BEIJING, July 29: Hosts China take on an Iraq team struggling to keep their mind on football while Uzbekistan face tiny Bahrain as the Asian Cup quarterfinals get underway on Friday.
Despite a mounting injury toll, China will start as favourites to secure a semifinal spot when they play Iraq at Beijing's Workers Stadium as the 16-team tournament enters the knockout phase.
Iraq have overcome a series of hurdles to qualify for the Asian Cup and next month's Olympics, advancing despite the devastating impact of war. But fresh violence in Iraq that left more than 120 people dead on Wednesday was pre-occupying the country's players on the eve of their meeting with China.
"This morning at breakfast all the players were speaking about the news after watching television. They were very shocked," said Iraq coach Adnan Hamd. "All the players worry about their families because of the situation in Iraq. It's not a good security situation."
China coach Arie Haan said he had been impressed by Iraq's feat in battling through to the last eight. "They're a very strong and complete team," Haan said. "Their discipline is good, they have good organisation, they have a very good tactical strategy and they do it well. They move up and down the pitch well.
Iraq coach Adnan Hamd acknowledged Haan's point. "There's no pressure on us at all," said Hamd. "I think now there is more pressure on China than Iraq." Haan has been given a headache this week with injuries to two strikers, veteran goalscorer Hao Haidong and Li Yi. Four other players have minor knocks.
Hao was initially thought to be out of contention until the final on Aug 7 after hobbling off in his team's 5-0 Group A drubbing of Indonesia last week. But Hao resumed training this week and is likely to play against Iraq.
In Friday's other quarterfinal, Uzbekistan will be hoping for more dead-ball wizardry from Russia-based captain Mirdjalal Kasimov as they attempt to end the fairytale run of little Bahrain.
Kasimov has scored two of his side's three goals so far, both coming from curling free-kicks that have seen him dubbed 'Uzbekistan's David Beckham'. Uzbekistan topped Group C with a 100 percent record that owed much to 33-year-old Kasimov's goals and midfield industry.
Bahrain coach Srecko Juricic meanwhile has been trying to play down the significance of his team's first ever quarterfinal appearance in only their second attempt.
Juricic said comparisons with Greece - who came from nowhere to win Euro 2004 in Portugal - were wide of the mark. But he said Bahrain were capable of beating anyone following Sunday's win over Indonesia which was spoiled by a red card to defender Sayed Mohamed after an ugly goal-mouth brawl.
"We can beat every team but we can also lose to every team. The quarterfinal will be different and I think we are going to play with more consideration and be more careful." "We're now among the eight best teams in Asia and for Bahrain it's a big success." -AFP
