Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Sharjah: Coach Hakeem Shakir has declared former champions Iraq must “do everything possible” ahead of Wednesday’s crunch 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifier with fellow hopefuls China at Al Sharjah Club Stadium.
The Group C showdown sees China, who are now coached by Frenchman Alain Perrin, occupying the all-important second place, two points ahead of Iraq, with a draw good enough for the 2004 finalists to ensure direct qualification for Australia.
However the celebrated Shakir, who was nominated for the AFC Coach of the Year accolade in 2013, must guide 2007 champions Iraq to all three points in order to leapfrog the East Asians and begin another chapter in the team’s successful recent history.
Under Shakir’s guidance Iraq were crowned winners of the inaugural AFC U-22 Championship earlier this year in Muscat, in addition to achieving runners-up positions at the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship, the 2012 WAFF Championship and the 2013 Gulf Cup of Nations, as well as a famous third-place finish at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.
“We are a former champion of Asia, so must do everything possible to qualify for Australia,” said coach Shakir, whose side, then helmed by predecessor Vladimir Petrovic, narrowly lost 1-0 in China at the start of the campaign.
“I was not the coach when we lost to China in the last game, but we can learn some things from that game as there were some small problems. We had many chances but we had one player sent-off, so we must learn from these mistakes and correct them for this match.
“We will prepare and plan everything for our match. We have a lot of good players and a very good team.”
One of those players will be ruled out, however, with Waleed Salim suspended, although the defender’s absence will be mitigated somewhat with full-backs Sun Xiang and Zhang Linpeng also ruled out for China.
The Guangzhou Evergrande duo, who helped the Southern Chinese side win the AFC Champions League at the end of last year, both picked up their second yellow cards of the qualifiers in November as China missed out on joining Saudi Arabia in securing passage from Group C following a goalless draw with the three-time champions at home.
“If a team loses one or two players at this level it is crucial so it can only benefit us,” added Shakir.
“We will prepare and make a plan to get the three points.”
With China and Iraq well aware of their tasks needed to guarantee qualification ahead of the March 26 draw in Sydney, both teams can still secure passage to the finals with the best third place finishers across all five groups also progressing as the 15th confirmed qualifier.
Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Uzbekistan have all advanced to the finals via the qualifiers to leave just three places remaining.
Defending champions Japan, hosts Australia, Korea Republic and 2012 AFC Challenge Cup winners DPR Korea had already secured their passage prior to the start of the qualifiers, while the winners of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup will complete the 16-team line-up.