Bold Palestine wary of rebounding Australians but ‘we’re not afraid of anybody’ in Asian Cup

Palestine might have claimed its first point in Asian Cup history against Syria with a goalless draw, but know the rebounding reigning champion Australia will be a different proposition.

Syria coach Bernd Stange described Palestine’s defence as like “running against a wall”.

The unheralded Palestinian team will aim “not to lose” against an Australian side it predicts could prove vulnerable on the counter-attack.

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But they also expect the defending champion to arrive more alert to the challenge after being shaken by Jordan.

Palestine claimed its first point in Asian Cup history against Syria, holding a team that almost qualified for the 2018 World Cup to a goalless draw despite playing out the last 20 minutes with 10 men. It’ll be without suspended defender Mohammed Saleh for the clash.

US-born midfielder Nazmi Albadawi expects Australia to be just as difficult to break down as Syria.

Mat Ryan says the team must deliver this time.

“We know they have a very good team, we know coming in they’re the defending champions and one of the favourites to win it again this year,” Albadawi said.

“Jordan upsetting them in the first game probably has its pros and cons. One, it shows they’re beatable and that anything can happen in football.

“It also kind of wakes up Australia a little bit and tells them, ‘we’ve got to get our stuff together before we get eliminated from this tournament essentially’. We know they’ll come out flying because they have to get a result — they can’t afford anything else. They need this probably more than we do, to be honest.

“But I think that kind of works in our favour as well because if they come out and really try to go for a result it provides some gaps in the game.

“Australia are a good team, but we’re not afraid of anybody. In football anything can happen. Crazier things have happened.”

Socceroos coach Graham Arnold will be hoping for a much-improved performance against Palestine.

Forward Yashir Islame was ready to unlock any scope for an attacking foray.

“We’ve tried to work out their weaknesses,” Islame said.

“Of course they will give us a lot of space because they must push up, so I think it will be a similar game to the one against Jordan.

“They will take the ball but we need to take our space and find that space in their defence.

“It’s very important for us to win. But if we cannot win, it’s important not to lose.”

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