Bahrain urged not to rest on their laurels
(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
Loading...AFC Asian Cup – MELBOURNE, Eid took over from predecessor Adnan Hamad during November’s Gulf Cup and oversaw a credible goalless draw with eventual champions Qatar.
And since arriving in Australia, 2004 AFC Asian Cup semi-finalists Bahrain have beaten both Saudi Arabia and Jordan in friendlies to raise hopes of ending a run of back-to-back group stage exits in 2007 and 2011.
“The last two friendly matches are not enough for a nomination for Bahrain to qualify. They need more effort to do a good job; they need more confidence for the younger players to do a good job,” said former national team assistant Eid.
“We have a lot of younger players with some others that have experience. Tomorrow we play against a strong team with a lot of professional players and experienced players. We hope to do a good job and get a positive result.
“The matches between Bahrain and Iran are always tough games. Each country or region has a derby or classic, and Bahrain and Iran is like this.”
On paper Bahrain are the lowest ranked team in Group C behind Asia’s number one side and 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Iran, Gulf Cup champions Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
But despite also losing all three group stage games in Qatar in 2011, Eid remained upbeat over Bahrain’s chances of securing only a second appearance in the knockout stage having eventually finished fourth in 2004.
“There is no team that has the best ranking; all of them are the same,” added Eid. “Any team in this group can go through the qualifying.”
Eid, though, refused to believe suggestions from the Iran camp that they are underprepared for the tournament after seeing Carlos Queiroz’s side only lose to Argentina at the 2014 FIFA World Cup following a stoppage time strike from Lionel Messi.
“They have a great standing in Asia and did a good job in the World Cup against Argentina,” said Eid.
“Some teams come to this tournament and don’t prepare well, but do very good in the tournament. Other teams come to the tournament and prepare well but don’t do anything.”
