No let-up for Qatar after World Cup reprieve
Reuters - Monday 13 October 2008, 07:00
BANGKOK - After escaping being expelled
for fielding an ineligible player, Qatar are more buoyant than
ever in World Cup qualifying, with a new coach and desire to
keep their surprise Group One lead.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared Qatar of
wrongdoing last month, giving them the green light to chase a
spot at their first World Cup finals.
The Gulf side travel to Brisbane on Wednesday for a match
against third-placed Australia, who hammered them 3-0 in
Melbourne in February and could take top spot with another win.
New coach Bruno Metsu, who quit Group Two strugglers United
Arab Emirates two weeks ago, however said his side would not
relinquish their slender lead easily.
"I promise you that we will play differently this time
around," said Metsu. "Even though we might be under pressure
for large parts of the game, we will get our chances if we keep
calm and keep working hard."
The Socceroos are boosted by the return of Everton's Tim
Cahill after an eight-month absence, though Galatasary's Harry
Kewell and Palermo's Mark Bresciano are injured and ruled out.
UZBEK WOES
World Cup regulars Japan could also seize the initiative in
Group One if they beat Uzbekistan, whose form has taken an
inexplicable nose-dive after they dominated the last two
qualifying rounds with a deluge of goals.
Japan's midfield will be bolstered by three European-based
players in Shunsuke Nakamura of Celtic, Makoto Hasebe of
Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt's Junichi Inamoto.
Uzbekistan's woes continued on Saturday when they lost 3-0
in a friendly to South Korea, who have a chance to leap from
fourth to top in Group Two if they can overcome bottom side
UAE.
The South Koreans, Asia's most successful team in the World
Cup, are chasing a place at their seventh-successive finals and
welcome back Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung, who
missed the 1-1 draw with North Korea.
Iran also have a chance to snatch the group lead from North
Korea when they face the unlikely frontrunners in Tehran.
Iran coach Ali Daei will have to cope without former Asian
player of the year Ali Karimi, who quit the team on Friday over
a festering dispute with Iranian soccer officials.
Daei was dismissive of the player's abrupt departure and
insisted his side would still cope without his midfield
prowess.
"A team is not based on one player. We have 11 players in
the field and we won't have any problems," Daei told reporters.
The top two teams in each group will reach South Africa
2010. The two third-placed sides will then play over two legs
for a chance to face Oceania champions New Zealand in a playoff
for an additional berth in the 32-team finals.
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