Asian Cup 2015: Bahrain out to keep tournament hopes alive against United Arab Emirates
BAHRAIN’S Asian Cup hopes are destined to be either salvaged or destroyed when they face United Arab Emirates at Canberra Stadium on Thursday.
THE odds of Bahrain boss Marjan Eid being the first coach to be sacked at the Asian Cup are incredibly high.
Bahrain has seen off four coaches in 18 months before Eid was give the role late last year.
He had been their No.2 since 2004 before winning the coaching promotion.
But Eid, 51, claims the image of Bahrain at this Asian Cup is far more important than his job.
The Gulf nation’s tournament hopes are destined to be either salvaged or destroyed when they face United Arab Emirates at Canberra Stadium on Thursday.
“It’s not related about the result or the success or failure,’’ Eid said.
“If we win or lose, it’s not my focus. I want to give my team a good image and to play well.
“After the Asian Cup everybody can talk about the image of the team.”
History suggests that Eid is under pressure to keep his job purely on recent turnover rates.
Iraqi Adnan Hamad was sacked during the Gulf Cup in November where Bahrain failed to score in three group matches, recording two scoreless draws and a loss.
Hamad replaced current New Zealand boss Anthony Hudson after the Englishman quit suddenly in July 2014.
And Hudson replaced sacked Argentina boss, former international Gabriel Calderon in August 2013.
But after losing their first Group C clash 2-0 to Iran - one of the tournament favourites - in Melbourne on Sunday, Eid’s squad needs to bounce back against a vibrant UAE, who trounced Qatar 4-1 in Canberra on Sunday.
Iran faces Qatar in Sydney on Thursday with UAE and the Team Melli certain to qualify for the quarter finals if they win their respective matches.
UAE boss Mahdi Ali says he is not expecting an easy match.
UAE has been based in Canberra since heir emphatic win over Qatar but Ali believes Bahrain will be equally refreshed despite travelling on Monday from Melbourne.
“I think we learn in football is that nothing is easy,’’ Ali said.
“Football only knows one language - if you work hard, prepare very well and you are concentrated in a game, that makes the difference.”
Ali says he hasn’t got any injury concerns after belting Qatar but revealed many of his players had suffered from the bruising encounter.
“We have seen many players after our first game with ice bags on their legs. There were a lot of tough kicks during the game,’’ Ali said.
“We hope the referee as part of his role protects all the players not just the UAE players.
“But we don’t have any injuries that will prevent our layers from playing tomorrow.”