‘The results in this World Cup have been unpredictable’

The FIFA World Cup fever has swept across Bangladesh, and Bangladesh women’s football defender Afeida Khandokar is no exception. A passionate Brazil supporter, Afeida has been closely following the World Cup with her parents and sisters in Satkhira. In a detailed interview with The Daily Star’s Anisur Rahman, the 20-year-old spoke about her passion and analysis of the greatest show on earth, Brazil’s performances, her football idols, and Bangladesh’s women’s football. Following are the excerpts:

The Daily Star (DS): How have you been enjoying the World Cup, considering most matches are being played late at night?

Afeida Khandokar (AK): I am enjoying the World Cup a lot. There has been excitement in almost every match because the results have been unpredictable. For example, when a team like Spain drew a match, it showed that nothing can be taken for granted.

DS: There has been debate about whether the World Cup’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams has affected the quality of football. What is your view?

AK: I do not think the standard has fallen because of more teams participating. It is actually good for football. Smaller nations that did not previously have the chance to play at this level can now showcase their ability. More participation will increase competition and help countries improve.

DS: You are a Brazil supporter. How do you assess their performance so far?

AK: I am a little disappointed with Brazil’s performance this time. Compared to other teams, they seem a bit slower. They are not playing the fast football we usually associate with Brazil and have become more dependent on counter-attacks. All three of their goals against Haiti came from counter-attacks.

DS: How do you view Argentina’s performances? Is there any rivalry at home while watching Brazil and Argentina matches?

AK: At home, all four of us -- my parents, my sister and I -- support Brazil, so there is no rivalry there. But I have liked the way Argentina have played. Their team bonding is excellent and everyone supports Lionel Messi. I feel Cristiano Ronaldo has not received the same support from his teammates.

DS: Who are your favourites to win the World Cup? How have the Asian teams impressed you?

AK: Football is very difficult to predict, but France, England, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and the Netherlands are among the favourites. Japan and other Asian teams are also doing well because they are getting the opportunity to compete on the world stage and are giving their 100 per cent effort.

DS: What are your memories of watching previous World Cups?

AK: The first World Cup I remember watching was in 2014 when Germany became champions but I did not understand much about football at that time. During the 2018 World Cup, I was at BKSP and we watched matches in the hostel television room, but I could not stay up too late because we had training the next morning. During the Qatar World Cup, we were in the national camp because the Women’s League was taking place. There was a lot of fun and friendly arguments between Brazil and Argentina supporters in the team.

DS: Who is your favourite footballer and who do you follow in your own position?

AK: Neymar is my favourite player. Despite his injuries, I still enjoy watching him play. As a defender, I also admire Sergio Ramos. I watch videos from his Real Madrid days and try to learn his tackling and interception techniques.

DS: Do you believe Bangladesh women can dream of playing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup?

AK: Inshallah, Bangladesh will achieve something big in the future. We are progressing step by step. We became South Asian champions and are now competing at the Asian level. To reach the World Cup, we need to play more matches against stronger opponents, improve our training facilities and continue following the guidance of our coaches.

DS: How important is the domestic league in that regard?

AK: The women’s domestic league is very important. The men’s league runs throughout the year, but our league finishes within a month. I believe it should last at least six months. It would help players financially and give us more opportunities to play competitive matches.