When the Bangladesh football team set off for Bengaluru around a fortnight ago to play the 2023 SAFF Championship, not many had expected them to cross the group-stage hurdle.

Bangladesh national football team coach Javier Cabrera asserted that his team deserved to win against a much stronger Kuwait in their semifinal clash in the ongoing SAFF Championships 2023 at the Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium on Saturday.

Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta played his last game for Japanese club Vissel Kobe on Saturday, as he prepares to continue his illustrious career elsewhere.

After the regulation 90 minutes ended goalless, defender Al Buloushi broke the hearts of Bangladesh fans in the added minutes of the first half of extra time.

Having made two impressive comebacks to win in their last two games against Maldives and Bhutan, Bangladesh looked threatening in the first half of their SAFF Championship semifinal against a superior Kuwait at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru today.

Center-back Tariq Kazi returned to Bangladesh playing eleven as the men in red and green take on a formidable Kuwait in their semifinals fixture of the SAFF Championship at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru today.

"The time of violence must give way to that of mourning, dialogue and reconstruction," the team said in a statement posted on social media by the Paris Saint-Germain superstar

Javier Cabrera's troops are brimming with confidence, having secured a semifinal berth for the first time in 14 years in the regional football extravaganza. The booters now have their sights on the final -- which Bangladesh last reached almost two decades ago in Pakistan in 2005

Tariq, who picked up a shin injury soon after giving Bangladesh a lead against Maldives on June 25, went through four days of rest before Friday's training session.

India captain Sunil Chhetri says he would prefer to meet Bangladesh in the final of the SAFF Championship.

The Kuwait coach said he won't be taking Bangladesh lightly in the semifinals.

Bangladesh have already achieved their SAFF Championship objective -- reaching the semifinal this edition. But following inspirational performances in the final two group games, against Maldives and Bhutan, Jamal Bhuiyan and Co. are now aiming to go even further as they take on Kuwait, arguably the toughest team in the tournament, in Saturday’s first semifinal at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

Paris Saint Germain coach Christophe Galtier is under arrest for questioning along with his son as part of a probe into alleged discrimination, the Nice prosecutor told AFP on Friday.

More often than not, a guilt-ridden Rakib Hossain watched a particular footage of the 2021 SAFF Championship whenever he recalled that event. The Bangladesh winger had always taken the blame for his unforced error that evaporated Bangladesh’s chance to play in the final.

Both players appeared in 2017 as witnesses during the multi-million-euro corruption trial of former Dinamo Zagreb boss Zdravko Mamic providing details of their transfers from the current Croatia champions

Martino, former coach of Messi with Barcelona and Argentina, said he had spoken to the seven-times Ballon d'Or winner and former Spain midfielder Busquets about their impending move to the Major League Soccer club

United will pay an additional £5 million dependent on Mount's appearances and success at Old Trafford, the reports said

"Sporting federations whose task is to ensure the good functioning of public services... can impose a neutrality requirement on their players in competitions and sporting events, to guarantee the smooth running of matches and any clashes or confrontation," the Constitutional Council said in a statement

Espanyol said Thursday a two-game stadium closure was a "disproportionate and unjust" punishment after their fans invaded the pitch and chased Barcelona players down the tunnel.

Despite being thousands of miles away from beloved family and friends, the booters celebrated Eid with contentment in Bengaluru today following a much-awaited achievement the night before.