Sri Lanka looking for home advantage against Bhutan
View(s):Sri Lanka will host Bhutan at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo on Thursday (March 12), in a clash of the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifier. The kickoff time is set at 3.00pm as Sri Lanka looks forward to take hold of the home advantage, aiming for a win.
Sri Lanka football team
This qualifier encounter will be the curtain raiser on the road to the FIFA World Cup 2018 to be held in Russia. Sri Lanka is currently at 173 in FIFA ranking and will have the opportunity to qualify for the second round. If Sri Lanka moves forward it will be the first ever occasion the island nation reaches the second round in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, in the history of 75 years. Thus Sri Lanka will have an opportunity of playing 10 international matches in the second round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers 2018.
Sri Lanka will be led by Chathuranga Sanjeewa of Sri Lanka Navy and have appointed two vice captains — Sujan Perera and Nalaka Roshan. Currently Sri Lanka is gearing up for the first round challenge under the guidance of its head coach Nicola Kavazovic from Serbia, together with Sampath Perera, Dudley Stainwall, Mahinda Galagedara and team manager Balendra Anthony. Sri Lanka will pick a final playing XI from a squad of 30 players prior to the game. Bhutan will host Sri Lanka in the away game at Thimpu on March 17. The last time when both teams met at SAFF Tournament, Sri Lanka beat Bhutan by 5 goals to 2.
Sri Lanka (from): Chathuranga Sanjeewa (Captain), Sujan Perera, Mohamed Imran, Dasun Paranawithanage, Tharindu Eranga, Sanjeev Shanmugarajah, Asikur Rahuman, Charitha Ratnayake, Mohamed Rifnaz, Subash Madushan, S. Godwin, Roshan Appuhamy, Mohamed Hakeem, Nalaka Roshan, Thiruna Senanayake, Zohar Zarwan, Madushan de Silva, Chameera Mendis, Kacindu Ishan, Darshaka Chandraratne, Devinda Bandara, Suranda Bandara, Mohamed Fazal, Prabath Ruwan, Shanaka Wijesena, Mohamed Rizni, Chathuranga Madushan, Mohamed Nifraz, Amith Kumara, Tharindu Lakmal.