Good analysis but they are clear favorites yet have to work hard to progress? Anyhoo, some interesting results and I wonder if we are seeing a shift in the balance of power.. you'd have to say from group A, Bahrain and Oman would be the favorites to progress yet their game was a real snoozer... yet, UAE - Qatar was quite entertaining, and this UAE side, while very young looked quite good. Abdulrahman or whatever his name is definitely a player for the future. But after seeing these talented Oman & Bahrain teams over the last decades, I'm wondering if it's time for UAE to rise now? Saudi Arabia in real trouble already... Saudi Arabia vs. Kuwait at the end could be the winner takes all clash...
You are spot on glennaldo. I just wrote a piece on the UAE side after their game with Qatar discussing some of the above and more: http://sandalsforgoalposts.com/2013/01/07/mahdis-boys-come-of-age/ Outlines why I think they are on the rise...it's no coincidence that performance. Iraq look solid, but still a team gelling together. The next round of games should reveal far more, but Bahrain are in for a very tough one!
Watched the KSA v Iraq match. Our big problem is scoring goals. We had the better of the match, but just couldn't get the ball in the net. Yasser was a waste of time, Fahad al-Muwallad was wasted on the right wing (and while he was dangerous lacked composure). Can't we do better than this up front? Another thing is tempo. When you're controlling possession you need to raise the pressure on the opponents, but instead we keep slowing the play and give the Iraqis a breather. To be fair, KSA were unfortunate to lose. Iraq didn't do much all game, but they managed to profit from 2 poorly defended set plays and that's what counts.
One wise man once said the better team still can win with less efforts and that is exactly what we did. Saudi Arabia team is respectful team and we respected them. If we want to play with full strength we would, but Hakeem shaker was thinking further than Saudi Arabia. I think Iraq will lunch their full strength in the second half of Kuwait match. Unless Hakeem has something else to prove (like starting to push his young players and entering them in the second half against Kuwait and Yemen match) p.s my memory is rusty lately and I cant remember clearly right now but did Saudi Arabia made any shoots against Iraq goalkeeper? I remember Noor was flaying once but the ball was actually wide... Oh well. It doesn't matter any way.
yes, they are through to the semifinals, granted that Yemen does not beat Saudi Arabia.... any other result and they are guaranteed a spot in the semis as Kuwait and Saudi play each other in the last match and cannot both take maximum points... just out of curiosity... what is the tie-breaker format for this tournament... is it goal difference, or head to head as that could have a huge impact on the last games of group A.
Yemen Parked the defense. KSA should have scored more goals in to ease pressure in match against Kuwait who holds the advantage of GD of +1. Kuwait need a draw in the final match day to qualify to the semis.
Kutsuit, I understand your thinking buts lets not mix sports and politics. I drive down to Bahrain on a regular basis from Riyadh and believe me that although now there are a lot more check points and some areas may be totally closed of or detoured- its not really all too different from most other GCC countries in terms of security. Bahrain is still packed on weekend and the security situation is very very different compared to Iraq. I do however respect your stance and understand your solidarity.
What was that I was saying about a shift in the balance of power? Well the last group games were UAE 2-1 Bahrain 1, Qatar 2-1 Oman... which does show a reverse of what we may have regularly expected from these teams. This young UAE team seems to be coming of age and are now guaranteed a place in the semis after that win.. same can't be said for Qatar though, as they must still get a result vs. Bahrain to progress, something tells me Bahrain may rally and win that one... that may not be enough to progress for the hosts though as they need the UAE to do them a favor and not lose by a similar margin vs. Oman. However, given that the UAE are now guaranteed a place in the next round, they may not be a their best for this game.... Oman now haven't won a game in what is it.. 7 GCN games I think since their semifinal win vs. Qatar back in 2008. Does anyone know what the first tie breaker for this tournament is... head-t0-head or goal difference... just wondering how would Oman and Bahrain be separated if they both win tonight by the same margin... they both have identical records so far...
HT: KUW 1 - 0 KSA KSA is playing with so much authority after conceding a goal in early minutes of 1st half but what to do when KUW have parked the bus in front of the goal. Fahad Al Muwallad should be replaced by Shamrani in the 2nd half because Fahad is ineffective so far.
yeah it is. Here in the Gulf, they are really into it... in fact, I've noticed my students both in the UAE & Qatar seem to get even more worked up for the Gulf Cup than they do the Asian Cup, which was not that well attended here in Qatar. I guess that's because every game is a derby, and it's easy for opposing fans to travel from one place to the other. But having lived in the Gulf for sometime, I've noticed they do get pretty passionate about what seems to be, well in terms of global recognition, a fairly modest tournament....
Thanks for the info. I never knew that. Also judging from the players reactions to scoring goals, it seem like a very important tournament for them. I was watching Kuwaiti players reactions when they won over Saudi, and it was all tears like they won the World Cup or something. hehe From what I gather, Saudi send its A-team? They didnt do that with WAFF. So yeah, never knew it was held in such high regard.
I'd say definitely way more popular than the WAFF. At least the news and radio channels are talking about it, and the people know there are games going on.
First casualty from the Gulf Cup, Qatari coach has gone, replaced by Fahad Thani http://www.qfa.com.qa//qfa-autuori-part-ways.aspx
UAE - Kuwait strikes me as an interesting game, but can't quite get myself up for the Iraq - Bahrain match, probably because Iraq should be too strong, but then again, Bahrain at home, anything could happen. Won't really get to me until kick off.