) while Shuntaro Suzuki leveled the margin for Guam in the 75th minute(1-1). Moinul Islam again put Bangladesh ahead in the 87th minute (2-1) while Curtis Harmon of Guam neutralized match in the injury time (90+1 minute). Earlier, Bangladesh team was placed in five- team Group A of the U-20 Asian Cup with Syria, hosts Vietnam, Bhutan and Guam. In the remaining group matches, Bangladesh will play hosts Vietnam on Friday (Sept 27) and Bhutan on Sunday (Sept 29). Ten Asian group champions along with five best group runners up will qualify for the next round of the AFC U-2O Asian Cup.