"I have led the team in a final in Myanmar a month ago, but this is my first final as captain in a full international. Like every man, leading the team in the final would be a magic moment for me. It's a mix of anxiousness and emotion. I want to write another chapter in my book of achievements tomorrow," Joy told reporters at the team hotel here yesterday.

The defensive midfielder, who has been in tremendous form despite nursing a knee injury, was dismissive of the result of the group match between the two finalists -- Bangladesh and India.

"That was a league game with little importance. The final will be totally different. We will be at full strength unlike that match when we fielded only two of the regular eleven and drew. It is positive for us but the final would be anybody's game," Joy predicted.

Like the coach, he also thinks that the team that will dominate 90 minutes would be the winners.

"India are a big opposition and has the tradition. With full respect to them, I am saying that we are the best motivated team in the tournament. We are highly inspired as defending champions and I believe it will drive us to win the trophy.

"If we get the bit of luck, we will have our hands on the trophy. They also have good players in all positions but maybe, they lack a good striker to support Baichung Bhutia. Their international exposure is better than us. So they will be a great opposition. But we are also ready to fight for 120 minutes even if the match goes into extra time.

He was not ready to accept Baichung as a 'major factor' in the final. "He is a superstar in this region and has a lot of experience. But I don't think about him alone. We are concentrating on the whole Indian team.

"Winning control in the midfield would be the key. We have the strongest midfield in the tournament but they also have experienced guys like Venkatesh and Climax Lawrence. It would be my responsibility to stamp our authority first in the middle.

PK BANNERJEE
On the other hand, India coach Syed Nayeemuddin imposed an embargo on his players to talk to press and instead manager and former Indian great PK Bannerjee came out to share his views.

"Bangladesh are holding aloft the tradition of Bengal, which is to possess the ball and control the game," said Bannerjee, who was talking highly of Bangladesh's style and form.

"The advantage of Bangladesh is all players are Bangalees. They can do whatever they like and tell proudly about their identity. We are Indians first, then Bangalee. If we call ourselves Bangalee, then people blame us for dividing the team.

"It's going to be a good and interesting game. Bangladesh have prepared better than us. We only got seven days to play together. And on top of that two important players from East Bengal joined only two days before the flight to Pakistan because the club didn't release them. In Bangladesh, the footballers were free for two months for national camp.

SHARIDA'S VIEWS
Looking at the final from a neutral point of view, Pakistan's Bahraini coach Salman Ahmed Sharida thinks that Bangladesh would have the edge in the match.

"I have seen both teams and I feel Bangladesh are well balanced to lift the title. They would be the team to beat but to kill the game against a formidable Indian side, they have to utilise early chances," Sharida suggested yesterday.