DOHA – Uzbekistan coach Vadim Abramov set the scene for his team’s Asian Cup quarter-final with Jordan on Friday by calling them dangerous, but lucky. The Uzbeks have been impressive in reaching the last eight, beating hosts Qatar 2-0, overcoming Kuwait 2-1 and drawing 2-2 with China as they seek to make the semi-finals for the first time.
Jordan also held their own, drawing with three-time champions Japan, then beating Saudi Arabia and Syria as they too look for a maiden last four appearance.
“They can play football and sometimes they have no chance to score and they do. Someone is helping them, maybe from upstairs,” he said, referring to God.
“They have been somewhat lucky, but they have not lost in four games and this a strong team tactically. Only eight teams are left in the tournament and they are still here, so we can’t underestimate them.” Jordan have a slew of injuries and yellow card suspensions to deal with, including the loss of talisman Odai Al Saify, who scored the winner to take his country into the last eight. The powerful striker has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a hamstring injury.
Playing down Abramov’s remarks, Jordan’s Iraqi coach Adnan Hamad said luck was part of football. “We hope to be lucky again,” said Hamad, who turned around Jordan’s fortunes in Asian Cup qualifying after taking over from Portuguese Nelo Vingada in April 2009. Meanwhile, Qatar coach Bruno Metsu has heralded Japan as “the Barcelona of Asia”, as he prepares to lead the hosts into battle against the Blue Samurai for a place in the Asian Cup semi-finals.
“They play fantastic football. I like their style of play,” said Frenchman Metsu, who is bidding to guide Qatar to the last four at the continental showdown for the first time in their history. “They didn’t win their first game, but they’ve kept the ball really well in all three of their games so far and I think they’re a better team than they were at the World Cup. “Looking at their match against Saudi Arabia, you could call them the Barcelona of Asia.” Friday’s game takes place at the stadium where Metsu spent “two good years” in charge of Qatari club side Al Gharafa.
YASER KICKED OUT OVER
ATTITUDE: Bruno Metsu explained that star midfielder Hussain Yaser was kicked off the hosts’ Asian Cup squad due to his disruptive influence on team morale.Team officials revealed on Wednesday that Yaser had stormed out of a training session the day before, reportedly in anger at having lost his place in the side to youngster Mohamed Al Sayed. The 28-year-old former Manchester City player, who currently plays for Egyptian giants Al Zamalek, started the opening game against Uzbekistan but was substituted in the second half and did not play against China or Kuwait. “I was expecting this question,” said Metsu after being asked about Yaser at the press conference prior to his team’s quarter-final against Japan. “You have to be in the right state of mind, but if the players haven’t got that kind of spirit, I think I have to kick them out.”
Cahill misses Australia training again: Everton’s Tim Cahill again sat out training on Thursday, as his Australian teammates said it was high time they got the better of holders Iraq ahead of their Asian Cup clash.
Cahill has been struggling with a thigh injury and team officials were tight-lipped about his prospects of making Saturday’s quarter-final showdown. Iraq pulled off a shock 3-1 win over the Socceroos in 2007 in the group stages, a victory which set them on the way to continental glory. “I don’t think revenge is the word,” said midfielder Brett Holman. “But it would be nice to get a win as they’ve won the last couple of games against us and had the upper hand.”
‘We fear no-one,’ says Korea’s Park Ji-Sung: South Korea captain Park Ji-Sung struck a bullish note ahead of his team’s Asian Cup quarter-final against Iran, with the Manchester United star asserting that the two-time champions fear no-one. Cho Kwang-Rae’s team thrashed India 4-1 in their final Group C came on Tuesday, setting up an appetising last-eight clash with Middle East giants Iran — their fifth consecutive meeting at this stage of the competition.
South Korea have not tasted success at the Asian showpiece tournament since 1960, but the current vintage showed impressive form in the group phase and Park says they are prepared to take on all-comers. “It doesn’t matter to us who we meet in the quarter-finals and we’ll try our best,” said Park, whose team tackle Group D winners Iran at Doha’s Qatar Sports Club Stadium on Saturday. “Iran are a strong team, one of the strongest teams in Asia, so it will be a difficult game for both teams.
“We know each other a lot so we have to prepare well to play against Iran and then we’ll try our best to win the game. “We have come here to win the title and we don’t fear anyone.” Iran prevailed 1-0 when the sides met in a friendly in Seoul in September but Park’s team-mate Lee Young-Pyo says his side will draw encouragement from their performances at the tournament to date. “Iran are a very strong team and that’s good motivation for us,” said the former Tottenham left-back. “We have a lot of experience playing against Iran and it won’t be easy. But our squad is good, we’ve played fantastic football and we’re never afraid of any team.”
