Al Soma set for Syria return

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Al Soma set for Syria return

Damascus: Syria head coach Nizar Mahrous is set to welcome captain Omar Al Soma back into the starting line-up for the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar matches against Korea Republic and Lebanon.

The 32-year-old forward missed Syria's last five matches, including their opening AFC Asian Qualifiers ties against Islamic Republic of Iran and UAE last month.

Mahrous will also have the services of Alaa Al Dali and Mahmoud Al Baher but injured defender Ahmad Al Saleh misses out.

Reshan boost for Iraq ahead of Lebanon, UAE ties

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Reshan boost for Iraq ahead of Lebanon, UAE ties

Baghdad: Bashar Resan is among the 23 players named by head coach Dick Advocaat as Iraq look to revive their AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar campaign.

Iraq play Lebanon and UAE on October 7 and 12 respectively, needing victories after opening their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Korea Republic and a 3-0 defeat to Islamic Republic of Iran.

Qatar SC midfielder Resan suffered an injury during the match against Iran and his recovery is a boost for Iraq.

Nepal, Bangladesh kick off campaigns with wins

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Nepal, Bangladesh kick off campaigns with wins

Male: There were opening days wins for Nepal and Bangladesh as the 2020 SAFF Championship kicked off on Friday.

Nepal stunned defending champions Maldives 1-0 while Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka with a similar scoreline at the National Football Stadium.

Tsukasa Shiotani returns to Hiroshima

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tsukasa Shiotani returns to Hiroshima

Tokyo: Former Japan international midfielder Tsukasa Shiotani has returned to the J-League to sign for Sanfrecce Hiroshima after leaving Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates.

Shiotani, who was part of the Samurai Blue squad that reached the final of the AFC Asian Cup in the UAE in 2019, has gone back to Hiroshima four years after making the switch to Al Ain from the Japanese club.

Former Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge joins Perth Glory

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Former Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge joins Perth Glory

Perth: Former Liverpool and England striker Daniel Sturridge has signed with Perth Glory for the A-League 2021/22 season.

The 32-year-old is a two-time UEFA Champions League and FA Cup winner who scored 68 goals during a six-year spell at Liverpool and also won a Premier League title with Chelsea.

At international level, he was part of England’s squad at both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 UEFA European Championships and featured for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Bert van Marwijk names strong UAE squad for IR Iran, Iraq ties

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Bert van Marwijk names strong UAE squad for IR Iran, Iraq ties

Dubai: UAE national team head coach Bert van Marwijk has named a 28-player squad for the upcoming AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar matches against Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq.

The Dutch head coach made several changes to the squad that played to draws with Lebanon and Syria in their first two Group A matches in September.

'Nothing is impossible in race for top three', insists Vietnam's Tien Linh as China PR clash looms

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

'Nothing is impossible in race for top three', insists Vietnam's Tien Linh as China PR clash looms

Sharjah: Vietnam may have lost their opening two games in the final round of the Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar, but Nguyen Tien Linh believes the Golden Stars still have a chance of finishing in the top three of Group B as they prepare to face China PR on Thursday. 

Appearing in the final round of Asian Qualifiers for the first time, Vietnam took the lead in their Group B opener against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh but, reduced to 10 men, fell to a 3-1 defeat before being edged 1-0 by Australia in Hanoi on Matchday Two.

Next up in the United Arab Emirates they face neighbours China, who have also suffered back-to-back defeats, in what is already a crunch encounter at these early stages, before taking on Oman in Muscat five days later.