Group B: All eyes on Blue Samurai
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Syria gears up for Cup after coach change
Syria is counting on a stop-gap coach for its Asian Cup campaign after the job changed hands three times in three months, but the new man in charge is determined to help the Eagles soar in time.
"We have a short period but this is not a problem," Valeriu Tita said in mid-December when he was named Syria's coach just three weeks before it kicks off its Group B battles against Japan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
The 44-year-old Romanian, on loan from Syrian club Ittihad, insisted a few warm-up friendlies would be enough to put the "final touches" on the national squad before its fifth Asian Cup finals, but first since 1996.
Tita replaced Serbian Ratomir Dujkovic after guiding his Aleppo side to win a penalty shootout against Kuwait's Al Qadsia in the final of the AFC Cup, Asia's second-tier club competition, in early November.
Syria Football Association president Farouk Sirriya sacked Dujkovic for failing to return from a vacation at an agreed time ahead of a friendly against Asian Cup holders Iraq away on Dec 18.
A tactician credited for guiding Ghana to the last-16 at the 2006 World Cup, Dujkovic reportedly revolted against the Syrian FA's decision not to allow him to bring his own coaching staff.
Syria nevertheless took the match 1-0 without him but then lost 1-0 to the same Gulf side four days later at home with Tita in charge for the first time.
Tita may rely on Al-Karamah striker Mohamed Al Zeno, who has scored 14 goals in 36 matches for Syria since 2004, and Sanharib Malki Sabah, a frontman with the Belgian side Lokeren, for goals.
Ali Diab, 28, who joined China's first division Shanghai Shenhua in 2010, can beef up Syria's defense with his aerial strength.
Sirriya admitted it would be a daunting task for the Eagles to reach the Asian Cup knockout stage for the first time. In their Cup debut in 1980, they missed a last-eight berth by one point.
"The 2011 Asian Cup could be the toughest edition for Syria," he told www.the-afc.com, adding that its clash with Japan "could be our toughest assignment because of their experience in the World Cup".
He also described fellow West Asians Saudi Arabia and Jordan as "forces to be reckoned with in the group".
"So, we are not going to leave anything to chance and will do everything to emerge from the group unscathed and ready for the next stages."
The revolving door of coaches started after Syria qualified for the 2011 Asian Cup under homegrown Fajr Ibrahim.
It won four matches and drew twice - including a 3-2 win over second-placed China - and was the only country to remain unbeaten in any group.
Jordan to surprise big guns in Doha
Underdogs Jordan is raring to spring a surprise at the Asian Cup as it did in a miraculous fightback to clinch only its second-ever berth in the continental showcase.
"We want to be competitive although it will be a tough mission in the group that includes Japan, Saudi Arabia and Syria," Jordan coach Adnan Hamad said. "But we still have great ambition and hope to pass the first round."
Both Japan and Saudi Arabia are aiming for a record fourth title.
Veteran goalkeeper Amer Shafia said: "Our goal is to achieve the best possible result from our match against Japan that we will enjoy anyway. We seek to be true competitors."
The 28-year-old has a score to settle when the Al-Nashima (Brave Ones) face Japan in their Group B opener on Jan 9.
The Blue Samurai sprang back from 2-0 down to beat Jordan 4-3 on penalties with him between the posts in the 2004 Asian Cup quarterfinals in China. Japan went on to beat the host for its third title.
Hamad, a former Iraq national coach who managed Jordanian club Al-Faisaly in 2006, helped turn Jordan's fortunes in Asian Cup qualifying after he took over the Al-Nashima from Portuguese Nelo Vingada in April 2009.
Jordan had a single point from its first three games, including a goalless draw at home with Thailand, when the 49-year-old Iraqi tactician joined the team.
Under his leadership, the Jordanians lost to Iran 1-0 away but beat it 1-0 at home before another 0-0 draw with Thailand.
Jordan emerged out of the quagmire with a 2-1 home win over Singapore in its last qualifier before which it was still one point behind the two Southeast Asian sides. Iraq beat Thailand 1-0 to finish top of the group.
Hamad, who was named the 2004 Asian coach of the year after guiding Iraq to a fourth-place finish at the Athens Olympics, has brought young players into Jordan's squad, many of whom took part in the 2007 U-20 World Cup.
He said his team included "players that would not only serve the upcoming Asian Cup but World Cup qualifiers and beyond".
Abdullah Deeb, a promising 23-year-old striker who rejoined home league side Shabab Al-Ordon last year after a season with Belgium's KV Mechelen, said: "We want to take our chance and prove ourselves by playing against top teams in the Asian Cup."
He may boost Jordan's firepower with 27-year-old Al Faisaly striker Moayyad Abu Keshek.
Hamad harbors no illusions about their Group B opponents, particularly Japan.
"Playing against Japan will be very difficult particularly because they have gained a lot of experience from international tournaments," he said.
The Blue Samurai reached the last-16 in South Africa last June for its best-ever World Cup finish on foreign soil. Jordan got a morale-boosting 4-1 friendly win over Asian Cup holder Iraq at home in September but crashed out in the group stages of the West Asian Championship it hosted in the same month.
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