Japan coach Javier Aguirre believes the Asian Cup exploits of UAE star Omar Abdulrahman will have Europe’s top clubs on red alert.
Aguirre’s side booked a quarter-final showdown with the Whites on Friday as goals from Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa clinched a 2-0 win over Jordan.
Yesterday’s victory saw Japan through with a 100 per cent record in Group D and Mexican coach Aguirre immediately turned his attention to the task of facing the UAE.
Mahdi Ali’s men impressed on their way to the runners-up spot in Group C with Omar’s classy displays marking him out as one of the players of the tournament.
Aguirre said: “I have watched the UAE’s games and I think he (Abdulrahman) is a wonderful player and European teams are looking at his high level play, but one player can’t win games. The UAE won as a team and we hope to take care of him the same as other players.
“We must fight in the 90 minutes of each game and respect our opponents and hope to continue as we have done. From my experience in the Copa America, the World Cup and the Gold Cup, our chances are the same as the other seven teams; we start from zero from now.”
Meanwhile, Jordan coach Ray Wilkins insisted he wanted to continue in the job despite their early exit.
The Englishman said he had “no idea” whether Jordan FA chief Prince Ali bin Al Hussein would offer him a contract extension after signing a short-term deal last September, admitting that he could go down as one of the country’s worst-ever coaches.
“I’d love to stay,” Wilkins said. “(But) I’ve no idea. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience, it’s been first class. But it’s entirely up to Prince Ali.”
Meanwhile, Iraq boss Radhi Shenaishil wasted no time in pulling talisman Younis Mahmoud off penalty duties after the captain’s spot-kick woes contined yesterday.
Mahmoud propelled Iraq to a 2-0 win against Palestine and the quarter-finals with a header on 48 minutes. A late Ahmed Yaseen strike made the win secure but Mahmoud should have settled it on the hour when he stepped up for the penalty after a push on Justin Meram.
But Mahmoud’s tame effort was saved – his second botched penalty in a row, after he messed up a ‘panenka’ attempt in the 1-0 warm-up defeat to Iran earlier this month.
Mahmoud, 31, is knocking on the door of Hussain Saeed’s Iraqi record of 61 international goals, but Shenaishil had no hesitation in dumping him as his penalty-taker.
“I had selected Younis to take the penalty because he just needs a couple more to become Iraq’s top scorer,” said Shenaishil. “But we will not let him take the penalties any more.” Iraq take on arch-rivals Iran in Canberra on Friday.
