Maldives ready to face the giant
Date: 29 November 2006 | Uploaded: 4:20 AM
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 Maldives team at yesterday's practice |
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Doha, QATAR - Maldives are expecting a better result from their opening game against Asia’s giant Iran in today. Maldives team had their last practice session here in Doha yesterday and it seems the players are in good shape to face the defending champions. Shinaz, who was injured in the warm up matches are also participating in the practices.
Regarding today’s game, coach Stoikov refused to give any comments while team manager Addo provided some.
Addo believes the team’s preparation went quite well in last few days including the games held at Oman and stated the team is in a good form to face a team like Iran.
‘ Our preparation are good and the team is in good form as well, we are ready to face Iran tomorrow (Today)’ he said.
‘Our boys did really well in the practice matches, and I hope they will do the same against Iran’ He added.
Iran is believed to be the strongest in the competition, winning the title four times took them on top of any other country.
Iran also brought an experienced squad to Doha including players who appeared in Germany (FIFA world Cup 2006) last summer.
Iran was unbeaten in their last 11 Asian Games, they had nine wins and two draws. They never looked back when they were beaten by Oman 4-2 in 1998’s event held at Bangkok.
Iran is looking forward to beat Maldievs today to equal the record by Uzbekistan as the longest consecutive run of unbeaten matches. Uzbeks did the record from October 1994 to December 1998, their perfect run was halted by Iran in 1998’s quarter final.
Iran faced problems prior to this year’s Asian Games and the biggest is the FIFA suspension of their Association believing the governing body has government influence and are running not according to FIFA rules. Recently FIFA has given them a temporary approval exclusively for the Asian Games and for the under 23 team.
The biggest threat from Iran to Maldives in today’s game will be their striker Borhani Arash, who is also a member of Iran’s world cup team as well as 2005’s West Asian Games team.
France international and Arsenal captain Theirry Henry described Borhani saying ‘It is really nice to watch him playing. His pace and skills are excellent’
Asian Games football event started yesterday. Korea beat a very defensive Bangladesh 3-0. Uzbekistan managed to get victory against a spirited UAE by 2-1. Thailand's first half goal against Palestine was enough to secure them their first three points.
Bahran beat Vietnam 2-1 and all the goals were scored in the first half. Kuwait easily outcasted the Kyrgzstans by 3-0 and host Qatar marked their appearence with a 3-0 win against Jordan.
Today's macthes are:
at 17:15 (19:15 Maldives time)
India vs Hong Kong
Oman vs Malaysia
Japan vs Pakistan
at 19:45 (21: 45 Maldives Time)
Iran vs Maldives
China vs Iraq
DPR Korea vs Syria
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User Comments |
we all r with our national football team - malah
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Addo seems to be a magician. He recently joined with the team in Doha yet he seems to know a lot better than his coach. While coach maintained absolute silence manager’s ‘promising’ words are music to ears. Looks like a damage control exercise to the venomous utterance of coach in this years SAFF games - Y2K
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